Provision of lifesaving cash for food assistance to IPC Phase 3 and 4 food insecure vulnerable people in Azra district of Logar province The 2022 HRP appeals US$ 4.4 billion to reach 22.1 million people with emergency life-saving humanitarian and protection assistance across the country. The strategic objective1 of the HRP focus on " Timely, multi-sectoral, lifesaving, equitable and safe assistance is provided to crisis-affected people of all genders and diversities to reduce mortality and morbidity." The multiple challenges facing the people of Afghanistan, including La Niña-induced climatic anomalies, political turmoil, economic downturn, are exacerbating the pre-existing needs and vulnerabilities of millions of Afghans. The humanitarian outlook for 2022 remains grim, with 24.4 million people (59% of the population) projected to be in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, compared to 18.4 million in 2021.
Whole of Afghanistan assessment shows that 28% people have poor, 33% borderline and 39% have acceptable food consumption score in Logar province. It also shows 28% of people have moderate HHS, 16% slight household hunger scale. 65% of households used crisis and emergency coping strategies and 91% used medium to high food based coping strategy in Logar.

According to May 2022 IPC report, the combined impact of acute drought, the worst in nearly three decades, and the economy in the second half of 2021 has generated a food insecurity crisis of unprecedented levels in Afghanistan, with some 19 million people projected to be facing acute food insecurity (IPC3 and IPC4) and this project focuses on the IPC 3 and 4. As per the latest available forecasts, a weak to moderate La Niña event has been affecting Afghanistan since October 2021 and will likely continue from May 2022 until the wet season 2023. Additionally, higher food prices are negatively impacting the purchasing power of lower-income groups across the country, reducing their access to food. 

AREP aims to address at least a part of this crisis by implementing a cash for food project in Azra district of Logar and the focus of this project is IPC 3 and 4 people. It intends to provide cash for food assistance for six months ($72 per month) for 1,035 households (7,245 individuals) to cover 75 percent of the food basket that is FSAC recommended basket for this allocation. Every household will receive $432 in total in 6 months. The cash will be distributed on monthly basis for 6 months. AREP has a strong presence and has delivered emergency response projects in the targeted areas. AREP will ensure that the most vulnerable people in need are among the affected population groups prioritized for this action following FSAC cluster standards for drought and conflict-affected people to respond to their food needs. AREP will closely coordinate with the regional FSAC cluster, UNOCHA/AHF, and other partners for the identification of target communities and groups to avoid duplication. 

AREP has chosen cash as the proper modality due to the availability of food commodities and market functionality as well as the project participants' preference. AREP will use Hawala Dealer (Saraf) for cash transfer to project beneficiaries as a means of cash delivery. AREP will do monthly distributions for 6 months and every household will receive $72 on monthly basis.