Provision of emergency WASH supplies in Dawlatyar and Ferozkoh districts of Ghor The Allocation Strategy Paper for the 3rd Reserve Allocation of 2022 details a complex set of needs among vulnerable populations. In Dawlatyar and Ferozkoh districts of Ghor province, drought, political instability, recession, and COVID-19 resulted in limited 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 Ghor province are especially prone to natural hazards which coupled with harsh winters and prolonged conflict have resulted in the destruction of community infrastructure, including water systems, limited their access to WASH facilities and placed them at high risk of acute watery diarrhoea outbreaks (AWD) and other diseases.
Data from the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, WASH Cluster in the Western Region and Afghanaid’s needs assessment shows that vulnerable households in Dawlatyar and Ferozkoh districts need urgent assistance to address their WASH needs ahead of the winter season. In particular, Afghanaid’s needs assessment highlighted that the target communities have limited access to safe drinking water, lack water treatment options and have high-risk hygiene practices.
In line with WASH cluster priorities for this allocation, Afghanaid proposes to provide crucial WASH assistance to a total of 21,000 shock-affected households (79,520 men, women, boys and girls) in Ferozkoh and Dawlatyar districts of Ghor province. Based on Afghanaid’s needs assessment (conducted in October 2022) and communities’ preferences, the following interventions – developed in consultation with the regional WASH Cluster for the Western Region - are proposed:
- Based on the specificities of individual households’ needs, a total of 21,000 households in the target districts will receive chlorine tablets or sachets and handwashing soaps. The 9,109 more vulnerable households will be selected to participate in hygiene promotion activities (focusing on the continuity of proper water-efficient handwashing with soap at critical times). The intervention will also provide rehabilitation/reparation and protection support for 14 pipe schemes (7 in Ferozkoh and 7 in Dawlatyar) that serve these households.
- Distribution of 1,677 water filter kits to 3,345 shock-affected households (1 per 2 households)
- Creation of 14 community WASH committees (7 in each district) and provision of technical training along with 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 Ghor. Afghanaid also has extensive humanitarian programming experience, with current and recent humanitarian projects in the target provinces, funded by AHF, WFP and FAO. 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 21,000 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, to enable a joined-up, complementary response.