Food Assistance

Targeting of food assistance

Since May 2021, WFP is providing cash for food assistance based on new eligibility criteria that consider the vulnerability level of each household.

The 3 different vulnerability groups

Group 1: Highly Vulnerable: Households that are considered highly vulnerable and in need of more assistance:

• Households with one or more members falling under the protection-sensitive criteria (2nd box above), or
• Households meeting two or more of the socio-demographic criteria (1st box above), or
• Households meeting only one socio-demographic criteria (1st box above), but without any male family members aged 18-59 years in the household that are able to work.

Group 2: Moderately Vulnerable: Households that are vulnerable, but less vulnerable than the highly vulnerable households:

• Households meeting only one socio-demographic criteria (1st box above), and no other criteria, and with male family members aged 18-59 years in the household that are able to work, or
• Households not meeting any of the above criteria, but without any male family members aged 18-59 years in the household that are able to work.

Group 3: Least Vulnerable: Households that don’t meet any of the eligibility criteria, and that have male family members aged 18-59 years in the household that are able to work, will not receive any cash assistance for food.

Globally, assistance to refugees is changing from blanket assistance to targeted assistance based on vulnerabilities to ensure that the limited resources available are used in the best possible way. For refugees in Rwanda, this means that from now on different amounts of cash assistance for food will be given to different refugee groups based on their level of vulnerability.

You will continue to receive school feeding, nutrition support, cash for non-food items (NFI), energy support, health, WASH, shelter, and protection support such as counselling, resettlement, voluntary return and local integration when applicable.

Additionally, the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and WFP are committed to enhance refugee inclusion in social and economic programs. More opportunities will be created for education and skills training, livelihoods and self-reliance activities so that refugees can become more independent economically.

If you genuinely believe that your household has been placed in the wrong group, you can call the phone number below that is listed next to your camp. UNHCR will review all requests together with WFP and take final decisions on the eligibility of refugee households. Fraudulent claims will be addressed according to relevant procedures.

• Kigeme  0788 380 335
• Kiziba  0788 386 002
• Nyabiheke  0788 389 430
• Mugombwa  0788 381 404
• Mahama  0788 380 158

If you have more questions, want to pass a message or if you would like to make a complaint that is not about your eligibility, please use the existing feedback channels:

• UNHCR, WFP and partner field staff at the help desk
• The UNHCR and WFP hotlines
• Your local Refugee Executive Committee, CFM committee and community mobilisers
• MINEMA camp authorities
• UNHCR email [email protected] or through our suggestion/complain boxes