Food (cash) assistance to IPC Phase 3 and 4 vulnerable people of Darayem, Fayzabad and Jorm districts of Badakhshan
 province, Afghanistan UNOCHA’s forecast of the humanitarian situation of Afghanistan in 2023 is grim with 28.3 million of the population becoming food insecure ([ OCHA (2022) Humanitarian Needs in 2023, Oct 2022.]OCHA, 2022). According to recent IPC (May 2022), the projection (June to November 2022). in Badakhshan Province is worse as it’s on the top of the 13 provinces classified under IPC Phase 4 with a total of 350,302 people (25%) in emergency crisis. Nearly everyone in Badakhshan is in debt (98%), 87% of the population have barriers to access food due to lack of money 85% and 59% of the people are challenged by drought  and economic shocks respectively leading to 63% of the population with poor food consumption score (WoAA report, Sept 2022).The main reasons for the critical food insecurity in Badakhshan are prolonged effects of the economic downturn on households’ capacity to access food. Households in rural areas are affected by a combination of seasonal erosion of physical and economic access and high food prices. The income obtained by the HHs is not sufficient to meet their food needs. The situation will only get worse moving majority of the population towards catastrophe as the winter in Badakhshan is one of the coldest. UNOCHA has recommended an urgent scale up and prioritization of humanitarian food assistance to Badakshan. 
To address the increased food and nutrition security risks and avoid the most vulnerable households to further resort to negative coping strategies, DCA is proposing an eight-months intervention to support 1,114 acutely food insecure households (7,800 individuals) in Darayem, Fayzabad and Jorm districts of Badakhshan province through the provision of unconditional food (cash) assistance for 6 months of 75% of the food basket (USD 432/HH). 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. DCA will distribute the cash support in three (3) installments every two months, valued at USD 144 per installment via a pre-contracted financial service provider (FSP). Every two months of assistance is designed to allow households to stock-up before the winter period, when mobility is restricted due to weather and road conditions, and to mitigate risks and burden related to traveling to and from a distribution point, especially for women, elderly, and people with a disability, and in rural areas where the target population is spread out. In addition, DCA will conduct rapid market assessment to make sure the market functionality and to identify which modality (cash or in-kind) is feasible in the targeting areas because sometimes the market may not be functional in Badakhshan province during winter season. If the market is functional, following its own Cash and Voucher SOPs, DCA has clear guidance on relevant steps required in country throughout the project cycle and specific guidance for different cash and voucher modalities as well as procedures in place. DCA will select financial service providers strictly following the SOPs and based on the TOR. With adequate personnel to meet agreed upon caseloads and with their own security arrangements, the financial service provider will provide the transport of the cash to the distribution point and prepare the distribution site.  DCA will register and verify participant details, mobilize and sensitize project participants and local leadership on the activity before the distributions. DCA will conduct the distribution of food/cash, together with the financial service provider and relevant community members and elders. Payment will be done individually, and the exact amount of denomination given to each registered project participant. The project participant list is managed and controlled in line with DCA’s data protection policy. DCA ensures COVID-19 preventive measures and follow a do-no-harm protocol.