Afghanistan
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Photo: Toni Greaves for Mercy Corps
Our strategy
Improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens by strengthening sustainable, legitimate livelihoods.
The context
Decades of ongoing conflict, political instability, drought and economic chaos has left Afghanistan one of the world’s poorest and unstable nations. Eighty-five percent of the population relies on agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods, leaving them vulnerable in a precarious economy.
Our work
- Agriculture & Food: Increasing farmers' production through training, infrastructure and links to local and global markets
- Economic opportunity: Providing training and work opportunities in areas ranging from road-building to poultry farming
- Water: Supporting equal, sustainable access to water resources for farmers
- Women & Gender: Helping women learn job skills and start small businesses
All stories about Afghanistan
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Afghanistan: Losing some preconceptions in Afghanistan August 19, 2010
I should know by now, but the important lessons are always worth repeating. Although blessed with the opportunity to travel often, I packed a lot of preconceptions when I set out for Afghanistan; this country that dominates our headlines but whose people we know so little.
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Afghanistan: Greening Afghanistan July 20, 2010
I’m just going to say it — people think of Afghanistan as a pile of rocks. I see where the mental image comes from; photos on the news do seem to showcase the sand and rocks in their effort to capture the grittiness of soldiers at war. But I know an Afghanistan of a different color: green.
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Afghanistan: From our photo library June 4, 2010
This photograph is from Afghanistan in 2008. The woman’s hurried gait is exaggerated by the camera’s motion and I can’t help but wonder what’s on her mind and where she’s going with such purpose and concentration.
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Afghanistan: Almonds for Afghanistan: A farmer tries his hand at a high-value crop April 15, 2010
I picked my way gingerly though the rows of young, green wheat as our host, farmer Ahmed Shah*, the Mercy Corps project manager and a few agriculture experts strode ahead across the field.
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Afghanistan: Irrigation canal saves 600 Afghan households March 22, 2010
Ortabuz is a small village in the east of Afghanistan’s Takhar Province. At least 600 families are living in this small and green village. The people of Ortabuz are mostly farmers and each family have one or two jerib — about one-half to one full acre — of land for planting of crops.
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Afghanistan: Celebrating International Women's Day in Afghanistan March 11, 2010
Mercy Corps Afghanistan celebrated International Women's Day in Kabul with bunches of flowers and gifts for female staff. Many of Mercy Corps' female staff here are working in high positions: country director, program manager, deputy program manager, head of departments and coordinators.
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Afghanistan: Going to Lashkar Gah February 23, 2010
It is six o' clock of the morning of January 5. It is still dark and cold. The vehicle waiting outside of my house is honking its horn. The horn means I have to be ready to go to airport and fly to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan: How about 30,000 teachers to Afghanistan? December 3, 2009
Yesterday I spoke to Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emily Harris about the humanitarian perspective on President Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan: Hot as an anvil in Afghanistan August 11, 2009
On previous visits to Afghanistan I have traveled to our programs in the southern provinces in Helmand and Kandahar, where Mercy Corps has operated for more than 20 years, as well as those in the north.
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Afghanistan: Well worth the effort July 28, 2009
For most of us, putting a meal on the table involves a trip to the store to purchase food and some time in the kitchen to prepare it.