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Japan, UNDP launch new community resilience programme in Afghanistan
Since 2021, UNDP’s efforts to develop alternative livelihoods in Afghanistan, in collaboration with multiple development partners and UN agencies, have benefitted over 100,000 farmers including around 22,000 women farmers nationwide.
The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have initiated a new one-year programme to support alternative livelihood pathways for rural communities facing critical challenges in Balkh and Uruzgan provinces.
Promoting Alternative Livelihood Pathways in Afghanistan (PALPA) focuses on strengthening opportunities, particularly for women and youth, with an aim to improve food security and build resilience to climate-induced shocks.
Since 2021, UNDP’s efforts to develop alternative livelihoods in Afghanistan, in collaboration with multiple development partners and UN agencies, have benefitted over 100,000 farmers including around 22,000 women farmers nationwide. Building on this progress, the PALPA, supported by a generous $6 million contribution from the Government of Japan, aims to generate sustainable employment and income opportunities for 50,000 vulnerable individuals, particularly those affected by the poppy ban and climate-induced disasters.
The programme is based on a women-centred approach, enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting diversified livelihoods, strengthening market linkages, and improving water management systems for ecosystem restoration. This highlights the vital role of women in driving national economic growth while also actively engaging men, which is essential in the context of significant unemployment.
An inclusive and participatory approach will guide the implementation, ensuring that interventions reach the most vulnerable, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. Beneficiaries will be selected based on comprehensive vulnerability criteria developed in consultation with local communities and relevant stakeholders. This method ensures that the interventions effectively address the pressing needs of those most affected by the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including economic instability, climate change, and the impacts of the poppy cultivation ban.
“Japan is a longstanding partner in UNDP’s global mission to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and catalyse structural transformations that build resilience against crises and shocks. This specific contribution will enable us to reinforce our collaborative efforts to meet the basic human needs of 50,000 vulnerable Afghan people, especially women and girls. It allows UNDP to leverage its local expertise to develop alternative livelihoods and achieve systemic progress. In addition, this programme will also develop vital community resilience in the face of escalating climate change impacts, which present a significant obstacle to sustained progress. We are profoundly grateful to the Government and People of Japan for their ongoing commitment.” said Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan.
“We are pleased to supplement Japan’s existing support to Afghanistan with an additional $27.5 million in assistance for the Afghan people, of which $6 million is provided to our trusted partner, UNDP. This allocation includes targeted support for programmes that empower women, reflecting our commitment to promoting gender equality as a fundamental aspect of equitable and resilient growth. Since August 2021, Japan’s cumulative contribution to Afghanistan has now surpassed $505 million, underscoring our commitment to addressing basic human needs and supporting Afghanistan’s path towards sustainable economic and social development. I wish UNDP and our PALPA initiative every success in bringing about the systemic changes that are much required,” said KUROMIYA Takayoshi, ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan.
To maximize its impact, the PALPA is designed to complement and create synergies with other ongoing interventions in Afghanistan. By identifying gaps and aligning with existing efforts, the programme aims to provide a better-coordinated response to the immediate needs of rural communities. UNDP will collaborate closely with national and international networks, including the Counter Narcotics Working Group for Afghanistan, and leverage collective expertise.
Shahabuddin Delawar, Head of the Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities, says Afghanistan has achieved security, unified governance, brotherhood, and progress for the first time in 47 years under the administration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Speaking at a meeting in Kabul on Saturday, Delawar said Afghanistan had lacked a unified system over the past four decades, but added that with the return of the Islamic Emirate, the issue has now been resolved.
Referring to Ashura commemorations held on Friday, he said the occasion was observed peacefully across the country under full security.
Delawar also urged exiled Afghan politicians to return, saying the commission was established to serve Afghans and address the concerns of returning figures. He added that any legal disputes involving returnees would be handled exclusively through the commission.
He further said the Islamic Emirate has expanded treatment centers and intensified anti-narcotics efforts since regaining power, claiming this has led to a significant decline in drug addiction.
Addressing the issue of international legitimacy, Delawar said he understood why the United States has not recognized the Islamic Emirate, arguing that Washington suffered a defeat in Afghanistan that it cannot easily overlook.
“They have suffered a major defeat that they cannot forget; if they recognize us, they will face questions from their own people,” Delawar said.
The European Union says it is implementing hundreds of millions of euros in projects to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Afghanistan and help expand economic opportunities across the country.
Speaking to Ariana News, EU Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, Veronika Boskovic Pohar, said the programs are aimed at creating jobs for skilled workers, women, youth, and returnees, while also strengthening the private sector. She added that alongside international support, Afghan authorities also have a role in facilitating economic growth.
According to Pohar, the EU is currently implementing projects worth €156 million focused on livelihoods, durable solutions, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment. She said an additional €40 million program specifically designed to support returnees will be launched in the near future.
She noted that the EU is gradually shifting its focus from emergency humanitarian aid toward long-term sustainable solutions, particularly for internally displaced people and returnees in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations, marking World Day of Small and Medium Enterprises, said SMEs account for more than 90 percent of businesses worldwide and play a critical role in employment and economic growth.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that stronger investment, innovation, and sustainable industrial development are essential to help businesses withstand economic challenges and build resilient economies.
Afghan private sector representatives and economic analysts say greater support for SMEs could help the country address economic challenges faster, increase employment, and promote sustainable long-term development.
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Afghan women’s situation highlighted at SCO Forum amid ongoing global debate
She urged member states of the SCO to show solidarity with Afghan women and not remain indifferent to their situation.
Afghanistan was at the center of discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Women’s Forum in Bishkek, where former head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, described the situation of women in the country as a serious human rights concern.
Speaking at the forum, Otunbayeva said restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan demonstrate how a return to conservative policies can rapidly affect women’s daily lives and opportunities.
Otunbayeva, who previously served as head of UNAMA in Afghanistan, stated: “Today in Afghanistan, girls cannot receive education beyond sixth grade. Women are prohibited from working, visiting parks and gyms, and traveling without a male companion.”
She urged member states of the SCO to show solidarity with Afghan women and not remain indifferent to their situation.
According to her, women in Afghanistan urgently need support in education, employment, and social participation, and these issues should be addressed at both regional and international levels.
Her remarks come at a time when the situation of women in Afghanistan remains a subject of ongoing international debate.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly stated that women’s rights in the country are ensured better than ever before.
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