Integrated responses to El-Nino induced drought and crisis affected communities in Lasta woreda of Amhara region ltpgtPositive Action for Development (PAD) and its partner Plan International Ethiopia (PIE) are submitting a comprehensive emergency response project to address the challenges faced by El Nino-induced drought and conflict-affected communities in Lasta Woreda, North Wollo, Amhara region. The project is designed in consultation with national and sub-national clusters of Agriculture, WASH, Nutrition, and Health as well as OCHA sub-national offices to deliver urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance across key sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Accordingly, the proposal is aligned with key priorities in the allocation strategic paper, cluster guidelines, and strategic objectives of the HRP 2024. PAD and Plan International bring their extensive expertise and experiences in emergency Agriculture, WASH, Health, and Nutrition interventions. Both organizations have established operational presence in the woreda, with Plan International having a longstanding history of nearly three decades in Lasta Woreda, implementing various programs including Agriculture, protection, education, WASH, health, and nutrition initiatives. A rapid needs assessment conducted jointly by PAD and PIE revealed a significant number of non-functional water points and institutional WASH facilities due to recent conflicts. As a response, water treatment and the rehabilitation of boreholes and shallow wells have been recommended to ensure immediate access to potable water.ltbrgtThe project aims to address the impact of El Nino-induced drought and floods, which have severely reduced crop yields in the region. More than 80,000 households require essential crop seeds such as Wheat, Maize, and Teff, while over 200,000 animals urgently need veterinary medications. The project will also tackle multidimensional crises including armed conflict, drought, and epidemics that have heightened risks for affected communities, leading to negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage and child labor.ltbrgtTo address the pressing health and nutrition needs of the community, the project will assist 3,394 Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) and 7,259 children under the age of five. Essential routine drugs will be procured to fill gaps in the UNICEF pipeline for Therapeutic Feeding Program (TFP) sites. The project's approach integrates immediate life-saving interventions with sustainable solutions aimed at enhancing the recovery and resilience of the target populations. Gender equality, protection, disability inclusion, and accountability to affected individuals are central themes woven throughout project activities. Robust monitoring and evaluation processes will be conducted by PAD and the co-implementing partner to guide programmatic decisions based on field evidence. Regular joint monitoring sessions with government counterparts will also be conducted.ltbrgtPAD and the implementing partner actively engage in the cluster system at both national and sub-national levels to enhance coordination and reporting of project activities. Leveraging their existing humanitarian and life-saving programs, PAD and PIE will swiftly initiate project implementation, leveraging their established partnerships, operational presence, and contextual familiarity. The project is slated for a 12-month duration with a total budget of USD 1,000,000. Through this allocation, the project aims to directly impact 53,262 individuals in need, with a particular focus on reaching 34,305 women and girls among the total beneficiaries. ltbrgtlt/pgt