Provision of winterization assistance to conflict-affected communities in Ukraine (2023-2024) ltpgtltbrgtDuring this 6-month project, Acted will respond to the winter needs faced by vulnerable individuals in isolated, frontline, and recently accessible communities in Sumska, Chernihivska, Kharkivska, Donetska, Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Khersonska, and Mykolaivska. Acted will put an emphasis on six raions identified as having the highest Cold Spot Index according to REACH’s Winterization 2023/24 assessment: Sumskyi and Okhtyrskyi (Sumska), Pokrovskyi, Bakhmutskyi, Kramatorskyi (Donetska) and Kharkivskyi (Kharkivska). However, the intervention will not target areas across all oblasts mentioned as geographic priorities will be determined based on internal assessments, assistance requests, and coordination with local stakeholders, including the Shelter Cluster. Final locations will be identified closer to implementation, to avoid duplication with other actors and maintain responsiveness to contextual change. Finally, geographic targeting will complement other ongoing winterization initiatives supported by different funding sources (ECHO, BHA, and UHF's 24513 project) by utilizing Acted’s established operational presence in these areas.ltbrgtFocusing on the SNFI sector, Acted will ensure conflict-affected communities in Ukraine are better equipped to meet their basic shelter needs during the winter period (Outcome 1), notably by improving the insulation of substandard and war-damaged houses (Output 1.1) and supporting households with cash and in-kind assistance to mitigate the impact of harsh winter conditions exacerbated by damaged housing and destruction of energy and heating infrastructure due to targeted airstrikes (Output 1.12).ltbrgtActed will prioritize areas of interventions based on 1) severity of need, 2) number of people affected, prioritizing areas with a high number of populations in need not already covered by other actors, 3) type of settlements, focusing on rural and peri-urban areas, where access to services and humanitarian aid is limited. This intervention will capitalize on Acted’s existing portfolio of complementary multi-sectoral emergency activities and implementation capacity in the priority areas to effectively respond to urgent winterization needs and address gaps in the larger humanitarian aid response. ltbrgtActed’s ongoing operational and technical capacity in the project areas will ensure timely assistance to cover the entire heating, through insulation works, the provision of cash-for-heating or solid fuel to cover the entire winter period, and the distribution of winterization NFIs. Acted carries out its direct frontline response through its Emergency Response Team (ERT), which allows for an agile reaction to needs and dedicated support to adjust implementation in response to emerging needs. Since March 2023, Acted’s ERT has been able to provide swift in-kind support to the targeted areas, with defined processes of intervention and a dedicated team (funded in part under UHF’s 24513 project), and similarly would be responsible for the frontline activities under this proposal. ltbrgtFurther to its direct implementation, Acted will also work with its significant network of local CSO partners, promoting the localization agenda and reaching additional vulnerable households along the frontline and affected areas. All partners have passed Acted’s due diligence processes, have successful experience working with Acted under different funding streams and have demonstrated efficient implementation and timely budget management. Partners’ implementation will be under the direct oversight of Acted’s dedicated Partnerships team who has demonstrated experience in localization and management of local partners, including under the ongoing UHF #23492 project.ltbrgtlt/pgt