A total of 8,000 assessed food insecure households were targeted to receive a monthly food
assistance for eight months of the twelve-month program through a food voucher equivalent to
the amount of $60, redeemable with local vendors for a specific range of culturally sensitive food
items. The amount was selected based on food security sector recommendations which has been
estimated to cover a minimum of 1,500 Kcal per person per day of family food rations
(approximately 70% of daily requirements) , while the eight months of food assistance allowed
the targeted households an opportunity to return to their previous livelihood or income
generating activities and for communities to reinforce newly reestablished market linkages.
Allowable items included the basic food items covered in the standard food parcel (including
lentils, beans, bulger, wheat, rice, oil, pasta, salt) with additional items based on beneficiary
feedback through ADRA’s experience in implementing food vouchers in Syria including fresh
fruit and vegetables, canned vegetables, dairy products, tomato paste, tahini (sesame paste),
vinegar and canned fish. Nutritional and health awareness messages will be included in the
voucher distribution and printed on the vouchers to promote healthy eating practices.
Beneficiaries were selected based on vulnerability, measured through standardized
questionnaires assessing criteria endorsed by the FAS including household demographic
indicators (female headed households, PLW, people with a disability, children under 5), access
to income and accommodation status. Where possible, ADRA identified female household
members to receive vouchers as women are generally responsible for food preparation in the
household. In this way, women will have a greater degree of control over food purchases. Special
consideration will also be given to encourage participation of females and people with
disabilities through allowing a secondary family member to assist with the voucher collection
and redemption, providing special services for transportation, if necessary, gender and disability
friendly distribution points and a gender balanced distribution team.
In order to maximize the impact of the monthly food assistance outlined
above and enable transition off of food assistance where possible, the project selected 1,000
households to benefit from livelihood restoration activities. Households selected in
reasonably stable locations with a low likelihood of conflict, and undertook small business
management training, using curriculum already developed by ADRA Syria, and developed a
business plan based on their previous experience and capacity in a certain sector. Based on the
plan, and an assessment of the feasibility of the business, beneficiaries were selected to receive
a livelihood restoration, in-kind grant, supplemented by training in culturally appropriate
production techniques and sustainable resource management practices.
