UN & ADB Launch $100M Food Security Project In Afghanistan
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Asian Development Bank have launched a $100 million food security project in Afghanistan.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Asian Development Bank have launched a $100 million food security project in Afghanistan.
The project is aimed at strengthening food security and restoring agricultural livelihoods for more than one million vulnerable people.
In a statement, FAO said the two-year programme would support more than 151,000 families, including returnees from Pakistan and Iran, host communities and households affected by recent earthquakes and floods.
Repeated natural disasters have destroyed crops, livestock and irrigation infrastructure, while large-scale returns of migrants from neighbouring countries have placed additional pressure on already vulnerable communities, the agency said.
The project seeks to mitigate the impact of successive climate-related crises by restoring rural livelihoods, protecting livestock and rebuilding agricultural production systems.
FAO said agriculture remains the backbone of Afghanistan’s rural economy, but low productivity, limited access to equipment, damage to irrigation systems and mass migrant returns have put severe strain on the sector.
While emergency assistance in recent years has helped prevent a broader spread of food insecurity, projections indicate that more than 17 million people in Afghanistan will face acute food insecurity in 2026. Of those, 4.7 million are expected to be in an emergency phase marked by major food consumption gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition.
FAO assessments indicate that continued drought, bringing below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures until early 2026, could further increase risks.
The initiative, centred on climate-smart and community-focused solutions, aims to boost agricultural production, improve food and nutrition security and diversify rural livelihoods. Female-headed households and provinces most affected by climate and economic shocks are being prioritised.
The Asian Development Bank said it has provided about $265 million in grants through FAO since 2022 to support Afghanistan’s agricultural sector. More than 5.6 million people have benefited from agricultural and food assistance under the partnership, it said.
