Provision of lifesaving and life-sustaining emergency livelihoods through unconditional cash transfer for 1200HHs (7,200 people) in Buurhakaba district, Bay region. The severity of drought conditions has deepened in Somalia since February 2022 when the last SHF drought response allocation was launched. Food security in Somalia has rapidly worsened, increasing the risk of famine. Some 7.1 million people are acutely food insecure. For the first time since 2017, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has confirmed pockets of catastrophic food insecurity (Phase 5) affecting more than 213,000 people. Failed rains have led to below-average crop production and high prices for staple foods. Food prices have risen sharply in the south, particularly in Bay and Bakool regions. As a result, household purchasing power is near the lows last observed in 2011 particularly in Bay, Bakool, Gedo, and Middle Juba. Poor pasture conditions and water scarcity have resulted in widespread livestock deaths, stripping communities of their livelihoods. Acute malnutrition and mortality levels is on the increase. An estimated 1.5 million children under age 5 face acute malnutrition, including 386,400 who are likely to be severely malnourished. In Bay Region, approximately 325,190 are crisis (IPC 3), 308,440 are in emergency (IPC 4) and 96,250 are in catastrophic phase (96,250). 
In the ongoing drought period, women and girls are likely to face increased incidences of intimate partner violation and sexual violence and abuse as they suffer multiple displacements, loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, sexual abuse and exploitation, poor access to markets and water insecurity. They are likely to be exposed to heightened gender-based violence (GBV) risks as they travel long distances to collect water and fuel and as they seek casual jobs for survival.
This project is designed to provide immediate lifesaving food and livelihood assistance to 1200 households (7200 people) through provision of unconditional cash transfers. The 1200 households targeted represent 1,300 women, 2850 girls, 2500 boys and 550 men.  Of these PASOS plans to reach 200 people with disabilities. The project is intended to 1) enhance food consumption and nutrition for 829 poor drought affected HHS in Buurhakaba district through unconditional cash transfer of USD 75 per month, equivalent to 80% Food MEB for 3 months as per the Somalia Cash Working Group 2) improve the livelihoods of 371 households who have severely affected through cash plus activity, provision of water trucking and feeds/fodder to their livestock as per the guidelines. The objective of the project is aligned with the cluster objectives. The total cost for the project is USD 479,962.90.
Protection mainstreaming will be emphasized by ensuring that women, youth and people with disabilities are adequately represented in community project committees, in focus group discussions, and other project review exercises. PASOS will coordinate with cluster partners in Buurhakaba district, and with women- led organizations in the selection of villages and households to ensure minimal exclusion and inclusion errors. PASOS shall adopt the Food Security Cluster (FSC) beneficiary targeting criteria, and use food security indicators in the identification and verification of beneficiaries. During implementation, PASOS will work closely with protection and partners to target households that particularly face heightened protection risks in the target areas and work closely with other partners and clusters such as CCCM, WASH, Health and Nutrition to ensure that all the beneficiaries are supported adequately. The integration of other clusters will depend on the vulnerability and needs of the beneficiaries so that they can benefit from all the services that are available. For instance, PASOS will refer all severe malnourished to benefit from the nutrition and health clusters.