Afghanistan: Finding ways to keep supporting
More than 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, international aid is cut, millions are returned from neighbouring countries, and climate shocks are becoming more severe. For Norwegian…
Afghanistan: Finding ways to keep supporting
More than 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, international aid is cut, millions are returned from neighbouring countries, and climate shocks are becoming more severe. For Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), working in Afghanistan means constantly adapting – in order to deliver support for the Afghan people.
In the border town of Torkam, Norwegian Church Aid distributes hygiene kits for refugees coming from Pakistan. Shir and Aslai Khan with their children have received hygiene kits from NCA. Photo: Håvard Bjelland
Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises. An estimated 21.9 million people, about 45% of the population, need humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan in 2026, out of which around 14 million face acute food insecurity.
The country is regularly dealing with droughts, floods and earthquakes, economic hardship, and now also with large-scale returns with around 6 million people from the neighboring countries Pakistan and Iran, as well as major cuts in international aid. At the same time, restrictions on women and girls continue to limit participation and access to healthcare, education and employment, further constraining Afghanistan’s social and economic development. Tensions with Pakistan are adding to Afghanistan’s already severe economic and humanitarian challenges. During the last five years where the Taliban has ruled the country, it has been relatively peaceful in the country but in almost total international isolation.
NCA has worked in Afghanistan since 1979. Five decades of shifting political and security circumstances and repeated crises have required the organisation to constantly adapt how it works.
“Working in Afghanistan requires constant adaptation. We have had to find practical solutions for our programs and our operations, both in the field and in our offices and make sure we always deliver our support to those most in need and in line with local culture, customs and values”
says Mike Bonke, Country Director for Norwegian Church Aid in Afghanistan.
Fewer resources, greater needs
As international funding declines, it is increasingly important to make every intervention count. NCA combines humanitarian assistance with longer-term work aimed at strengthening communities’ resilience. This includes water and sanitation, shelter, food security and livelihoods such as livestock, chicken farming, vegetable gardens, seeds and fertiliser.
The programmes are designed together with local communities and based on their needs, helping families secure food and income while preparing for drought, floods and other climate-related shocks.
“We have to build resilience together with the communities,” says Mike. “The programmes need to respond to what people actually need.”
Women and girls
Restrictions on education, employment and freedom of movement have severely limited women’s participation in Afghan society – and made it increasingly difficult for NCA to work with women. NCA, like any other organisation needs to follow the requirements for female participation, in the program and in our office, which are aimed at the physical separation of men and women in society.
At the same time, female staff are essential for reaching women and girls in communities. NCA has therefore adapted its operations to allow women to continue working within the current regulations, including providing separate office space and transport to and from work.
“We have to find ways to make sure women can continue to participate, both as staff and as people we serve,” says Mike.
In the field, female staff are particularly important when working with women-led households and other female beneficiaries. Restrictions on women’s movement, including requirements for a male relative (mahram) to accompany them in certain circumstances, add further challenges to their work.
“As a humanitarian organization, we have a responsibility to reach all the communities, the females are therefore important beneficiaries in our programmatic work. We rely therefore on female staff to have a dialogue with female beneficiaries. “
Signs of change
There are also some signs of change for the better in Afghanistan, despite the difficult situation. In many parts of Afghanistan, people can move around more freely than during the years of active conflict, and the security situation has improved. This also makes it easier for humanitarian organisations to reach communities.
In some places, there are signs of renewed economic activity, with people beginning to invest in economic activities, in order to rebuild their livelihoods.
“People are more confident now to start some economic activities and small businesses again. They build a new house or repair their old one. That is encouraging,” says Mike, who also underlines that this is still an early phase, but there are some positive indications.
People continue to struggle with poverty, food insecurity and limited economic opportunities, while women and girls face severe restrictions and millions remain dependent on humanitarian assistance.
“The absence of war does not necessarily mean that this is followed by peace and development, we have a long way to go and work hard to make this happen,” says Mike.
Preparing for what comes next
The return of large numbers of Afghans from neighbouring countries is putting further pressure on communities already struggling with limited jobs, housing, water and basic services. These Afghans have often left the country as refugees more than 40 years ago and return to a country that they are strangers to. Tensions with Pakistan also affects trade and the movement of goods, further depressing economic development.
Meanwhile, another difficult winter is approaching. Climate shocks, food insecurity, returnees and declining aid all add to the uncertainty.
For NCA, the response is to keep adapting – and to stay.
“We have been here for five decades and experienced many shifting political situations. As long as people need us, we want to stay and work for them.”
In a fragile context where circumstances and rules keep changing, staying means finding new ways to continue supporting Afghan communities, regardless of political shifts.
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