5.2.3 Ration/identification cards

• Issue ration or identification cards to each household. Cards should:

• be pre-numbered sequentially
• contain some form of identification such as a photograph, a physical description or fingerprints to discourage forgery
• be of durable paper or plastic or digital identification chips
• indicate the name of the card holder, usually the head of household
• indicate the household size or number of individuals who depend on the card holder for their ration
• break down household members by age groups
• contain an address, e.g. village, camp sector
• provide spaces to indicate distributions received
• have a stated expiry date
• include accountability information, such as how to make a complaint.
• Consider issuing identification cards to female heads of households, especially for food commodity distributions, as this acknowledges women’s predominant role as guardians of the household goods in many cultures.
• Keep blank ration cards in the office safe and inventory periodically to prevent unauthorised issuance (see Annex 19.8 Ration card format).
• If identity cards are not feasible, issue tokens, books or tickets. For instructions on distribution systems using tokens see Annex 19.9, and section 12.1.1.