Shelter support to flood affected people in Herat In Herat, people are very vulnerable because of conflict and recurrent natural disasters such as flash floods and drought. Currently there is a joint needs assessment ongoing in the province, therefore there is no up to date needs assessment currently available. However, the analysis done by the ESNFI over the last 4 years, as well as Cordaid’s presence/ observations in Herat province and PDMs confirm the high needs and gaps as mentioned in the 1st Reserve Allocation Strategy. However, Cordaid will conduct a rapid assessment (and market survey) at the onset of the project. As indicated in the allocation strategy, needs are in line with cluster priorities and are multi-sectoral, caused by increasing prices and food insecurity, loss of employment/ reduced employment opportunities and COVID-19. Currently the overall security situation of the western region of Afghanistan, including Herat province is good, with visible improvement in the security situation from 2021 onward. The main security issues are local criminalities and kidnapping. But people in Herat have been affected severely by previous conflict as well as natural disasters: slightly more than 70% of HH reported living in a significantly or partially damaged or fully destroyed shelter, due to violence as well to flash floods in 2021, and many lost their livelihoods and belongings. According to key informants, the already precarious humanitarian situation will be exacerbated by the seasonal (flash) floods that are expected between April and June, as people depleted the few reserves they might have had during the past winter. People are relying on negative coping strategies, living in poverty, and have no means. Considering the high cost of shelter repairs, and people relying already on negative coping strategies, they may have no means to contribute money to house repair/construction. Most Afghan household have to make choices between meeting basic needs and repairing their shelters and are unable to sustain any major shock that severely damages or destroys their shelter. According to the WoAA (2021), 56% of the displaced and 55% of the non-displaced population of Herat are in need of shelter or upgrade assistance. In the same WoAA, 53% of IDP households reported shelter as one of the top three priority needs. 85%of IDP households reported at least one of the following shelter issues: leaks during heavy rain, lack of insulation, needing shelter repairs and upgrades. 76% of the assessed population in Herat indicated to be affected by the drought. And drought is also expected to displace more people during 2022 (HNO ’22). 65% of the people in Herat is in IPC3+ because of the projected drought, and flash floods (IPC report). Majority of the people in Herat depend on animal husbandry, and especially coming out of winter when unemployment is high, people lack the means to ensure sufficient food (Herat province classified as IPC4), let alone to repair their houses. The lack of appropriate shelter is representing health and protection risks for elderly, (chronically) ill and women/ girls in particular. The latter are already disproportionately affected by the conflict and COVID-19 and are lacking privacy as well. Cordaid is a member of JMMI and also conducted the market monitoring for JMMI in April 2021 in Herat province which is still ongoing on a monthly basis The overall objective of the project is to provide vulnerable people affected by floods in Herat Province with dignified shelter solutions through conditional restricted cash transfers for shelter repair and transitional shelter, ensuring their well-being, privacy and dignity whilst mitigating their protection and health risks. Provision of transitional shelter to 156 most vulnerable households living in open spaces, makeshift shelters or those whose shelters have been destroyed and fall under category A, through conditional and restricted cash support. Provision of shelter repair/ upgrade through cash assistance to 579 HH (cat B 574 HH and cat C 5 HH) most vulnerable households whose shelters have either been severely or partially damaged.