Request for Proposals: Cash for Food Programme (Turkey)

The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify qualified partners for implementing its Cash for Food Programme in earthquake-affected provinces of Turkey. The selected partner will help deliver monthly cash assistance to vulnerable Syrian households under temporary protection, improving food security, nutrition, protection, and access to essential support services.

WFP Call for Expression of Interest: Cash for Food Programme in Turkey

The World Food Programme (WFP) is inviting eligible organizations to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to become an implementing partner for its Cash for Food Programme in Turkey.

The programme aims to continue providing cash-based food assistance to vulnerable Syrian refugees living under temporary protection in provinces severely affected by the February 2023 earthquakes. By working with a qualified implementing partner, WFP seeks to ensure efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance while strengthening food security, protection, and access to essential services.

Program Overview

The Cash for Food Programme is a humanitarian assistance initiative that provides monthly cash transfers to vulnerable refugee households, enabling them to purchase food according to their individual needs.

Key program details include:

Program: Cash for Food Programme
Organization: World Food Programme (WFP)
Country: Turkey
Funding Approach: Cash-based food assistance
Target Population: Syrian households under temporary protection
Implementation Areas: Adiyaman, Kahramanmaras, and Hatay
Current Beneficiaries: Approximately 10,000 individuals
Monthly Assistance: TRY 1,000 per person
Payment Method: Monthly PTT cash transfers

Background

The Cash for Food Programme has been implemented by WFP since August 2024.

The initiative was introduced to support Syrian refugees whose economic conditions worsened following the devastating February 2023 earthquakes. Many families experienced:

Loss of livelihoods.
Damage or destruction of homes.
Reduced income opportunities.
Increased food insecurity.
Ongoing economic hardship.
Limited access to essential services.

The programme helps vulnerable households maintain access to nutritious food while preserving dignity and choice through cash assistance.

Program Objectives

The Cash for Food Programme aims to:

Improve household food security.
Enhance nutritional well-being.
Provide regular cash assistance for food purchases.
Increase access to essential food supplies.
Raise awareness of available social and protection services.
Strengthen referrals to livelihood opportunities.
Connect beneficiaries with social support programmes.
Improve accountability through beneficiary feedback mechanisms.
Identify and respond to protection risks promptly and respectfully.

What Assistance Is Provided?

Eligible beneficiaries currently receive:

TRY 1,000 per person each month
Cash transfers through the PTT payment system
Flexible assistance that allows households to purchase food based on their own priorities

Cash-based assistance provides families with greater dignity, flexibility, and the ability to make informed purchasing decisions according to their dietary and household needs.

Target Areas

The programme is implemented in three earthquake-affected provinces of Turkey:

Adiyaman
Kahramanmaras
Hatay

These provinces continue to face significant humanitarian and economic recovery challenges following the February 2023 earthquakes.

Who Will Benefit?

The programme primarily supports:

Syrian households under temporary protection.
Refugee families living in urban areas.
Vulnerable households affected by food insecurity.
Families impacted by economic hardship following the earthquakes.
Individuals requiring humanitarian food assistance.

Approximately 10,000 beneficiaries currently receive monthly support through the programme.

Who Can Apply?

This Call for Expression of Interest is intended for qualified implementing partners capable of delivering humanitarian cash assistance.

Organizations should have experience in areas such as:

Humanitarian assistance.
Cash transfer programming.
Food security interventions.
Refugee assistance.
Community outreach.
Protection services.
Programme implementation and monitoring.
Beneficiary communication and feedback systems.

Applicants should demonstrate the operational capacity needed to implement large-scale humanitarian programmes effectively.

Responsibilities of the Selected Partner

The implementing partner will support WFP by:

Delivering cash-based food assistance.
Supporting beneficiary identification and engagement.
Coordinating programme implementation.
Facilitating beneficiary communication.
Managing community feedback mechanisms.
Monitoring programme performance.
Referring protection concerns to appropriate services.
Supporting links to livelihood and social assistance programmes.
Ensuring accountability and quality service delivery.

How the Programme Works

The implementation process generally includes:

WFP identifies eligible beneficiaries.
Monthly cash assistance is transferred through the PTT payment system.
Beneficiaries use the funds to purchase food according to household needs.
The implementing partner supports programme delivery and beneficiary engagement.
Protection risks and referrals are managed through established mechanisms.
WFP and the implementing partner monitor programme performance and outcomes.

Why This Programme Matters

Cash-based food assistance is an effective humanitarian approach because it:

Gives beneficiaries dignity and choice.
Improves household food security.
Supports nutritional well-being.
Stimulates local markets.
Reduces reliance on in-kind food distributions.
Helps vulnerable families recover from economic shocks.
Connects beneficiaries with broader social protection and livelihood opportunities.

The programme also strengthens accountability by encouraging communication between beneficiaries and implementing partners.

Tips for Interested Organizations

Organizations preparing an Expression of Interest should:

Demonstrate experience managing humanitarian cash assistance programmes.
Highlight expertise in food security and refugee support.
Show strong financial and operational management capacity.
Describe community engagement and protection experience.
Explain monitoring, accountability, and feedback systems.
Present evidence of successful partnerships and programme implementation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors:

Submitting incomplete documentation.
Failing to demonstrate relevant humanitarian experience.
Providing insufficient evidence of operational capacity.
Not addressing beneficiary protection mechanisms.
Overlooking monitoring and accountability requirements.
Submitting unclear implementation approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the WFP Cash for Food Programme?

The Cash for Food Programme is a humanitarian initiative that provides monthly cash assistance to vulnerable Syrian households under temporary protection in Turkey to improve food security and nutrition.

What is the purpose of this Call for Expression of Interest?

WFP is seeking a qualified implementing partner to continue delivering high-quality cash-based food assistance and related support services in selected provinces of Turkey.

Which areas are covered by the programme?

The programme operates in the earthquake-affected provinces of:

Adiyaman
Kahramanmaras
Hatay

Who benefits from the programme?

The programme supports vulnerable Syrian households living under temporary protection, with approximately 10,000 individuals currently receiving assistance.

How much assistance do beneficiaries receive?

Eligible beneficiaries receive TRY 1,000 per person each month through the Turkish PTT cash transfer system.

Who can submit an Expression of Interest?

Qualified organizations with experience in humanitarian assistance, cash transfer programming, food security, refugee support, and programme implementation are encouraged to apply.

Why does WFP use cash assistance instead of food distribution?

Cash assistance allows beneficiaries to purchase food that best meets their household needs while supporting dignity, flexibility, and local markets.

Conclusion

The WFP Call for Expression of Interest for the Cash for Food Programme in Turkey provides an opportunity for experienced humanitarian organizations to partner in delivering life-saving cash assistance to vulnerable Syrian refugees. By supporting food security, nutritional well-being, protection services, and access to livelihoods, the programme plays a vital role in helping earthquake-affected communities recover while promoting dignity, choice, and long-term resilience.