Multisectoral response to El Nino-induced drought-affected communities in Siraro woreda of West Arsi, Oromia region ltpgtPAD is submitting an integrated and multisectoral emergency response project to address the challenges faced by El Nino-induced drought and conflict-affected communities in Siraro Woreda, West Arsi Zone, Oromia region. The proposed project is aimed at delivering essential and life-saving humanitarian assistance across key sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Nutrition, Water, and WASH. The project is developed in collaboration with Action for Social Development and Environmental Protection Organization (ASDEPO) and Nexus as co-applicants. PAD, ASDEPO, and Nexus have long-standing relationships in implementing humanitarian and development projects. These three organizations will bring their extensive experience and expertise in emergency Agriculture, WASH, Health, and Nutrition interventions to the proposed project. ltbrgtPAD, ASDEPO, and Nexus have a presence in the woreda, with several years of experience operating in the Oromia region, and implemented various programs including Agriculture, WASH, health, and nutrition interventions. lt/pgtltpgtRecently, a rapid needs assessment was conducted by PAD, ASDEPO, and Nexus in the target woreda. The findings showed that the woreda is experiencing a 33.7% reduction in crop yield, 60% of kebeles facing food shortages, and a high level of malnutrition at 38% for pregnant and lactating women. Furthermore, there is a water supply coverage of 30.4%, with 19 out of 32 kebeles lacking access to safe water sources. The Woreda DRM office highlights the catastrophic impact of El Niño-induced drought on agriculture productivity and widespread malnutrition. lt/pgtltpgtAs a response, the provision of agricultural inputs, ESNFI, and supporting health and WASH facilities were recommended.ltbrgtThe project aims to address the impact of El Nino-induced drought and floods, which have severely reduced crop yields in the region. More than 90,000 households require essential crop seeds such as cereals and vegetables, animal health services, and inputs for health and nutrition services. The project will also tackle multidimensional crises including armed conflict, drought, and epidemics that have heightened risks for affected communities, leading to negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage and child labor. The project will mainstream protection and gender mainstreaming in its project interventions. To address the pressing health and nutrition needs of the community, the project will assist 15,662 Pregnant and Lactating Women and their children. Essential routine drugs will be procured to fill gaps in the UNICEF pipeline for Therapeutic Feeding Program (TFP) sites.ltbrgtThe proposed project employs an integrated approach focusing on life-saving interventions with sustainable solutions aimed at enhancing the recovery and resilience of the target populations. Gender equality, protection, disability inclusion, and accountability to affected individuals will be fundamental activities that will be mainstreamed in the project. The implementing organizations will develop a robust MEL to guide the implementation of the project. The project will conduct joint monitoring and evaluation in collaboration with national and regional clusters. PAD and its co-applicants will make sure that the national and regional clusters are fully engaged for the smooth implementation of the project. Relevant government offices at the local level will also be involved in the joint monitoring and evaluation. ltbrgtLeveraging their existing humanitarian and life-saving programs, PAD, ASDEPO, and Nexus will swiftly initiate project implementation. Existing partnerships at the local level will be capitalized in implementing this project. The project is slated for a 12-month duration with a total budget of USD 1,000,000. Through this allocation, the project aims to directly impact 102,678  individuals in need, with a particular focus on reaching 65,869 women and girls among the total beneficiaries.ltbrgtlt/pgt