The European Union and The Swiss Agency For Development And Cooperation support Afghanaid’s work with rural Afghan communities and build resilience to climate change

The European Union and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will jointly finance Afghanaid and its implementing partners to support around 30,300 rural households to build their resilience to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

The European Union will provide EUR 15 million, while the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will provide EUR 5 million, to Afghanaid and its partners Danish Refugee Council, The Liaison Office and The Afghan Education Production Organization, to empower local communities in assessing risks to and mitigating negative impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

The project will be implemented in four provinces, combining an

integrated watershed management approach with community-based disaster preparedness. The project will reduce vulnerability to flood and drought, and enhance climate-resilient rural livelihoods. This will enable households to increase their agricultural and livestock production, diversify income streams, and earn higher incomes.

“Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climate change. With a majority of Afghans relying on agriculture, climate readiness is crucial”, highlighted Peteris Ustubs, Director for the Middle East, Asia and Pacific of the European Commission’s Department for International Partnerships.

Raffaella Iodice, the EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan, added: “Preparing for climate change is essential for saving lives of Afghans, and protecting their livelihoods. Our additional €15 million in EU-funding will ensure that Afghan communities will be better prepared for climate-related disasters”.

“Following the change government in 2021, aid flows significantly shifted towards humanitarian relief”, explains Charles Davy, Managing Director for Afghanaid. “However, longer-term resilience-strengthening programming such as this EU and SDC-supported project is essential to addressing the root causes of communities’ vulnerabilities and reducing their dependence on emergency aid.”

Background

Afghanistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries with regard to effects of climate change. 76% of Afghans depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, therefore the negative effects of climate change exacerbate food insecurity and poverty levels.

For more than 10 years, the European Union and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation have been providing long-term support to agriculture and rural development in Afghanistan. Afghanaid has maintained an operational presence in Afghanistan since 1983.