Cash for food assistance to IPC Phase 3 and 4 vulnerable people  of Dand wa Patan, Jaji and Zadran districts of Paktya province Afghanistan is in a multifaceted and complex crisis due to the effects of forty years of war and recurrent natural disasters such as drought, flash floods and earthquakes. Further, due to the events that brought about the fall of the previous political system and the takeover of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), the country has plunged into an economic, financial, currency and banking crisis.
Paktya is among the provinces that were most affected by the conflict, and it is also a natural disaster-prone area. On 22 June, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck south-eastern Afghanistan, leading to wide-scale destruction across already vulnerable districts in Paktika, Paktya and Khost provinces (Emergency Earthquake Response Plan, OCHA). In addition, the province has been affected by atypical floods during the summer season (June-August) that destroyed the livelihood means of the affected families (Snapshot of Flash Floods in 2022, OCHA). Also, the province is considered a medium priority by the WASH cluster in its drought prioritization plan (HRP 2022, OCHA). Afghanistan is currently experiencing a nationwide catastrophic situation with more than 55% of children under 5 reported to experience Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) at the HH level in 18 provinces, among which there is Paktya (HRP 2022, OCHA). Based on the Afghanistan Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC, March- November 2022), Paktya province has been classified as IPC phase 3 (with 10% of the population assessed as having emergency food insecurity). Also, based on the Whole of Afghanistan Assessment (WoAA), food is considered the most pressing priority by 94% of the population interviewed, while 58% reported struggling to obtain food or having enough money to obtain food.
IRC is proposing an eight-month intervention to support 1,457   acutely food insecure households (10,200 individuals) in Dand wa Patan, Jaji and Zadran districts of Paktya province through the provision of unconditional cash assistance for 6 months of 75% of the food basket (USD 432/HH) intended to support HHs in meeting their basic food needs in line with FSAC recommendation. IRC will provide awareness to the target households about the importance of food security to encourage them to use the cash for purchase of food to improve household food consumption score and avoid malnutrition among children. IRC will also randomly select 10% of the assisted households to conduct spot checks to verify if households have used the cash for food. Each HH will receive cash entitlement, 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. IRC 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), in line with FSAC best practices. 
IRC has established framework agreement with hawala traders and will use this channel to transport and distribute cash to the project sites. These hawala have been used by IRC in different projects and in the proposed locations as well, indicating the capacity to mobilize and deliver cash quickly and safely. MPCA will be distributed via a pre-contracted hawala supplier who has a reliable network of local agents, has a valid business license to enable rapid assistance, and received positive references from previous NGO and UN clients. IRC holds clear Terms of Reference (ToRs) with its hawala suppliers to ensure they are clear on IRC’s expectations and to enforce safe and principled supplier performance. Further, the IRC team will clearly provide guidance on IRC Code of Conduct and PSEA. Further, IRC carries Anti-Terrorism Compliance Check (ATC) to ensure that none of the hawala agents are in any sanction lists.