Enhanced livelihoods and food security for conflict affected populations of Hodeidah, Lahj and Taiz governora

Objectives

The proposed project will increase target households’ ability to meet basic food needs through improved income from agriculture and fishery activities. The action will target vulnerable food insecure agricultural and fishery-dependent families who are at risk of becoming acute food insecure in Hudaydah, Lahj, and Taizz governorates. To enable them meet basic food needs and improve their livelihoods beneficiaries will be provided with agricultural inputs for vegetables and staples crops production, fishing gear and accessories, and complementary training. Additionally, the households will receive Unconditional Cash Grants (UCG) of $50 for three (3) months to enable them to meet basic food needs and other production costs e.g. tillage and hiring of labor. The proposed action is in line with FSAC strategic response plan objective [SO1]. The proposed activities are in line with FSAC's first-line response priority activities namely Distributing agricultural and fishery kits to severely food insecure rural households in IPC 3, 4 and 5 areas. The project will benefit 7,100 households comprising 49,700 men, women, boys and girls. 6,600 HH in Lahj and Taizz governorates will be provided with seeds and agricultural tools. The seeds provided include barley, wheat, beans, onion, mallow, lettuce, okra, and pepper. The beneficiaries will also be trained in appropriate agronomic practices. 500HH in Al Tohyytah district in Hodeidah governorate will be provided with fishing kits and complementary training in fish handling, preservation, and marketing.5,600 HH will receive Cash+staple cereal seeds in Al Maqaterah district of Lahj (1,100HH), Al Mwaset of Taiz (2,250HH) and Jabal Habshy district of Lahj (2,250HH). ). 500 HH will receive cash+ fishing kits in Al Tuhaytta district of Hodeida governorate. 1000HH will receive cash+ vegetable seeds in Jabal Habshy district (500HH) and AL Mwaset district (500HH) of Taizz governorate. NRC will use a voucher modality to distribute the seeds, tools and fishery kits. In Lahj and Taiz, NRC will use electronic vouchers through Red Rose platform which has been piloted under an on-going project. In Hudaydah, paper vouchers will be used. Nevertheless, a market assessment will be carried out in all target locations to inform on the best modality to apply. The UCG will disbursed through NRC’s currently contracted financial service providers (FSP). NRC has extensive experience in the use of e-vouchers, paper vouchers as well as direct cash disbursement through the FSP. NRC acknowledges risks associated with this action which could include diversion of assistance provided. To mitigate this, NRC will sensitize the beneficiaries to ensure that the assistance is utilized for the intended purposes. Provision of UCGs will ensure that beneficiaries have cash to meet basic food needs and thus reduced temptation to sell the provided agricultural/fishing inputs. Risks associated with violation of land tenure agreements will be addressed through sharing of information on land property rights and dispute resolution. Risks associated with use of inappropriate agronomic practices that can compromise production will be mitigated through provision of training and technical backstopping in collaboration with relevant line ministries. Security risks in project locations will be mitigated through securing de-confliction in conflict active areas. Delayed authorization for field travels will be mitigated through enhanced advocacy/sensitization of respective local authorities. Beneficiary selection will be conducted through a community participatory process involving established community committees and following the set FSAC vulnerability criteria. Deliberate effort will be applied to ensure that the committees constitute of at least 40% female representation