Pillar 1 - Improving access to urgent basic needs of highly vulnerable 5,339 Lebanese, 10,041 Syrian and 300 Palestinian individuals in Baalbek-Hermel and Bekaa (Rachaya) through a comprehensive assistance package tackling food security, nutrition, and WASH needs. This project aims at improving access to urgent basic needs of most vulnerable populations through a comprehensive assistance package covering food security and agriculture support (component 1), nutrition (component 2) and emergency WASH assistance (component 3).  Action Against Hunger (ACF) will provide a package of services to the multi-crisis affected Lebanese, displaced Syrians and Palestinian refugees’ households. This project is aligned with the food security, nutrition and WASH sectors’ strategies and recommendations. 

750 vulnerable households (2977 individuals) residing in Aarsal and Ras Baalbek (Baalbek-Hermel region) and Rachaya (Central Bekaa), will be provided with cash-based food assistance. Most vulnerable households will be identified through a multisectoral vulnerability assessment, including socio-economical, food security and nutrition indicators. Eligible households will receive cash-based food assistance of 100 USD per month, over a period of 6-months, for a total of 600 USD. The monthly rate (20 USD/individual/month) is based on the food transfer value set by the Inter-Agency “Monthly Monitoring of SMEB”, in line with the food Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB). The monthly transfer value is based on the Food Security and Agriculture (FSA) sector recommendation. 

100 vulnerable smallholder farmers receiving cash-based food assistance will also receive restricted business grants for agricultural inputs and materials. The project will provide urgent support to smallholder farmers with conditional restricted cash transfers to purchase the necessary raw materials and assets to preserve their level of productivity. The average grant is of 350 USD per farmer is based on the FSA sector recommendation and will be adjusted based on the cost of assets needed. ACF will accompany each farmer in the purchasing process and provide technical guidance based on the farmers’ agricultural activity and particular condition, as well as recommendations on farming good practices. 

In Aarsal and Ras Baalbek, this project will aim to address poor IYCF practices and prevent possible risks of child malnutrition under its nutrition component. A total of 1,330 pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and caregivers (including fathers) of 0-59 months old children will receive nutrition counselling and awareness sessions at health facility and community level, depending on the feeding and/or breastfeeding needs expressed by the beneficiaries. 

A total of 700 PLWs and 1,500 children aged 6 to 59 months will also receive micronutrient supplements and community level MUAC assessments through Family MUAC for timely detection of wasting, as well as, referral to treatment centers where needed. 
In parallel, 2 health facilities in Baalbek-Hermel region will be supported to enhance IYCF practices, including the provision of 2 breastfeeding kits, the development of baby-friendly corners and the provision of IYCF trainings for 8 relevant health facilities staff. ACF will identify and train 4 community mobilizers to conduct sessions on health and nutrition and link caregivers to health facilities. 

The third component will target 2160 vulnerable households in Aarsal, Ras Baalbek, Qaa, Hermel and Dar el Ahmar (in Baalbek-Hermel region) to be provided with 2000 dignity kits, and/or 1750 baby kits, and/or 750 hygiene kits, as a one-off distribution. To respond to critical hygiene needs of the Syrian population in informal settlements, hygiene kits will be provided to vulnerable Syrian households based on referrals, along with baby and dignity kits needs. To ensure the complementarity between the different interventions, baby kits and dignity kits will be distributed to all eligible beneficiaries supported through the food security and nutrition components in Aarsal and Ras Baalbek depending on their specific needs identified and demographic profiles.