USS-PD1st

1. SUMMARY:

Unconditional Seasonal Support (KAO-SO1-NECDO- AF01-1128) is a 4month project funded by World Food Program (WFP) covering the vulnerable families affected by COVID-19, poverty, and the new economic crisis in result of the collapse of the government and takeover of Taliban. This project covers District 1,7,8, 9,16, and18 of Kabul province. The vulnerable families include widows, disables, orphans, the families living in tents, the families which were living in rented houses and most importantly the affected by COVID-19.

The project includes sub-activities for completing the milestones in each district the vulnerable families were identified by focal point/local representative (Wakil-e-Guzar) and Mullah Imams in each district. The identified families were surveyed by NECDO relief program team and vulnerable families were selected based on their physical and social status. They were given Tokens and were informed to be scoped on the given date and the scope team would be able to do the entries in database for the relief program.

The project was initiated from District 1 of Kabul province, each day approximately 500 families were surveyed and the selected numbers of families were given Tokens for the scope process. In total 3,200 households were surveyed out of which 3,000 families were given tokens and scoped. The final approved list of beneficiaries was prepared by WFP. Amount (3,450/AFN) cash assistance was given to each family for one month as per list through the contractor Roshan Company.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Unconditional Seasonal Support (KAO-SO1-NECDO-AF01-1128) is a 4 months project covering the vulnerable families affected by COVID-19, poverty, and political and social changes in different districts of Kabul. This project covers District 1, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 16, and District 18 of Kabul province. It covers 3,000 families in PD-1, 3,000 families in PD-7, 3,500 families in PD-8, 3,000 families in PD-9, 3,000 families in PD- 16, and 3,500 families in PD-18, in total it covers 19,000 vulnerable families. The vulnerable families include widows, disables, orphans, the families living in tents, the families which were living in rented houses, and most importantly the people affected by COVID-19. The project includes sub-activities for completing the milestones in each district the vulnerable families are identified by focal point/local representative (Wakil-e-Guzar) in each district. The identified families should be surveyed by NECDO relief program team and accordingly the vulnerable families are selected based on their physical and social status for cash assistance of this project.

3. SURVEY & SCOPE:

Initially NECDO recruited the survey and scope teams upon agreement with WFP representative from September 12, 2021 to September 15, 2021. The survey team asked the focal points, community leaders (Wakil-e-Guzars), and Mullah Imams to provide us the list of vulnerable families. As soon as lists were gathered, the team started the survey and each day approximately 450 families were surveyed during one day and the selected numbers of families were asked to come next day for scope (biometric) process. In total 3,200 households were surveyed out of which 3,000 families were given tokens and were scoped, but during the scope process WFP informed us that due to the lack of time, we must skip the scope process and start entry the survey lists to a simple database excel sheet. After the finalizations of the data entry, we had to send it for the rechecking and then WFP issued BPL and started start the cash distributions.

 1.3 MALE/FEMALE BENEFICIARIES;

• CRITERIA FOR BENEFICIARY SELECTION: 

• First and foremost, the preference was given to those families who were running their life with daily wages and they were not able to work due to COVID-19 and political and social changes in the country.
• The family who lives in a rented house.
• The family who has not male breadwinner at home.
• The family who had an affected person of COVID-19.
• The family who lives in designated areas that were specified by WFP.
• The family who is run by an Orphan.
• The family who is run by a widow.
• The family who is run by a disable person.
• The family who is internally or externally displaced.
• The family who has not an adult member to work and make a living

 3.3. JUSTIFICATION:

Most of the people who live in Kabul city are running their life with daily wages due to poverty and currently political, social, and economic changes has restricted them to go out for job or earn money. It is impossible to earn the money for family in these situations compare to pay for rent and other expenses. Women and widow is mostly affected people because the current new government increased the domestic violence and economic conditions. The proposed intervention is the well justified action to provide temporary support to the targeted number of households in these unexpected and un-estimated situations.

The Survey and Scope processes were completed on September 20^th, 2021 and the list was sent to WFP for final approval. The approved list of beneficiaries was received from WFP along with Tokens. The tokens and lists were printed and the sight for distribution was arranged by project manager. Hence, the community leaders (Wakil-e-Guzars) and other representatives were contacted and asked to send the selected and approved beneficiaries to the assigned location and each household receives (3,450AFN) cash for one month.

4. CASH DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM:

The cash was distributed by Roshan Telecommunication Company in presence of WFP field monitor, WFP’s Program Assistant Team Monitors, and management staff of NECDO. Cash was distributed to hundreds of families each day and the daily reports were signed by Roshan Telecommunication Company representative, NECDO’s site leader, and WFP monitor / PAT monitor.

The token number was allotted to each beneficiary and it was mentioned to them in order to receive the cash next day. Hence, upon arrival of the beneficiaries the NID (Tazkira) numbers of Households or Alternatives were checked in the database to confirm the deserving beneficiary. The token numbers were given to them to move forward so that NECDO team could be able to get the thumb print and guided them to receive the cash from Roshan Telecommunication Company representatives. At the end of each distribution day the tokens were counted among Roshan Telecommunication Company and NECDO representatives who were endorsed by WFP field monitor. Meanwhile, the beneficiaries were keeping on reminding to have a social distance and follow the instructions of Ministry of Public Health appropriately.

5. PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES:

• Lack of public awareness regarding the law, rules, and regulations of the project and accountabilities of NECDO’s filed staff / surveyors to the community leaders.
• Lack of cooperation from community leaders in some areas
• There is a difference between data entry and selected beneficiaries because WFP finalizes the list so it is hard to make understand certain individuals.
• Name spelling, Tazkira number, or cellular phone numbers missing creates issue while finding the selected beneficiary in database.
• The beneficiaries and community leaders do not have patience everyone keeps on trying to take the money first, but we are following first come, first serve strategy.
• Security problems

6. HOW TO RESOLVE THE CHALLENGES:

• The information desk team ethically and morally described the rules and laws to the community leaders and informed them from it.
• Some of the beneficiaries received the Food Assistance or cash from same district which was also the project of WFP, therefore, they were not selected for Cash Assistance.
• In the database we used to make entry of (Tazkira) numbers and contact numbers of Households and Alternative due to which it was possible to locate the beneficiary data.
• Also, the assigned team check their names and other information of the beneficiaries in the surveyed lists.
• The preference in Queue was given to Elders, Disables, and Women with a baby hence it was acceptable to all the beneficiaries.

7. CONCLUION:

This project has been started from PD-1 and NECDO survey and scope team conducted survey successfully with scope (data entry in database) which was started in September 12, 2021 and completed in September 15, 2021. The purpose of this project is to assist the most vulnerable families affected by COVID-19, and political, social, and economic changes in Afghanistan with cash assistance. Each district has a specified portion of beneficiaries therefore 3,200 families were surveyed and 3,000 were selected for cash assistance program. Each beneficiary received the cash assistance of 3,450 AFN for one month and maybe WFP will assist them for two or three months more, through Roshan Telecommunication Company (cash provider). The cash distribution took place in presence of the field monitor from WFP and in the management of NECDO distribution site team leader. The cash distributions started from September 29, 2021 to October 09, 2021.

We are grateful to God Almighty and thankful to our team and NECDO leadership who worked round the clock to make this job be done successfully and we are glad at least these family can have the flour, oil and beans for their kids for a month time.

We are also thankful to WFP for the support and during the distribution OCHA media coverage is also highly appreciated.