Reduce acute vulnerabilities of conflict- and/or disaster-affected populations in Rakhine State through the provision of emergency assistance and improved access to protection services ltpgtThrough the proposed intervention, the urgent humanitarian needs of at least 3,768 vulnerable individuals (of which 50% women and girls) will be alleviated through food / livelihood assistance, and simultaneously, access to protection services will be enhanced for 1,500 individuals (50% female). In doing so, the proposed Action will reduce the acute vulnerabilities of conflict- and/or disaster-affected households in disaster-affected communities in Rakhine. To achieve this, Acted will provide needs-based and gender-focused assistance through multi-purpose cash assistance to meet household food needs. The response modality will be tailored to the needs of selected sites. Through this targeted assistance, basic household needs will be met, and acute vulnerabilities will be reduced as a result. Based on experience, Acted proposes to provide the assistance through blanket distributions to mitigate the risks of unintentionally contributing to communal tensions. In parallel, the proposed Action will reinforce protection services through widespread awareness-raising, strengthening community-based protection mechanisms, and dedicated individual services. As such, the Action is aimed at providing timely and integrated life-saving multi-sectoral emergency relief, as well as improving the overall wellbeing of conflict-affected populations through timely and integrated protection assistance. In parallel, Acted and partners will promote early recovery and resilience through support to livelihoods.lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtAs outlined, humanitarian access to Rakhine is increasingly restricted. Given these uncertainties surrounding access, remote and mobile service delivery and community-based protections mechanisms (which ensure the participation of targeted people) have been prioritised in Acted’s designed approach. As such, Acted will work with two of its established local partners: Women Empowerment Development Organisation (WEDO) and Arakan Research and Watch (ARW). Partners will support the distribution of emergency assistance, and provide critical protection services to targeted communities. Moreover, Acted will work together with HALO Trust to provide local partners with comprehensive training on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, First Aid, and Victim Assistance, to further strengthen community-based awareness-raising to avoid and respond to mine incidents. In parallel, partners will be provided with organizational and institutional capacity-building training by Acted to further strengthen a localized approach and future capacity to respond to community needs, as well as improve their accountability to targeted populations. This approach allows for the intervention to build on each partner’s strength and programmatic focus, with HALO and Acted serving as technical backstopping and support, to promote a localized response to the highest degree. ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtIn addition, Acted, through its partner Chakma Literary and Cultural Association (CLCA), will provide life-saving MPCA to the crisis-affected population in Buthidaung, as well as raise their awareness on key protection issues, including EORE, GBV and disability inclusion, during the distribution.  ltbrgtlt/pgt