Emergency cash support for acutely food insecure households in Nangarhar Province Afghanistan is currently one of the world’s most acute and complex humanitarian crises, with 22.8 million people – over half of the population – projected to be acutely food insecure in 2022 (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Nov 2021 – Mar 2022).  

Against this fragile backdrop, DRC is proposing a six-month project to support 2,750 acutely food insecure host and internally displaced households (19,250 individuals) in Achin, Shinwar, and Jalalabad districts of Nangarhar Province through the one-off provision of unconditional cash assistance (USD 160/HH) to cover households’ basic food needs over a two-month period. As per Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) recommendation, DRC will distribute the two-month cash support in a single tranche via a pre-contracted financial service provider (FSP). The one-off provision of two months’ worth of assistance is designed to mitigates risks and burden related to traveling to and from the distribution point, especially for women, elderly, and people with a disability, and in rural areas where the target population is spread out. The total transfer value (USD 160/HH) is aligned with the FSAC cash-based food basket for Afghanistan (2021) and is based on the Cluster’s standards and guidance to cover two months’ worth of assistance (USD 80/month x 2).  

Target districts were identified in consultation with FSAC, in light of the high need for food security interventions documented by the latest IPC analysis, which found that target locations in Nangarhar have transitioned from IPC phase 3 (crisis) to IPC phase 4 (emergency) (IPC Nov 2021-Mar 2022).  

Cash was selected as the most effective modality to meet project participants’ food needs given the proven functionality and accessibility of markets and basic commodities for target communities. In addition, cash assistance was also found to be the preferred methodology of households according to recent Household Emergency Assessment Tool (HEAT) assessments conducted by DRC in the target locations and in line with FSAC recommendations. The proposed cash assistance will allow the target population continuous access to markets to purchase fresh, staple food, leading to an expected improvement in food consumption at the household level and reduced reliance on negative coping mechanisms. The multiplier effect of such cash interventions on stimulating the local economy will be critical in the country’s short-to-mid-term economic recovery.

  The proposed intervention directly aligns with Strategic Objective 1 (SO1.2) of the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) 2022, which aims to improve access to life saving nutrition services for people facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition. DRC will closely coordinate with target communities, national and provincial-level authorities, and emergency actors and ensure a principled approach to humanitarian assistance. Drawing from DRC’s extensive experience in protection mainstreaming, the project will apply a protection lens to all activities and maintain the Do No Harm principle throughout all stages of the intervention. DRC’s independent Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Unit will support with participant targeting, verification, and project monitoring of activities, while ensuring accountability to affected people (AAP) is upheld through the establishment of two-way complaints and feedback mechanisms across all areas of operation.