Winterization Assistance for Vulnerable Households in Charsada, Dawlatyar and Dolayna (Ghor) The Allocation Strategy Paper for the 3rd Reserve Allocation of 2022 details a complex set of needs among vulnerable populations. Drought, political instability, and COVID-19 have led to widespread illness and mortality and starkly reduced income opportunities, depleting households’ productive assets and reducing their capacity to cope with shocks and prepare for the winter. The latest IPC data highlighted widespread food insecurity (Phase 4) in Ghor, including Charsada, Dawlatyar and Dolayna districts, and projections for the coming months show a similar scenario. Recent needs assessment data shows that vulnerable households in these districts need urgent assistance to cover their basic needs during the winter season.

In line with ESNFI cluster priorities for this allocation, Afghanaid proposes to provide crucial assistance to a total of 1639 vulnerable households in the three districts of Ghor province, which experience harsh winter and have been noted as priority districts in the ICCT Winter Prioritisation Plan for 2022. Based on community preferences and a market assessment conducted in September 2022, Afghanaid proposes cash as the modality for the heating, blankets and clothing assistance. Afghanaid will conduct continued market monitoring during implementation and may change the assistance modality to (partly) in-kind assistance where market functioning and access decline.

The intervention will provide a total of 1639 households (households will be divided equally between the 3 districts - Dawlatyar, Charsada and Dolayna) with a ESNFI cluster standard cash for heating package with a value of US$200 per household and cash for clothing (US$74 per household). Out of these households, the 1218 most vulnerable households (406 in Dawlatyar, 406 in Charsada and 406 in Dolayna) will also receive cash for blankets (US$57 per household). 

The assistance will in principle be delivered in two tranches where communities are likely to be cut off from markets due to heavy snowfall, Afghanaid may provide households with a larger amount of assistance upfront to allow them to bulk buy the items they need ahead of the peak winter months. Project staff will consult the communities on any anticipated protection risks. We will work with an experienced and reliable Saraf (Hawala agent) to distribute the cash to the targeted participants. 

Afghanaid will form participant selection and distribution committees, with local community representatives, such as members of Community Development Councils (CDCs), and Afghanaid staff. Participants will be selected using ESNFI vulnerability criteria to ensure that households in most acute need are targeted, including women-headed households, households with a large number of dependents, and households with one or more member with a disability. 

Afghanaid is well placed to implement this project, with over 20 years of continuous presence in Ghor. We have well-established offices in the target districts, excellent access and strong relationships with communities and key stakeholders. Afghanaid has extensive humanitarian programming experience, with ongoing and recent humanitarian projects in provinces including Ghor, funded by AHF, WFP and FAO. Afghanaid has approval from local authorities to deliver its programmes in the target areas, and will actively engage local IEA actors to explain that the project can only proceed if authorities do not interfere in participant selection and permit us to employ and target women.

This intervention is expected to provide a total of 1639 vulnerable households (11,473 men, women, boys and girls) with crucial winterisation assistance, prevent illness and mortality, and increase participants’ capacity to rebuild their livelihoods by avoiding the sale of productive assets and boosting resilience against future shocks.