ESNFI assistance for conflict affected people in Balkh Province According to the AHF 1st SA 2022 and the ESNFI cluster priorities for 2022, OHW proposes to provide cash for shelter repair and cash for transitional shelter in the Chemtal district of Balkh Province, as recommended by the shelter cluster for all population groups in need. By providing short to medium-term support to vulnerable HHs affected by natural disasters and conflict through transitional shelter construction, OHW will ensure people's privacy and dignity while mitigating protection and health risks. Cash for shelter repair will also be provided to extremely vulnerable HHs whose shelters have been severely or partially damaged (category B or C). Complementary technical capacity-building activities for community leaders and affected households, as well as shelter construction and repairing.


OHW conducted a rapid assessment of 371 HHs in May 2022, finding that 107 HHs are in transitional shelter (completely destroyed or family living in open space or tent/makeshift), 182 HHs' shelters are destroyed from 50% to 70% and require repair, and 30 HHs' shelters are destroyed from 25% to 50% and require small construction works or repairing. OHW will target a total of 419 HHs in Balkh Province (Chemtal District): 28 HH Transitional shelter cat A, 84 HH cat B, and 307 HH cat C damaged houses. A shelter score card is used to determine the extent of the damage. HHs with cat A (transitional shelter support) will receive $1472 (7 members in HH) in three installments, while HHs with cat B damaged houses will receive $550 and HHs with cat C damaged houses will receive $330 in two installments based on ESampNFI cluster standard criteria. To allow people to take control of their own construction activities, payments will be made in cash. Due to the lack of other options, installments are delivered by an FSP (Buloro) via cash in envelop in local currency. Market monitoring has confirmed the availability of required materials and will continue to monitor prices and goods availability throughout the project.

The project is based on an ESNFI cluster analysis, ESNFI cluster priorities for the first SA, and OHW presence and experience in the area. People in Balkh have been severely impacted by conflict and natural disasters, which have damaged or destroyed people's homes, lives, and livelihoods. Furthermore, winter is already ended, a time of high unemployment, and floods are expected to hit many HHs in the targeted districts between May and July 2022. According to the WoAA 2021, 85 percent of the HH said they needed at least one type of shelter, with 55 percent saying they needed a shelter upgrade. A high percentage of people living in damaged shelter are the drivers of those needs.

Drought and flash floods in Balkh Province have made people even more vulnerable, especially displaced people who are unable to tend to their fields and provide for their families. The elderly, (chronically) ill, and women/girls in particular face health and safety risks due to a lack of adequate shelter. Conditional cash  assistance for transitional shelters and shelter repair, as well as basic repair training, will enable selected HHs to improve their immediate living conditions, either by building a transitional shelter or by repairing their homes. Based on OHW market monitoring, cash is used because markets are functional and materials are locally available. Prioritization is determined by vulnerability, the need for assistance, and the extent of the damage. OHW will also ensure that HHs with People with Special Needs - PSN are included in the assistance through an inclusive approach that ensures their meaningful participation. Gender, protection, and C-19 will all be taken into account.