Provision of full Cash for NFI package to conflict affected, displaced, natural disaster affected, and vulnerable host community households in Jaghatu, Malistan, and Ghazni Districts of Ghazni Province Over 5 months, PIN will meet the winterization needs of 1,888 vulnerable households (2776m 3172w 3436b 3832g (13216 ind.)) affected by conflict and/or natural disaster, either displaced or within host communities, across Jaghatu (est. 25% of bnfs) and Malistan Districts (est. 75% of bnfs) of Ghazni.

There is urgent need for winterization assistance in target Districts. 87% of households are assessed as having inadequate supplies for winter heating, and 60% are reported to need of winter NFIs including winter clothing and winter blankets. The main barrier to households meeting their winterization needs is a lack of financial resources, and whilst local markets remain functional, the high cost of items presents a barrier to vulnerable households in meeting their winterization needs.

Households selected through PINs beneficiary selection procedure, according to their eligibility and degree of compound vulnerability, will be provided with unconditional, unrestricted cash-in-envelope assistance for use to meet their winter heating needs over three-months, purchase family winter clothing, and/or a family winter blanket kit. As per Cluster NFI Kit standards, $200 USD will be distributed for winter heating / fuel assistance enough to purchase a heating stove and 180kg’s of firewood or LPG, $74 USD for a family winter clothing kit, and/or $57 USD for a family winter blanket kit. 

To ensure best use of available funds the package of assistance provided to each family will be determined by their specific needs and/or vulnerability. Given heating is the most cash intensive draw on vulnerable households’ resources over the winter period, this proposal assumes that all 1,888 households will be provided with $200 USD cash for heating assistance. Of these 1,888 households, up to 944 households will receive a further $74 USD for winter clothing, and up to 944 households with a further $57 USD for winter blankets. Assistance will be provided based on compound vulnerability and need, with the most extremely vulnerable households receiving the full package of winter assistance ($331 USD) whilst households with very high compound vulnerability will receive partial packages at either $274 USD for heating and clothing, $257 USD for heating and blankets, or $200 USD for heating for highly vulnerable. This approach will ensure assistance is provided commensurate with need, and whilst the number of households supported with winter clothing and/or winter blankest may vary by the close of the project, a total of $501,264 USD will be distributed to hh's in need of winter assistance. This equates to 71.6% of the total proposed budget ($700,000 USD) directly reaching beneficiaries by close of the action. 

The cash modality is selected for its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, discrete and the agency it offers supported persons offering choice, flexibility and dignity in securing their specific winter needs. It is understood that the markets in Jaghatu and Malistan are functioning adequately to meet the winter purchasing needs of supported households. PIN will undertake a rapid market assessment within the first month, of the project and consult target communities on their preferred modality to confirm viability of cash assistance. If determined to be inadequate PIN will either move to an in-kind modality or work with nearby functioning markets to temporarily increase local supply to meet stimulated demand. 

In the face of increasing restrictions on women’s public participation, PIN will identify and activate culturally sensitive measures to involve women’s voice in project preparation, delivery and monitoring activities, all whilst placing women’s safety and principles of do-no-harm at the heart of any action taken. Regular monitoring visits and PDM will measure the effectiveness of these actions, as well as the effectiveness of the assistance itself and the way it was provided. Updates to ReportHub will be made.