The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have jointly launched the Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme (ACRP), a two-year initiative running from 2024 to 2026. The programme will address the critical challenges faced by rural communities in Kandahar, Helmand, and Badghis provinces by enhancing sustainable livelihoods, improving food security, and building resilience to climate-related shocks.

Funded by a generous contribution of USD 16.2 million from the European Union, the ACRP aims to support over 7,000 vulnerable households. The programme's key focus areas include increasing agricultural productivity, promoting diversified livelihoods, and strengthening market linkages. By improving the production of staple crops and high-value agricultural products, as well as livestock, the ACRP seeks to enhance food and nutrition security while boosting household incomes. Additionally, the programme will support the creation of employment opportunities through Cash-for-Work initiatives and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

The ACRP will address the urgent need for improved water resource management in these provinces. The programme plans to rehabilitate and construct community-based water projects, including check dams, irrigation canals, and other essential water-harvesting structures. These interventions will support agricultural production and provide alternative livelihoods for former poppy farmers. In doing so, the programme will help communities transition from emergency assistance to longer-term resilience, ensuring they are better equipped to face future challenges.

The ACRP will also establish or reactivate three community-level multi-hazard early warning systems in former poppy farming areas with high disaster risks. These systems will enhance community preparedness, protecting lives, livelihoods, and agricultural lands from floods and other devastating events.

The programme's implementation will be guided by an inclusive and participatory approach, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations, including those without legal identity documents, benefit from its initiatives. The selection of households for support will be based on comprehensive vulnerability criteria developed in consultation with local communities, and relevant stakeholders. This approach will ensure that the programme effectively addresses the needs of those most affected by the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including climate change, economic instability, and the impacts of the poppy cultivation ban.

The European Union (EU) has been a steadfast supporter of Afghan rural communities in building climate resilience, boosting sustainable agriculture, and enhancing vulnerable households’ livelihoods. “Mitigating the negative impacts of climate change, which most hardly affect women and children, is a priority for EU basic needs assistance to Afghanistan. With this new contribution, the EU’s ongoing support to climate resilience and agriculture-related projects reaches over 100 million euros,” says Veronika Boskovic Pohar, EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i.        

“FAO is grateful for the European Union's steadfast support in strengthening agriculture, livestock, irrigation, and food security across Afghanistan," said Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. "Agriculture is the heartbeat of this country, sustaining over 70% of the population. By supporting farmers, we’re not just aiding individuals; we're uplifting entire communities. With the challenges of climate change, drought, and poverty, these initiatives are crucial to improving the lives and resilience of Afghan farmers."

“The European Union’s continued partnership with IOM and UN agencies has been vital in addressing the needs of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Afghans affected by various crises,” said IOM Afghanistan Deputy Chief of Mission, Mutya Maskun. “With this renewed commitment and by leveraging the expertise of IOM, UNDP, and FAO, we can focus on assisting communities impacted by the poppy cultivation ban through economic and climate resilience initiatives. Together, our efforts will support affected returnees as well as the communities hosting them, fostering social cohesion, and creating longer-term solutions to mitigate the factors that could lead to secondary displacement or irregular migration as a negative coping mechanism”.

“UNDP’s participation in this partnership builds on our long-standing experience from our CBARD project, which has supported former poppy producers with alternative livelihoods since 2016. This initiative allows us and our sister UN agencies to combine our expertise for greater impact. We will deliver a comprehensive support package addressing various needs, including enhancing post-harvest handling, supporting agro-processing, facilitating access to sharia compliant financing, and supporting establishment of early warning systems and DRR infrastructure”, said Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Afghanistan Resident Representative. “We are grateful to the EU for their financial contribution, which will enable us to extend support to the thousands of Afghan smallholder farmers, especially those affected by the recent poppy ban”.

To maximize its impact, the ACRP 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 more coordinated response to the needs of rural communities. FAO, IOM, and UNDP will collaborate closely, leveraging their collective expertise to strengthen connections with national and international networks, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Counter Narcotics Working Group for Afghanistan.