Food Security, Livelihoods, and WASH Response for Vulnerable Households in Kabul, Bamiyan and Balkh Provinces

IR Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Response Plan is divided into two phases, with phase 1 being immediate emergency response that focused on life-saving and phase 2 being the Comprehensive Emergency phase that moves towards more sustainable programming. This phase of the response builds on the initial Emergency phase by continuing to support the most vulnerable people affected by the various shocks that have affected Afghanistan and begins to support the vulnerable households with longer-term support. The key objectives of phase 2 of the project are improved immediate food security, improved livelihoods opportunities and improved and health and hygiene for vulnerable households in Kabul, Bamiyan and Balkh provinces in Afghanistan. IRW Afghanistan will continue to target the most vulnerable households for whom the current situation is particularly difficult. The most vulnerable families in the target area will be identified through a selection committee made up of community leaders (including female leaders and PWD where possible), using a selection criterion that considers the following: - Very vulnerable households (Female headed households, child headed households, households with a person with a disability, elderly households ) - Very poor households with a monthly income less than Afs 5,000. IRW Afghanistan M&E staff will verify the selected households and ensure that an accessible CFM is available in the area for any HHs that weren’t selected. IRW Afghanistan continues to prioritise the basic needs of food and water and hygiene items for the project as these are the items most requested by the community. For phase 2 of the project, IR Afghanistan will move from in-kind food distribution to cash distribution to allow households to have more agency over their food choices and will also implement cash programming for livelihoods support and MPCA. In-kind distributions will continue for hygiene items this ensure women and children have access to essential items. Physical distributions of cash or in-kind kits will continue to take into consideration the logistical needs of the population by ensuring that the distribution sites are within accessible distance and the distribution is at a convenient time (e.g. with enough daylight to allow rights-holder to get home safely). Households will be informed at the registration phase of the size/weight of the items and rights holders that require extra support at the distribution will be encouraged to bring support with them (family, friends, neighbours). Outcomes: A. Food Security and Livelihoods: reduced suffering and vulnerabilities of 2,928 most vulnerable households (20,496 individuals) in Kabul, Bamiyan and Balkh provinces B. WASH: Increased good hygiene practice for 38,400 individuals in targeted areas Outputs Output 1.1 FSL: 2558 food insecure and most vulnerable households (17,906 individuals) in the target areas are provided cash* for food assistance for 1 month. One round of the equivalent of $80/month cash-for food will be distributed to 2558 households (17,906 individuals) . IRW will distribute $80, the full amount for the food monthly expenditure basket. During the distribution, IRW team will sensitize rightsholders on Protection, CP, GBV, safeguarding and that the cash is intended for buying nutritious food for the family and explain how $80 meets 100% of the Cluster agreed food MEB. IRW staff will explain basic nutritional information and raise awareness of suggested food items for a balanced diet. IRW will sensitize rightsholders on the CFM and explain that complaints can be made against any stakeholders. IRW will conduct PDM and regular monitoring visits with the communities and community elders to determine how the cash has been spent and to collect any feedback/complaints from those who can’t access other CFM channels. One round has been chosen for the project so that the highest number of households can be reached with an immediate food security response as opposed to a smaller number of households receiving several rounds of implementation. As the funding and logistics situation in Afghanistan remains so fluid, IRW Afghanistan deems it necessary to support the highest numbers of HHs with immediate food aid whilst monitoring the overall Afghanistan HRP 2022 implementation to ensure no gaps or overlaps. The target communities will be selection on consultation with the local authorities and the FSAC. A selection committee made up of IRW programme and MEAL staff as well as members of the community that represent all groups (elders, religious leaders, civil servants, women, PWD, elderly etc) will determine the households in the target area that should benefit from the cash for food based on contextually appropriate selection criteria that prioritises the most vulnerable households (FHH, CHH, HHs headed by PWD or elderly persons, the extremely poor). A separate team of IRW MEAL staff along with local authority will verify the primarily selected beneficiary list and IRW management will finalize the list of beneficiaries after review and verification. After verification and finalization of the list, beneficiaries will be given a token to receive the cash from an FSP. Each token will have a unique code number, name of beneficiary, Tazkera number, phone number and IRW stamp and CFM phone numbers and email. Output 1.2: FSL: 1000 most vulnerable households (7000 individuals) will have received livelihoods grants* to support income generating activities 1000 most vulnerable households (7,000 individuals) will receive livelihoods grants of 25,000 AFN to support with the expansion or establishment of income generating activities. IRW programme teams will work with local selection committees made up of IRW programme and MEAL staff as well as member of the community that represent all groups (elders, religious leaders, civil servants, women, PWD, elderly etc) to determine the most vulnerable households in the target area (such as FHH, CHH, households headed by elderly or PWD) that have the capacity and capability to engage with income generating activities. These could be small businesses such as tailors or livestock keepers or other small income generating activities that are culturally and contextually viable. IRW MEAL teams will verify the selected households and confirm that IGA would be viable for them. IRW Programme teams will run trainings on maintaining IGAs and work with the selected households to establish a plan for the IGA and the use of the grant. The grant will be distributed in three instalments (30%, 40%, 30%) on the condition that the expectations set out in the plan had been met. The project households will receive continued follow-up and support with their IGAs from the IRW programme team and the IR MEAL team will conduct regular monitoring to understand how the grants are being utilised. It's predicted that up to 80% of the target reach for this output will also be reached with cash for food under output 1.1. This has been accounted for in the total reach for the outcome and double counting has been avoided. Output 1.3 FSL: 850 vulnerable households (5950 individuals) will have received multipurpose cash* to support basic needs 850 vulnerable households (5950 individuals) will receive one round of 11,000 AFN to support basic needs as described in the minimum expenditure basket such as food, healthcare, hygiene items (including female hygiene items), shelter and NFIs, fuel and electricity, education, water, communication and transportation. A selection committee made up of IRW programme and MEAL staff as well as member of the community that represent all groups (elders, religious leaders, civil servants, women, PWD, elderly etc) will determine the households in the target area that should benefit from the MPCA based on contextually appropriate selection criteria that prioritises the most vulnerable households (FHH, CHH, HHs headed by PWD or elderly persons, the extremely poor). The distribution of the MPCA will take be distributed in one instalment and recipients will be encouraged to maintain high security measures for the cash. Accessible** Protection, CP, GBV and safeguarding messaging will be distributed at the time of the cash distribution and rightsholders will be reminded that the CFM can be used to raise complaints against any stakeholder. It's predicted that up to 80% of the target reach for this output will also be reached with cash for food under output 1.1. This has been accounted for in the total reach for the outcome and double counting has been avoided. *Cash will be provided through chosen FSP (in this case, hawalas) as this has been proven to be the safest way to transfer the cash to the right holders. IRW has initiated the capacity assessment of the potential hawalas and is now in the process of selecting the most appropriate hawala that we can enter into agreement with. Easily accessible distribution points will be selected in district level through consultation with beneficiaries, community, and local authorities so that all beneficiaries including the PWDs, elderly, women and children receive the cash safely and in a timely manner. The project team will arrange the distribution points with necessary facilities i.e. drinking water, temporary shade etc. Pregnant and lactating women and the elderly will be prioritized at the distribution. IRW market monitoring as well as monitoring the latest REACH Joint Market Monitoring Initiative and WFP market monitoring will ensure feasibility of cash distribution in the targeted areas. Output 2.1 WASH: 2000 vulnerable households (14,000 individuals) will have received culturally appropriate hygiene kits (Hygiene Kit items: Antiseptic soap (Dettol) - 125gm 7, Plastic soap-case (for 125gm soap) 1, Laundry Soap (200gm) 7, Plastic Jerry Can (10-20 litres) with a screw-cap 2, Shampoo (300ml, standard quality) 2, Plastic bucket (10-20 litres) 1, Plastic mug / Aftaba (2 LTR size) 1, Soft Cotton Cloth (2 m2 piece) 2, Toothbrush adult 3, Tooth brush child 4, Toothpaste (125gm) 2, Towel (40 x 70 cm) 5, Cotex/Sanitary Pad (normal size) (box of 12) 2). Also included in the distribution will be accessible** hygiene promotion IEC materials with key messages on proper hygiene and covid-19. IRA will work with the local authorities and the WASH cluster to identify an area not currently covered by hygiene kit distribution. The most vulnerable families in the target area will be identified through a selection committee made up of community leaders including female leaders where possible, using a selection criteria that considers the following: - IDP or returnee households - Female headed households, child headed households, households with a person with disability, elderly households - Households with a monthly income less than Afs 5,000. The Hygiene kits will be in-line with the WASH Cluster guidelines. Kits will be procured in country, stored in the warehouses, sorted into packages ahead of the distribution and then distributed to the pre-identified and verified rights holders. Female Headed Households will be consulted on how they prefer to receive the items (e.g. nominating a male family member to receive the items or being prioritised at the distribution so that they can limit time spent at the distribution). PWD and Elderly rightsholders will be supported at the distribution. Monitoring and CFM will take place on site and accessible** safeguarding messaging will be visible during the distribution. Output 2.2.WASH: 1920 hygiene promotion sessions will be conducted in order that 38,400 individuals will have received information about hygiene awareness and COVID-19 mitigation measures through hygiene promotion session. 1920 sessions will be provided by 15 female and male hygiene promotors to groups of approximately 20 females and males of different ages and abilities with female promoters offering sessions to children and youth. Working with the WASH and Health Clusters as well as the APP WG, IRW Afghanistan will produce accessible IEC materials including posters, leaflets and flyers which will illustrate measures that families can take to reduce their risks of COVID-19 and other infections and diseases such as cholera and AWD as well as how environmental management and protection can also support healthy practices. The sessions will also cover health and gender, and health and CP. For minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission all distributions will be managed according to WHO guidelines on avoiding gathering and maintaining social distance. Necessary personal precautionary measures will be taken by staff and beneficiaries will also be oriented on COVID-19 mitigation measures. CFM will be available throughout all distributions in the form of a feedback desk and inclusive banners/posters with both written text and illustrations will explain the rights of the beneficiaries, safeguarding expectations and will display the contact number of AWAZ and IRW Afghanistan. Rights and safeguarding Information will also be given verbally to any rightsholders that are visually impaired. Rightsholders selected for outputs 1.1 -2.1 will be informed of the hygiene sessions and it is expected that this the 80% of the beneficiaries from outputs 1.1- 2.1 will benefit from this activity. This has been taken into consideration in terms of double counting. **Accessible means text will be in the common local language and IECS will also include pictures that are be representative of different genders, ages, abilities and will be considerate of cultural norms. The same messaging will be offered verbally to those with visual impairments/limited understanding.