WASH support for safe water and better nutrition outcomes in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces Project Summary :	Natural disasters, the Covid 19 pandemic, and conflict have combined to seriously weaken the already fragile WASH infrastructure in most of Afghanistan, including the Northeast. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview, 15.1 million people are in need of WASH assistance nationwide, and the number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) has spiked massively (WASH Cluster AWD dashboard June 2022). In the Northeast specifically, 78% of HHs in Badakhshan and 27% of HHs in Takhar report problems accessing water, and the average household in Badakhshan had a child suffer from AWD within just the proceeding two weeks (Whole of Afghanistan Assessment, February 2022).

This has particularly devastating effects as AWD is deeply intertwined with malnutrition – diarrhoea is a significant cause of malnutrition, and malnourished children are more likely to fall ill from diarrhoea (WHO diarrheal disease factsheet, 2017). 1.1 million children under the age of 5 are expected to need treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) this year (UNICEF Humanitarian Situation Report, May 2022), and the food security situation remains worrisome, with Badakhshan and Takhar in IPC Phase 4 and 3 respectively.

Given the worsening crisis, and in line with strategic objective 1 of the Humanitarian Response Plan, Concern is proposing an intervention to ameliorate the WASH situation in Northeastern Afghanistan and mitigate the worst effects of the status quo. Our intervention would build on two decades of experience in the region and a strong operational presence (including a field office in the provinces) as well as the needs and gaps outlined in up-to-date assessments.

Specifically, we intend to implement Activities 2 (WASH in Nutrition) and 4 (WASH in ESNFI) of the cluster’s priority activities in Takhar and Badakhshan. In the districts of Arghanjkhwa, Argo Kora wa Monjan, and Yawan in Badhakshan and Baharak, Darqad, Namakab and Taloqan in Takhar, in line with Activity 2, we will provide the “WASH in nutrition” minimum package of services to an estimated 8,460 households, (61,758 people) who have a member being treated for SAM at a nutrition centre. This package will include a family hygiene kit procured directly from the cluster. This will be complemented with hygiene training promotion to ensure that the provision of this hardware is accompanied by suitable behaviour change. Concern staff will also conduct MUAC assessment and referrals. The additional districts not in priority 3 category are selected on high case rates with attached supporting evidence. 

In Takhar, Concern will implement Activity 4 in Chahab, Baharak, Darqad, and Farkhar districts. Under this activity we will complete emergency repairs on WASH infrastructure that has been damaged by conflict or natural disasters, specifically, 20 water systems and 500 wells and boreholes, servicing an estimated 9,410 households (68,693 beneficiaries). These repairs will also be accompanied by the distribution of family hygiene kits and hygiene promotion to maximize the impact of the water access. The combined total number of beneficiaries that will be targeted between activity 2 and 4 is 26,176 households (191,082). 

The project will be guided by a Concern needs assessment conducted. Selection and distribution will take into account all protection and gender guidelines to ensure it is consistent with human dignity. Post-distribution monitoring will be conducted at an appropriate time after distribution. Concern is incredibly well-positioned to provide trusted, rapid humanitarian assistance that will address the immediate WASH needs of the community in an effort to save lives and improve people’s wellbeing.