The people of Afghanistan have suffered under persistent conflict since the end of the 1970s. The US-led military intervention in 2001 led to the fall of the Taliban and a significant political transformation in the country. Hamid Karzai has led the government since 2002, from 2004 as a popularly elected president. Despite the massive international effort over the last decade, the country still faces enormous challenges in development and security.
More than 20 million Afghans live in rural areas and make their living from agricultural production. Many live in remote communities that are especially vulnerable to the forces of nature and climate-related changes. Therefore, Norwegian Church Aid’s programmes primarily include vulnerable farming communities.
Our work
Norwegian Church Aid’s work in Afghanistan is done through an integrated approach to our three working methods: Long-term development, emergency assistance and advocacy.
The programmes are implemented in the provinces of Faryab, Uruzgan, Daikuni and Bamyan by Afghan partner organisations, which have a solid local presence. Support is also given to partners’ projects in Kabul. The programmes and projects are developed on the basis of local need in consultation with target groups and local authority structures, and in line with national development plans.
Women, peace and security: Norwegian Church Aid is working to strengthen women’s participation in peace negotiations and peacebuilding activities at local, provincial and national levels. An important part of this work is ensuring that women receive the knowledge and capacity necessary for this kind of participation. In addition, we focus on international actors’ obligation to safeguard the UN Security Council’s resolutions in order to ensure women’s participation and protection.
Value-based communities and peacebuilding: Norwegian Church Aid works to ensure that value-based actors, such as Islamic institutions and local traditional structures, are active participants in peacebuilding processes that contribute to positive changes in local and national contexts. This involves mobilising and capacity building of local communities and institutions, as well as support for dialogue and the coordination of processes.
Climate change mitigation: It is Norwegian Church Aid’s goal to ensure access to renewable energy sources and sustainable industries for poor communities. We address agricultural techniques and productivity, the use of renewable energy, water resource management and risk prevention measures.
Livelihood and trade: It is our goal to reduce poor people’s economic vulnerability through the development of sustainable industries. This is done through activities that stimulate the development of local enterprises, agricultural product diversity, microfinance and improving market access for producers. We focus specifically on capacity building of women.
Water, sanitation and hygiene: Marginalised communities’ access to water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education are the focus of this programme. The programme also takes climate change and sustainability into consideration. Norwegian Church Aid will ensure that capacity is built in these areas in both our long-term development projects and in disaster situations.