Winterization Support to Vulnerable Families in Dara-e Suf-e-Bala and Ruy-e-Duab Districts of Samangan The overall objective of this intervention is to provide winterization support that can meet the winter needs of the project participants in the form of heating support, winter clothing packages and blanket support to the vulnerable families in Samangan province of Afghanistan. The project is being implemented to meet the cluster Objective: “Ensure affected population groups (IDPs, returnees, refugees, non-displaced conflict and natural disaster-affected and acutely vulnerable people of all ages directly affected by new emergencies have immediate and adequate access to emergency shelter, Shelter repair/upgrade, household items and seasonal assistance”. 

The project will be implemented in 2 districts with a total of 1277 Families as per the following detail: Ruy-e-Duab: 565 families and Dara-e-Suf-e-Bala: 712 families. Project participants will be selected on severity of weather conditions in specific locations, extent people are exposed to the elements and number of people exposed to the elements. During selection of the project participants ActionAid will ensure that vulnerable households, viz. poor conflict affected families, elderly headed households, child headed households, families with or headed by a person with disabilities are not excluded. 

ActionAid will work with a project selection committee that could include the Mullah imam, the CDC leader and one of the community representatives. Given the current context we expect that one of the representatives from the DfA will be present as we select the households for this support. However, we will consistently apply the selection criteria to finalize the project participants. 

Complying with the CVA appropriateness guidance note, ActionAid will use unconditional Cash Assistance method. Cash will be distributed in centrally located safe locations to enable people access the distribution point. The amount for each activity will comply with Shelter cluster MEB  established through a process facilitated by the CVWG based on data from various sources and validated by the CVWG Co-Chairs in collaboration with REACH and cluster leads.  The transfer value has been determined based on several factors including the existing capacity of the target population to cater for their essential needs, market capacity and other assistance the affected population might be receiving. 
Based on the above the transfer value were standardized viz. Heating: US$200, Blanket: US$57 and Winter Cloth: US$74. The cash will be delivered in 2 tranches the first being approximately US$200 and the 2nd installment being US$131. Based on our assessment the markets in Samangan are operational and have the capacity to meet the needs of the people. Since the cash will be delivered through the Sarafa without any cash handling by ActionAid Staff and payment to the Sarafa on a reimbursement basis, to make cash delivery safe and minimize the possibility of fraud. Direct Cash will be the delivery mechanism in view of the prevailing Banking situation in the country, based on our consultation with the community in the country where we are delivering several projects, and the past Post Distribution Monitoring.  The new MEB was established and endorsed in September 2022, and the market trend demonstrate relative stability in the price and meet the project outcome. 

During the project participant selection, ActionAid Staff will create awareness on the objectives of the programme, ActionAid’s Safeguarding and complaint and feedback mechanism and it will be repeated during the Cash delivery to minimize any omission at the selection stage. 

The project will mainstream protection by increasing knowledge amongst the targeted vulnerable households on existing referral pathways and protection services for survivors of SGBV, unaccompanied children and people living with disabilities, by having women staff sharing this information with women project participants and having banners in place with hotline number.