Community based early recovery and resilience in Afghanistan (Pillar II of the Aga Khan Foundation Emergency Appeal)

The dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan worsened after the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in mid-August.

Already prior to this date, the population was suffering from a triple crisis of conflict, covid and drought. By October 2021, 19 million people (47% of the population) were experiencing high level of acute food insecurity and according to projections this number will increase to nearly 23 million by March 2022. Restrictions imposed on the financial and banking system due to US and UN sanctions and the suspension of the international support of the state budget have brought the private and public sector on the brink of collapse, impacting all the essential services and disrupting economic activities. Afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis and the WB estimates an increase of the poverty level up to an almost universal level of 97%.

In mountainous districts, the situation is further critical due to their geographical remoteness. Debt levels have increased, as families continue to borrow money to meet their basic needs. People are also relying more and more on additional coping mechanisms such as meals reduction, food borrowing and land selling.

The most remote areas which were already suffering from poverty are now at risk of losing their livelihoods.

The intervention aims at addressing the economic crisis by reducing the vulnerability and contributing to the resilience of the communities of 8 provinces of Northern Afghanistan and the central highlands (approximately 3’500’000 people, 500’000 households).

By supporting the early recovery of some of the most remote areas, Switerland is taking concrete action to confirm its continued solidarity to the Afghan population. 

Outcome 1: Increased ability of vulnerable households to overcome food and basic needs crises

Outcome 2: Increased education and health services for vulnerable communities

Expected results:  

Communities recover early from shocks through economic interventions and basic service provision

Output 1.1: Increased access to cash

Output 1.2: Improved stabilized economic activities and business

Output 2.1: Increased education enrolment

Output 2.2: Increased access to health services

Results from previous phases:   A community-based needs assessment will complement household-level data that AKF already possess with up-to date information on the needs of vulnerable households.

Synergies with pillar 1 of the same Emergency Humanitarian Appeal for Afghanistan (EHAA), and with the Food-security and Agricultural Sustainability for Livelihood improvement project (FASL) targeting poor farmers in the same areas covered by EHAA.

Synergies within the Aga Khan Development Network: the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, the Aga Khan Health Services and the First Micro-Finance Bank.

Phase 1 01.04.2022 - 28.02.2024   (Active)