Cash for food assistance to IPC Phase 3 and 4 vulnerable people of Aybak and Dara-e-Suf-e-Bala districts of Samangan province, Afghanistan IPC analysis (March 2022), acute food insecurity projection (June - Nov 2022) classified Samangan as Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and with roughly 65% of the population in IPC Phase 3 and higher. Furthermore, according to (WoAA 2022), Samangan rural area has also been affected by a variety of shocks, which further compounded the most vulnerable households (HHs) needs, including: active conflict or violence (43.48%), Covid-19 (33.56%), drought (78.02%), and floods (54.05%). Indeed, over half (57.32%) of the HHs in rural areas are also affected by a combination of seasonal erosion of physical and economic access and high food prices, which ultimately led to the critical food security conditions, and prolonged effects of the economic downturn on HHs’ capacity to access food. 

According to the latest WHH baseline survey from January 2022, 87% of the HHs in Samangan have poor food expenditure, which confirms that HHs’ monthly cash income is less than expenditure on staple food. As a result, HHs couldn’t meet their food needs via their monthly cash income or spend  most of their income on food items. 

To address the increased food and nutrition security risks and avoid the most vulnerable HHs to further resort to negative coping strategies, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is proposing an eight-month intervention to support 1,584 acutely food insecure households (11,088 individuals) in Aybak and Dara-e-Suf-e-Bala districts of Samangan province through the provision of unconditional and unrestricted cash assistance for 6 months, intended to support HHs in meeting their basic food needs Each HH will receive cash distribution, calculated at 75% of the FSAC standard cash minimum food basket with the equivalent of USD 72 per month, for a total of USD 432 cash per HH over 6 months. WHH will distribute the six-month cash support in three (3) installments every two months, valued at USD 144 per installment via a pre-contracted financial service provider (FSP). 

Following its own Cash and Voucher Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), WHH has clear guidance on relevant steps required in country throughout the project cycle and specific guidance and procedures for different cash and voucher modalities. Strictly following the SOPs, WHH will select, based on its guidelines and TORs, an FSP. With adequate personnel to meet agreed upon caseloads and with their own security arrangements, the FSP will provide the transport of the cash to the distribution point and prepare the distribution site. WHH will register and verify participant details, mobilize and sensitize project participants and local leadership on the activity before the distributions. WHH will conduct the distribution of cash, together with the FSP and relevant community members and elders. Payment will be done individually, and the exact amount of denomination (in AFN) given to each registered project participant. The project participant list is managed and controlled in line with WHH's Data Protection Policy which is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). During the whole distribution WHH will be on site to verify participant details, ensure crowd control, COVID19 preventive measures, follow protection protocols and act as observer of the entire process. To follow do no harm principles and ensure no one is left behind specific protection risks for the most vulnerable participants will be considered. This approach has been successfully used in the past by WHH and therefore was identified as the best delivery mechanism.