WASH responses to the most underserved populations in Pashtun Zarghun and Shindand districts of Herat province and actions to prevent SAM under-five children admitted into nutritional programs from WASH-related malnutrition diseases in Daikundi province of Afghanistan. The project is implemented in (1) Herat Province providing WASH services and in (2) Daikundi province supporting SAM 5gtchildren through the distribution of WASH kit and hygiene education. 

Herat Province:
In May 2022, RRAA conduct a rapid assessment on the urgent and unmet WASH need of 16 villages in Pashton Zarghun and Shindand districts of Herat province, aimed to identify the WASH needs of communities. At final, 6 communities identified (a) Mohammad Abad, Noor Abad Taymany Abad Sofla in Pashton Zarghon district, and (b) Sharif Abad, Qala Omar and Now Abad Safa of Shindand districts. These villages have no access to sufficient quantities of safe water, are engaged in OD due to the lack of sanitation facilities, and have little knowledge of proper hygiene. Water sources in the target areas are unsafe, and unprotected, the water is polluted, and faced people at risk of water-born diseases.

The proposed project will reach a 14,633 population consisting of 8,048 men, 6585 women, and boys 5633 and 4610 girls (2000 families) including 25% overcrowded. they will have:
1) improved access to a safe water supply 
2) improved access to adequate sanitation facilities 
3) opportunities to practice safe hygiene and sanitation behaviors. 

To meet the needs to WASH existing broken and open wells will be rehabilitated and protected, solar-powered pipe scheme will be installed. Up to 200 individuals will have access to each water point. This activity reduces the burden on women and girls, who currently spend on average more than 30 minutes one-way to reach a water point. To keep maintain and operate the WASH structures, caretakers for daily follow-up and mechanics will be trained to provide maintenance services. 

Implementation of the CLTS approach will mitigate the spread of WASH-related diseases, and ensure the privacy and security of women and children, the Disabled, and the elderly will have equal access to WASH services as other targets. Awareness sessions will promote hygiene awareness and practices leading to health risk reduction. Hygiene sessions will focus on diarrhea prevention strategies, discouraging OD, effective hand washing with soap, MHM, water treatment, and, food hygiene. 2000 families will receive hygiene kits with proper information on the use of kits. 

Daikundi Project:
in Daikundi province the project is going to be implemented in four health centers Provincial Hospital, kiti, Sharestan, and Miramar district hospitals providing nutrition services for children under five with Severe Acute Malnutrition. According to the data provided by the Directorate of Health of Daikundi collected from the above centers around 1567 children under five with SAM and 10933 children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) attended those centers for treatment and 45474 children were attended for growth and Monitoring in the last 6 months. In consideration of the above information, the project is designed to cover 1800 children (both boys and girls under five) with SAM attending a nutrition center for the treatment. According to the Cluster standard, the WASH minimum package of services within a WASH kit including household water treatments, bucket or jerrycan, cup, soap, handwashing device, and baby potty will be distributed to the beneficiaries. In addition to that, around 3600 parents of the affected children to SAM will receive hygiene education on preventing waterborne and faeco-oral malnutrition-associated diseases, proper management of children's nutrition, and handwashing with soap and water. Furthermore, the parents of children affected by MAM and children coming for Growth Monitoring will also receive the awareness. WASH committees will be trained to transfer the key.