What’s more, 41% of those people said the project had positive psychological effects on their lives, including a feeling of self-sufficiency, self-confidence, stability, and feeling safe. Nidal’s advice to others facing the same challenges was: “Depend on yourself to improve your situation and your life.”
With $12.6 million in funding from USAID, the project reached more than 150,000 people directly and 746,594 people indirectly between July 2019 and September 2020 working with local partners.
Project activities included multi-round and emergency cash assistance, in-kind assistance (ready-to-eat rations) and wheat value chain support (wheat purchase from selected farmers participating in another of CARE’s livelihood projects, milling into flour, distribution to bakeries for subsidised bread production, and infrastructure improvements).
How did we do it?
Working with others
The project worked with local partners, bakeries, farmers, and community “bread committees” who monitored quality and made sure that bread was available at the right prices and to people who needed it.
Helping the supply chain connect
Working with a project funded through the UK that was also supporting farmers, the team was able to connect farmers to bakeries who could buy subsidised wheat and offer a higher price. Some bakeries were able to improve their infrastructure or get grants. Those bakeries were then able to sell to people who got cash or vouchers, so the market was able to work for everyone.
Let communities run the show
85% of farmers said they had been consulted about their needs, and communities helped decide who qualified for benefits. 85% of people knew about how to get support, and felt that support went to those who need it most. Communities set up “bread agents” who could take food to people who lived far away or were not able to easily travel to bakeries and “bread committees” to monitor quality and price.
Support people in stages
In round 1, almost all of the cash transfers went into buying food. By the 8th round, people were also putting money into health care and paying down debts. For farmers, the project helped people access seeds. If they planted the seeds, then they could access fertilisers.
Listen to feedback, and then change
The project set up hotlines and other ways for people to send in complaints and suggestions (Whatsapp was especially popular). They also used project data systems to see that they needed to offer bigger vouchers for people, set up better distribution systems to reach those with mobility issues, and set up different distribution systems so women felt safe.
What did we achieve?
People have more food
People were 10 times more likely to have enough food. 48% of people ate better quality food, and 63% of people ate more diverse meals.
Markets got stronger
Farmers actually grew more food, and bakeries were able to produce and sell more bread. 65% of farmers say this helped them overcome challenges accessing markets. Bakeries said bread prices were more stable and higher demand made it possible for everyone to produce more food.
People’s lives are better
57% of people said cash transfers improved their lives considerably, and 42% of farmers said their lives improved considerably. (97% of people said their lives improved at all, and 99% of people were satisfied with the project.)
More people have jobs
As one person said, “The project had a huge positive impact because it activated the mills in the region and created job opportunities, as 70 workers work in our mill, which means 70 families benefited.”
Communities are stronger
23% of farmers said there were community-wide improvements in solidarity as people were able to support needy families.
People have better mental health
41% of people pointed to better mental health, feeling more self-sufficient and self-confident.
Want to learn more?
Read the evaluation.
