Abstract
This study evaluates the impact of different humanitarian assistance modalities provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) on the food security, safety, and well-being of food-insecure households in Afghanistan, one of WFP's largest humanitarian operations. Over six months, monthly transfers will be delivered to targeted beneficiaries in two regions: "Rural" (3 Districts in Balkh and Faryab provinces), and Kabul (1 Police District). The evaluation employs a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to compare the effectiveness of these modalities.
In the Rural region, 180 villages receiving assistance are randomized into two groups: beneficiaries from 90 villages receive cash-in-hand transfers, while beneficiaries from 90 villages receive a fixed in-kind transfer. The two modalities are of equivalent value. In Kabul, 2,250 households receiving assistance are randomized into three groups: one third receive cash-in-hand transfers, one third receive deposits to a checking account at Azizi Bank, and one third receive mobile money transfers via Hesabpay. Baseline data collection is followed by subsequent interviews approximately three and six months post-distribution to assess changes in food security, subjective well-being, safety, intrahousehold decision making, and women's mobility.