Provision of winterization assistance to the most vulnerable 1,200 households in Faryab, Baghlan, and Samangan provinces The existing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues to deepen, characterized by armed conflict and insurgencies and high prevalence of natural disasters, which result in persistent high levels of displacement and multi-sector needs. Following the cancellation of the peace talks between the IEA and USA, as well as the organization of the presidential elections in September 2019, hostilities have continued to rise in 2019, resulting in an increased level of displacement and protection risks for civilians, further complicating the crisis. The multi-sector needs, effects and risks posed by conflict, natural disasters and displacement are intensified during winter in Afghanistan, where extremely low and sub-zero average temperatures across the country expose vulnerable households to further life-threatening risks, especially in health, and lead to negative coping strategies. Therefore, every year during winter there is a strong winterization response from humanitarian agencies in order to provide protection from the elements for vulnerable households. 

Through this intervention, ACTED will provide lifesaving winterization heating assistance to 1,200 vulnerable families (8,400 beneficiaries) facing critical climatic conditions during the Afghanistan winter in Faryab, Baghlan and Samangan provinces. Due to the extremely low temperatures during winter and the high levels of displacement and poverty across Afghanistan, many households and communities are either living in inadequate or makeshift shelters for the conditions or lack financial resources to provide sufficient heating, therefore exposing them to increased health risks such as respiratory infections, pneumonia and hypothermia, which can be fatal. In order to protect the most vulnerable households that are at risk during winter, ACTED will provide standard winterization heating packages, consisting of 200 USD cash assistance (provided to beneficiaries in Afghani) to cover heating materials for 3 months. In total, ACTED will target 500 households in Faryab, 400 households in Baghlan, and 300 households in Samangan with winterization assistance. In addition to the cash assistance for heating materials, ACTED will provide trainings on efficient fuel use and heating, to improve household’s heating methods and prolong the effectiveness of the heating materials, thus increasing their protection against the winter conditions.

Cash modality: ACTED will conduct 2 cash instalments. The first cash instalment will be approximately 20 USD and is unconditional and unrestricted, however is intended for the beneficiary to purchase their preferred heating material (gas cylinder or bukhari stove). Therefore the second cash instalment will be conditional upon the beneficiary purchasing the heating material. Both instalments will be unrestricted, as direct cash in hand is the preferred mechanism. Cash is preferred to vouchers due to the high number of districts/ locations (13 districts) targeted, and the urgency of the assistance, which means that establishing a voucher system would require significant engagement with a high number of different markets and suppliers and would not be effective for providing the emergency winterization assistance targeted under this intervention, and similarly mobile money transfers are not deemed appropriate due to their low level of usage and understanding across rural communities in Afghanistan.

Beneficiary targets:
Fayab: 500 HHs
-	Maymana 300 HHs
-	Qaisar 150 HHs
-	Gurziwan 50 HHs

Baghlan: 400 HHs
-	Pul-i-Kumri 130 HH
-	Baghlan Jadid 130 HHs
-	Pul Hesar 17 HHs
-	Deh Salah 43 HHs
-	Burka 40 HHs
-	Nahrin 40 HHs

Samangan: 300 HHs
-	Aybak 160 HHs
-	Khuram Wa Sarbagh 60 HHs
-	Dara-e-Suf Payen 40 HHs
-	Dara-e-Suf Bala 40 HHs

Total = 1,200 HHs