Cash for Food Assistance  and Agriculture Support to minimize drought and conflict impacts and safeguard food security The 2021 update3 to the Afghanistan HRP 2018 - 2021 seeks USD 1.3 billion to reach 15.7 million people with emergency life-saving humanitarian and protection assistance across the country. The strategic objectives of the HRP focus on "lives are saved in the areas of highest needs." The multiple challenges facing the people of Afghanistan in spring 2021, including La Niña-induced climatic anomalies, intensifying conflict, new and protracted internal displacement, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are exacerbating the pre-existing needs and vulnerabilities of millions of Afghans already dealing with the consequences of 40 years of war.

The main purpose of the Afghanistan Spring Disaster Contingency Plan 2021 (SDCP) in response to potential drought and other emergencies is to address intersectoral potential needs holistically and calls for an integrated response with ES-NFI, FSAC, Nutrition, Education, Protection, Health, and WASH to mitigate the multiple and overlapping challenges facing the people of Afghanistan as spring approaches – including a potential La Niña-driven drought,1 intensifying conflict, and ongoing COVID-19 challenges. The ICCT conducted a multi-sectoral analysis for SDCP 2021 and ranked the 25 most-affected provinces as high, medium, or low risk, based on a range of weighted indicators including precipitation, malnutrition, wheat production, vegetation, reliance on agriculture, food insecurity, reduced coping index scores, water quality, availability and access, household debt, and access to health services. 
ORD intends to provide Cash distribution for 2 months full food basket each basket $90 per households according to CVAWG MEB guidelines and recommendation and Agriculture inputs distribution seed, fertilizer Urea, fertilizer DAP and vegetable seeds (Supporting CERF funding provided to FAO) in Faryab (Maimana), Takhar (Taloqan) and Bamiyan (Waras and Saighan) provinces, that are in the 25 priority provinces for the SDCP 2021. ORD has had a strong presence since 2018 and has delivered emergency responses. Currently, ORD is delivering cash assistance for People with Specific Needs (PSN) and NFI for the recently displaced people in the partnership of UNHCR. The AHF 3d Reserved Allocation 2021 fund will scale up and fill the ORD's current response gap, be holistic, and become a multi-cluster response to the vulnerable population due to the current conflict and drought.

ORD will ensure that the most vulnerable people (whose vulnerability score is greater than six, the criteria for both livelihood and food security is incorporated in FSAC standard profile survey tool) in need are among the affected population groups prioritized for this action and 5,016 HHs (35,112 individuals) following FSAC cluster standards for drought and conflict-affected people to respond to their cash for food assistance to IPC phase 3 and 4 vulnerable, prolonged and new IDPs living in IPC phase 3 and 4 urban areas Agriculture support (improved wheat seed, fertilizers, vegetables seeds and training) to food insecure IPC phase 3 and 4 vulnerable farmers. ORD will closely coordinate with the regional FSAC cluster, UNOCHA, and other partners for the identification of target communities and groups to avoid duplication. ORD project team will establish Beneficiary Selection Committees (BSCs) that will conduct a door-to-door assessment using the vulnerability assessment tool.

In addition, ORD will use the HAWALA system (SARAF) instead of M-Paisa for the cash transfer to beneficiaries as other means of cash transfer is difficult in the current situation, banking and M-paisa is dysfunctional each transfer value should be $12,690 for 150 HHs. ORD project team will conduct a market assessment for the functionality and accessibility of the basic food basket items. The project team will carry out PDMs and ORD MEAL will perform additional verification by phone and as well share the beneficiary profile with AWAAZ  for further accountability.