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Afghanistan is struggling to emerge from decades of conflict, political instability, drought and economic chaos. Mercy Corps has been active in Afghanistan since 1986, and in recent years we have helped more than 2.5 million Afghans through a wide range of community-based agriculture and economic development programs. We are currently working in 12 provinces in northern, southern and eastern Afghanistan.
With 85 percent of the population relying on agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods, Mercy Corps’ primary goal is to enable Afghans to improve their quality of life by strengthening sustainable, legitimate livelihoods. Our programs are aimed at improving agricultural production and market linkages, community and agricultural infrastructure, livestock health, natural resource management and access to financial services, with an emphasis on linking government, communities and the private sector.
We use a community-based approach to implement development activities in Afghanistan, bringing together local leaders and community members to implement complex programs with high standards of accountability and transparency. This increases access to communities, builds capacity, encourages positive interactions between citizens and government, and contributes to stability. We work to involve community members in a way that promotes their ownership over decision making and builds their knowledge and skills.
Achieving Sustainable Livelihoods
Through a five-year USAID funded program to promote licit livelihoods, we are working to increase agricultural production through farmer training and the provision of essential inputs; improve agriculture-related infrastructure such as irrigation channels and feeder roads; provide value chain inputs and create links to markets for agricultural products; and support to non-farm rural enterprise. To date, the project has reached more than 120,000 beneficiaries, including 58,000 trained to manage agriculture and livestock, and 42,000 who benefit from improved infrastructure.
Through a project funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), we are providing training and technical assistance to farmers and agribusinesses growing high-value fruits, nuts and vegetables, as well as linking them to markets and financial services. At the same time, we are building crucial infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems and cold storage facilities that improve the competitiveness of local agricultural products. In addition, we are helping to improve the capacity and sales of high-value grape and pomegranate producers. Mercy Corps provides training and technical assistance to farmers and producer associations, ensuring that their products meet international export quality standards. Through our network of 500 growers and 19 traders we have successfully exported 16MT of pomegranates to Europe and 40MT of fair trade-certified raisins to the UK.
Natural Resource Management
Through two programs funded by the European Community (EC), Mercy Corps is strengthening the livelihoods families in the Kunduz and Panj-Amu River watersheds. One project works with 44 communities in the catchment area to implement natural resource management projects, including livestock care, soil conservation, and forest, pasture and water management. A second project, now in its second phase, works downstream to address the need for better water distribution infrastructure and cooperation for water use; to date, it has rehabilitated 115km of canal used by over 20,000 families.
Vocational Training
In Helmand and Kandahar, insecurity and poor infrastructure have left the population struggling to generate real economic growth. Two new programs will provide opportunities for job training for unemployed or underemployed high school graduates. We will work closely with the Technical and Vocational Educational Training Department to provide 21,000 men and women with basic vocational skills or skilled worker apprenticeships that will increase household incomes and lead to local job creation.
Both projects work closely with local natural resource management committees and water management groups as well as the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure our projects help farmers boost crop yields while supporting equal, sustainable access to water resources.
Targeting Vulnerable Populations
Working with our partners, Mercy Corps is leading the second phase of a community development program targeting 41,670 poor and vulnerable households in 1,250 communities across nine provinces in northern Afghanistan. This USAID-funded project works closely with communities to meet their needs for sustainable income generation activities. Projects such as infrastructure rehabilitation and home-based projects for women combined with business and management training help beneficiaries find sustained employment after the project’s completion.
We are also working to improve the food security of rural populations in eastern Afghanistan. This program provides economic opportunities to returning refugees, especially landless youths, as well as their host communities in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. We are focusing on cash-for-work activities that improve community infrastructure, such as irrigation and rural road repair, as well as those supporting agriculture and livestock productivity, including kitchen gardens and poultry production. The project also provides a basis to help communities better respond to local needs.
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