Provision of emergency WASH supplies in Aybak, Feroz Nakhchir and Hazrat-e- Sultan districts of Samangan The Allocation Strategy Paper for the 3rd Reserve Allocation of 2022 details a complex set of needs among vulnerable populations. In Aybak, Feroz Nakhchir and Hazrat-e- Sultan districts of Samangan province, political instability, recession, and COVID-19 had further impact in limiting access to safe drinking water, widespread illness and mortality and starkly reduced income opportunities, depleting households’ productive assets and reducing their capacity to cope with shocks. Further, communities in Samangan province are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and drought which coupled with harsh winters and prolonged conflict have resulted in the destruction of community infrastructure, including water systems, limited access of more than half of the population to safe drinking water and to WASH facilities and place them at high risk of acute watery diarrhea outbreaks (AWD) and other diseases.

Data from the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, WASH Cluster and Afghanaid’s needs assessment shows that vulnerable households in Samangan need urgent assistance to address their WASH needs ahead of the winter season. Particularly, Afghanaid’s needs assessment conducted in October 2022, highlighted that the target communities have limited access to safe drinking water, lack water treatment options and high-risk hygiene practices. Hence, in line with WASH cluster priorities for this allocation, Afghanaid proposes to provide crucial WASH assistance to a total of 98,800 vulnerable households in Aybak, Feroz Nakhchir and Hazrat-e- Sultan districts of Samangan. Based on Afghanaid’s field staff observation and communities’ preference, the following interventions – developed in consultation with the regional WASH Cluster - are proposed:

- A total of 98,800 households will receive hygiene promotion and AWD awareness in the target districts in addition to chlorine tablets or sachets and handwashing soaps.
- The intervention will also provide rehabilitation/reparation and protection support for a total of 16 pipe schemes and/or hand pumps (6 in Aybak targeting 2,140 households, 7 in Hazrat-e-Sultan targeting 1,818 HHs and 3 in Feroz Nakhcher targeting 648 HHs)
- Provision of 3,200 water filter kits to 3,200 vulnerable households (1 per household)
- Creation of WASH committees in 30 villages along with provision of OampM tool kits and technical trainings on the operations and maintenance of water tool kits.

Participants will be selected using the vulnerability criteria set by the WASH cluster 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 members with a disability.

Afghanaid is well placed to implement this project, with over 20 years of continuous presence in Samangan. Afghanaid also has extensive humanitarian programming experience, with current and recent humanitarian projects in Samangan, funded by AHF, WFP and GIZ. These projects include WASH, emergency food/cash, livelihoods, winterization, and shelter assistance. Afghanaid has consulted with the local authorities to deliver its programmes in the target areas and will actively engage the local actors to explain that the project can only proceed if authorities do not interfere and permit us to employ and target women. Project staff will work closely with the target communities and stakeholders working on the ground to mitigate any anticipated risks.

By providing urgent WASH assistance this intervention is expected to reduce the risk of outbreaks, prevent illness and mortality, boosting the resilience of 98,800 vulnerable households against future shocks. The project will be also synergized with the WASH and ESNFI cluster priorities and other Afghanaid projects implemented in the targeted districts, including our WFP-funded resilience building project to enable a joined-up and complementary response.