FAO provides cash to households affected by disasters

Cash and vouchers play a critical role in FAO’s response to shocks and crises when farmers, pastoralists, and fishers can no longer buy food or the productive inputs they need.

Between 2020 and 2021, FAO is reaching about 125 000 households affected by desert locusts, drought, COVID-19, and conflict with cash in 2020/21, about 50 000 with unconditional cash transfers. Each beneficiary household receives between USD $ 40 - 70. The intervention follows the Cash+ model that combines cash transfers with productive assets, inputs, and/or technical training and extension services to enhance the livelihoods and productive capacities of the targeted households.

Unconditional cash transfers enable farmers to purchase the goods and services they need most in local markets.

The beneficiaries were drawn from the Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP), and Oromia regional states. The distribution of cash is continuing in areas that are accessible and secure.

Endris Mohammed Kemal, 62 and a father of six was relieved to get 1 900 EBirr ($40) in cash. Because of the conflict in Tigray, Mohammed was unable to grow sufficient food for his household. He was among the 120 residents of Habru Woreda Wayteklo Kebele who received seeds and cash. “I bought food as soon as I received the cash,” he said. 

To implement the cash transfer programme, FAO is collaborating with VSF-Germany, Care International, Plan International, World Vision Ethiopia, respective regional governments, and the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. 

FAO’s cash-based programmes provide immediate relief to farmers, while also contributing to strengthening the resilience of livelihoods to future shocks, increasing agricultural production thus improving food security and nutrition.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Commission’s Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development, the European Commission, Louis Dreyfus Company, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, United States Agency for International Development, and the governments of Denmark, Germany, France, and Norway fund FAO’s cash-based programmes in Ethiopia.