Emergency assistance to conflict-affected communities in North-West Syria to cover the winter needs though Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)/ Cash for Winter Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)/Cash for Winter remains an efficient, reliable method of ensuring timely access to lifesaving NFI’s. Unaffordability is the main driver of need according to HNO 2022, with 67% of the population reporting an inability to afford crucial NFIs for the winter period ahead, including fuel for heating amp cooking, adult clothing, and winter heaters. The winter MPCA will alleviate suffering and reduce reliance on negative coping strategies, supporting vulnerable HHs to relieve the impact of increased NFI costs.

GOAL has significant experience in MPCA/ Cash for Winter programming in NWS and has reached 90,000 households (HHs) with assistance since 2016, playing a major role in the winter cash response annually. GOAL’s 2021-2022 winterization MPCA response reached 32,809 Unique HHs/162,948 Unique individuals, with MPCA valued at USD 4,956,050. Under the proposed activities, GOAL will provide additional support to food security beneficiaries currently supported in GOAL’s operational areas, newly displaced people, and returnees into GOAL Area of Operation (AoO)s in and off camps with a value of 150 USD per HH, in line with S/NFI Guidance Note on Winterization for Northwest Syria to meet increased winter needs during the cold winter months using a cash-based response, thus reducing reliance on negative coping strategies. GOAL will target 20,494 unique HHs/ 102,470(M22,621, W24,507, Boys31,545 and Girls23,797 unique individuals located in communities in 7 sub-districts (1 in Aleppo and 6 in Idleb). GOAL will target the most vulnerable people in extreme need to receive winter assistance, especially those who meet the vulnerability criteria, as reflected under Activity 1.1.1.

GOAL will deliver the cash for winter to vulnerable households. Modality options include cash in hand, or cash disbursements facilitated by an e-card system. This ensures full, real-time oversight of all cash transfers provided to beneficiaries. The cash for winter will be delivered to the targeted HHs through a GOAL contracted Financial Service Provider (FSP). The process is initiated up to two-days before the distribution, GOAL coordinates with the FSP on the distribution dates and confirms the capacity of the FSP. GOAL’s Emergency team confirm distribution details with LCs/ Camp Managers and in consultation with those affected. One day prior to distribution, GOAL Emergency teams, consisting of male and female staff, distribute cash receipt forms and reconfirm the details of distribution date and time with beneficiaries. On the day of distribution, two tables are setup at a designated point the first consisting of GOAL Emergency teams who verify beneficiaries IDs against Assistant Receipt Form (ARF) which includes DOB, Address, Full Name, Phone Number, number of family members, cash assistance receipt date and signature. The second table is where GOAL Emergency and Finance teams cross-check their own ARF copy with the beneficiaries’ information. Beneficiaries are asked to cross-check the received amount and sign. GOAL MEL and Accountability teams are on-hand for Distribution Monitoring and to raise beneficiaries’ awareness on CFM options. More details available in Annex 2, GOAL’s SOP. In cases where a beneficiary is unable to attend the distribution points, door-to-door distributions, “home delivery” will be organized for specific vulnerable individuals such as new widows with movement restrictions, persons with disabilities or older persons with mobility difficulties.  

GOAL, in coordination with the Shelter/NFI Cluster, has identified the initial locations most vulnerable to cold weather (Elevation, snow coverage areas, shelter type etc.). During September 2022 conducted a fuel market assessment to ensure markets in targeted areas are able to support a cash-based approach to winter fuel needs and winter needs assessment to better understand the priority needs of the affected people.