Winterization support for vulnerable, shock affected people in Afghanistan DRC, through this project, aims to support 5300 shock affected households in Herat, Kabul, and Maidan Wardak provinces through the provision of standard winterization packages via through a preferred cash modality if markets allow. For activities in Herat, DRC will partner with NRC and IRC through complementary projects to ensure needs of the most vulnerable are met across several informal settlements.

During November-December 2018 29,931 displaced families were verified in informal IDP settlements through a verification exercise led by DRC and NRC. During 2018, humanitarian agencies provided large scale shelter and winterization assistance to IDPs in the informal IDP settlements in Herat. Above average precipitation during the of winter 2018-2019 and spring 2019 increased hopes among IDP households for returning back to their places of origin, however, a majority of the households still remained undecided and remain in displacement sites. 

 DRC will provide cash for winterization (200 USD) to 3,300 displaced families living in, Sharahkh e Sabz, Regration, Clinic Area and/or Shaydayee settlements who are unable to return to their places of origin due to ongoing conflict and plan to remain for the winter of 2019-2020.

In addition, DRC will provide the same winterization assistance to 1545 vulnerable households in Kabul province with a focus on areas with high levels of displaced households being hosted, however those living in protracted informal settlements will not be targeted.  DRC will provide the same assistance to 455 households in Maidan Shahr district of Maidan Wardak province, with a focus on vulnerable displaced households and host communities with a poor capacity to cope with hosting displaced households. In Kabul and Maidan Wardak, beneficiaries already supported by ERM assistance will be prioritized for winterization assistance, in order to provide an integrated response. 

PDM findings from previous AHF Reserve allocations for similar types of assistance in Herat show a strong acceptance of cash as a means of assistance. Respondents in these PDMs did express dissatisfaction with the amount of assistance received for winterization as previous assistance was given as only a half package of 100 USD. This will be mitigated by following the cluster recommended and endorsed full package of 200 USD. It should be noted for targeted households in Herat that a large portion of cash for winterization was spent on other needs, with food being the highest priority. While sectoral cash of this type is needed, when this is not combined with other multi-sectoral assistance, households will make their own determinations based on their own needs. 

To ensure service provision in a dignified manner, DRC has an accountability framework as part of its action plan to comply with core humanitarian standards (CHS) that will be used as a benchmark to guide its quality implementation along with ES/NFI cluster guidelines. This project will have a direct impact on reducing protection risks associated with harmful coping mechanisms, including child protection risks, in IDP settlements and displacement areas. DRC will mainstream protection throughout project implementation to prioritize safety and dignity, and avoid causing harm, and to ensure meaningful access and accountability to affected populations.