Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project Additional Financing

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The Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project Additional Financing (SNHCP AF) will support the continuation of the nutrition linked unconditional cash transfers provided under the Government's national cash transfer project known as Baxnaano meaning 'uplifting' in Somali. Specifically, the AF will ensure smooth and uninterrupted delivery cash transfers to the existing Baxnaano beneficiary households for an additional 2 years, beyond the first 12 months already provided under the parent SNHCP. Cumulatively, the Baxnaano beneficiaries will therefore receive cash assistance for a total of 3 years, after which they will be reassessed for eligibility, per the Baxnaano program design. In addition, the AF will also invest in strengthening access by Banxaano beneficiaries to education and health services for enhanced human development outcomes. Predictable and reliable cash transfers have played a critical role in protecting household food security, promoting livelihood and strengthening resilience against the recent multiple shocks facing Somalia. Linkages with social services through cash transfers have also been key in supporting increased human capital. Continued support will contribute to efforts aimed at addressing widespread poverty, food insecurity and vulnerability in Somalia, arising from repeated shocks and natural disasters driven by climate change, which is now compounded by the locust infestation and COVID-19 pandemic. The Government is firmly committed to the continuation of the cash transfers under the Baxnaano, which will be critical in the coming months to support citizen confidence in institutions given the uncertainties caused by the recent political deadlock and constitutional crisis. The proposed Additional Financing will help to preserve the gains made by the parent SNHCP, and will not change the original Project Development Objective (PDO), results framework, or the implementation arrangements of the SNHCP, but the closing date will be extended to enable successful completion of all project activities. The delivery of the SNHCP AF will take place against a highly risky country context and implementation environment, for which existing and new mitigation measures will be applied, as appropriate.