Afghanistan
Geo-political Landscape
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in central and southern Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the south and east, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast. The country covers an area of about 652,230 square kilometres, making it one of the largest countries in the region.
Afghanistan’s geography is defined by mountains, deserts, and plains. The most extensive mountain range is the Hindu Kush, which stretches across the country from the northeast to the southwest. This range divides Afghanistan into three main geographical regions: the central highlands, the northern plains, and the southwestern plateau.
Afghanistan is composed of 34 provinces, each further subdivided into districts. The provinces are administered by governors appointed by the de facto government. Some of the main provinces include Kabul, the capital; Kandahar, located in the south; Herat in the western part of the country; Balkh in the north, known for its historical sites and agricultural productivity; and Nangarhar in the eastern region, bordering Pakistan, which serves as a key trade route.
Located at the crossroads of Central, Western, and South Asia, Afghanistan has a rich and complex history. Its strategic position has attracted numerous empires and peoples, resulting in a mosaic of ethnic and linguistic groups.
Afghanistan’s geopolitical context has undergone significant changes since the return of the Taliban to power on August 15, 2021. This shift is affecting regional stability, international relations, and the humanitarian situation. As of January 1, 2022, geographical competence has been transferred from AICS Kabul office to the AICS office in Islamabad.
DISCLAIMER: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of AICS concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or frontiers.
Socio-economic Context
Afghanistan is marked by a protracted humanitarian crisis, fuelled by more than four decades of conflict and exacerbated by the Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021. More than three years after their establishment, the de facto government shows insufficient capacity to meet the basic needs of the population.
Access to basic services remains extremely limited: 73% of the population lacks adequate medical care, and 60% of households face difficulties in obtaining essential goods (OCHA, 2024).
Afghanistan’s economy experienced modest growth in 2024, with a GDP increase of 2.7%, according to the World Bank (2024). However, this recovery is insufficient to offset the economic collapse of recent years. Between 2021 and 2022, GDP fell by approximately 30%, and the banking system faced a severe liquidity crisis (World Bank, 2024).
Inflation, with a 50% increase in food prices between 2021 and 2023, has worsened food insecurity, which now affects over 15 million people (FAO, 2024). Although Afghanistan has recently experienced a degree of relative stability, the country remains highly dependent on imports. Meanwhile, exports—primarily agricultural products such as dried fruits and saffron—are insufficient to offset the trade deficit (IMF, 2024).
The agricultural sector, which employs over 60% of the population, has been severely affected by drought and the reduction of international support, compromising harvests and increasing the vulnerability of rural communities (FAO, 2024). The manufacturing sector is experiencing stagnation due to a lack of foreign investment and a decline in domestic production. Trade with Iran, Pakistan, and China remains one of the country’s key economic lifelines, yet deep structural challenges continue to hinder its development.
Economic hardship is also reflected in the labor market, where unemployment remains high and job opportunities are increasingly scarce—especially for youth and women. With an unemployment rate exceeding 40%, the lack of employment prospects has further deteriorated living conditions and fueled social tensions across the country (Asian Development Bank, 2024).
The enactment of the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) in August 2024 institutionalized restrictions on women’s participation in public life and their access—along with that of girls and young children—to basic services, further worsening an already critical situation and having significant repercussions on mental health.
This law dramatically adds to the restrictions imposed by the de facto Authorities (AdF) since December 2022 on NGO operations, through which the de facto government banned women from working in non-governmental organizations. In 2023, this ban was extended to United Nations operations, severely undermining the delivery of essential services in the health, education, and food security sectors and further exacerbating the country’s social and economic crisis (United Nations OCHA, 2024).
Restrictions in the education sector have led to the closure of secondary schools and universities for girls, resulting in a 78% decrease in enrollment compared to 2020 (UNESCO, 2024).
Despite limited openings for women’s employment in local markets, participation in trade fairs, and involvement in the saffron value chain, the situation in Afghanistan remains extremely critical due to the low levels of civil liberties and civic engagement, particularly for women (UNGASC, 2024).
Need Assessment
According to UN data, nearly half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. The human rights restrictions imposed by the de facto government have exacerbated the needs of women, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups by limiting access to essential services and livelihood opportunities, further deepening the crisis.
Since 2021, Afghanistan’s economy has contracted by nearly one-third, primarily due to the effects of political isolation, financial system constraints, and the decline in international funding. Approximately 50% of the population lives in poverty, with 44% of the rural population and 58% of the urban population facing economic hardship.
High unemployment and economic stagnation are among the main drivers of widespread socio-economic vulnerability and the lack of essential services. Restrictions on women’s work and education have marginalized a significant portion of the labor force, reducing household incomes[1]. International humanitarian assistance is a necessary contribution to the survival of families.
Natural disasters, such as floods and harsh winters, affected millions of people in 2024. The floods affected more than 173,000 people, while low temperatures threaten especially vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, displaced persons and returnees.
In 2024, approximately 14.8 million people faced acute food insecurity, with severe nutritional consequences. The country is also experiencing an alarming level of chronic malnutrition, with around 3 million children affected by stunting due to inadequate diets, lack of access to healthcare, and poor sanitary conditions.
The healthcare sector is severely compromised due to insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of professionals—worsened by restrictive policies that prevent women from participating in the workforce. Communicable diseases are on the rise, with 175,262 cases of acute diarrhea, 81,304 cases of malaria, and 59,753 cases of measles reported in 2024. Seasonal health dynamics, including respiratory infections and waterborne diseases, particularly affect vulnerable groups.
The maternal mortality rate remains among the highest in the world, with 638 deaths per 100,000 live births. Where as the infant mortality stands at 58 deaths per 1,000 live births. Vaccination coverage is also inadequate, with only 36.6% of children aged 12 to 23 months receiving basic immunizations.
Despite the end of active conflict in 2021, Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily contaminated countries by explosive ordnance. In 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recorded 234 explosive incidents, resulting in 455 casualties—359 of whom were children.
Compounding the situation, Afghanistan is facing a returnee crisis, with approximately 2 million Afghans having returned to the country from Pakistan and Iran between December 2023 and December 2024. This surge in returnees has placed additional pressure on basic services and the resources of host communities. Furthermore, there are approximately 6.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Afghanistan, further complicating the overall humanitarian landscape.[1].
Humanitarian needs are acute and require urgent action. It is crucial to strengthen health infrastructure, improve access to essential services and provide targeted assistance for vulnerable populations. Without international commitment, the lives of millions are at risk.
- Strategic Orientation and Priority Sectors
In 2024, the intervention strategy included support for essential services and humanitarian assistance. In a complex and volatile context such as that of Afghanistan, it appears necessary to complement immediate aid with activities aimed at supporting durable solutions and contributing to the resilience of communities.
In line with the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan 2023-2025 (UNSFA), the 2024 initiatives aim to ensure access to essential services and foster economic opportunities and resilient livelihoods.
The strategic orientation of the AICS Islamabad office is in line with the 2024- 2026 Three-Year Programming and Policy Document, which provides that the initiatives to be implemented in Afghanistan shall focus on assisting the populations affected by protracted humanitarian crises with a view to protecting lives, alleviating suffering and safeguarding the dignity of persons.
The activities supported by AICS focus on the following areas of action identified in the same document:
- Health
- Training and decent work.
- Multisectoral
Multisectoral interventions cover the following areas: agriculture, food security and nutrition; protection of the most vulnerable groups including young people, women, children, disabled persons, displaced persons, refugees and returnees; life-saving assistance; as the provision of food and drinking water; as well as preparedness, prevention and response to natural disaster risks.
Within this framework, AICS Islamabad has identified 3 strategic outcomes for intervention, focusing on two key pillars for the 2030 Agenda: Person and Prosperity
PILLAR PERSON
- Outcome 1 (SDG 2): Ensuring food security and supporting resilient and sustainable agro-food production systems, fostering the link between nutrition and health
Sector: Multisectoral
- Outcome 3 (SDG 3/5): Improved access to quality social and health services for all, with a focus on vulnerable people and maternal, child, sexual and reproductive health
Sector: Health
PILLAR PROSPERITY
- Outcome 3 (SDG 8.5): Promote full and productive employment and decent work, with particular emphasis on young people and women.
Sector: Education, training and decent work
The AICS Islamabad initiatives, in a nexus perspective in fragile contexts3, contribute to the following objectives:
- SDG 2: Ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. In particular target 2.1, ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, including infants.
- SDG 3: Ensuring healthy living and promoting well-being for all at all ages. In particular, targets: 3.2, end preventable deaths of infants and children under 5; 5, strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including drug abuse and harmful alcohol use; 3.6, to halve the number of deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.
- SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. In particular target 8.5, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and ensure equal pay for work of equal value.
COORDINAMENTO INTERNAZIONALE
- International Coordination
The main donor coordination mechanisms in which AICS Islamabad participates include:
- Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG)
Established in May 2022, the ACG aims to coordinate the efforts of various actors, including international organisations, donors and civil society, to address the complex challenges facing Afghanistan. Currently co-chaired by the EU, UN and World Bank, focusing on humanitarian aid, development and peace and reconciliation efforts.
- Humanitarian Donors Group for Afghanistan
Chaired by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, it is a platform that brings together on a monthly basis major humanitarian donors with the aim of discussing, planning and harmonising responses to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
- Donor coordination of the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF) and the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA)
The ARTF, managed by the World Bank, and the STFA, managed by UNDP, are tools for mobilizing and coordinating international funding for resilience and Basic Human Needs in Afghanistan.
- EU+ Coordination Meeting
A forum involving the Member States of the European Union, together with Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to promote coherence between EU-funded activities and bilateral donor programmes. This mechanism facilitates the alignment of donor strategies for humanitarian assistance and Basic Human Needs, establishing shared priorities and promoting a unified approach.
- EU Development Counsellors Coordination Meeting
A coordination table chaired by the Delegation of the European Union in Afghanistan. The group promotes a joint analysis of the intervention context and encourages strategic discussion within the EU on key issues.
- Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR)
An initiative of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and its partners, designed to address the Afghan refugee crisis. The strategy focuses on supporting Afghan refugees, who have been forced to flee the country due to conflict and repression, in finding durable solutions.
The current Afghan context is marked by institutionalized discrimination by the de facto authorities against women and girls, who are excluded from most areas of daily and public life, including education after the sixth year and work. This highlights an element of additional gravity in the context of the Afghan crisis: on the one hand, the humanitarian emergency is characterized by food insecurity, the lack of life-saving services, from endemic poverty and the challenges imposed by migration phenomena and on the other hand the denial of women’s rights, which increase the need for international assistance.
An intersectional analysis of the situation of women in the country clearly reveals that the ongoing crisis affecting the entire population is even more acute for women, girls, and female children.
This is evident in the economic sphere, where restrictions on women’s education and employment have marginalized a significant portion of the labor force, reduced household incomes, further deepened poverty, and increased women’s exposure to violence and abuse.
As for food security, coping strategies that force families to reduce food consumption have contributed to rising rates of acute malnutrition among women and children.
The impacts of the climate crisis further compound these challenges: water scarcity, inadequate sanitation services, and exposure to natural disasters are key factors contributing to the highest maternal mortality rate in the region.[1].
In this context, Afghan women and girls are an essential resource. Human capital development and social protection are key to Afghanistan’s long-term economic recovery and stability.[1]
The central role of women and girls in sustainable development is recognised by AICS6, which integrates a gender perspective into initiatives it finances through a two-track approach (twin-track approach) [2] 7. .This approach involves, on the one hand, the implementation of specific initiatives solely focused on the promotion of GEWE with Gender Policy Marker 2, ie “main” and, on the other hand, Initiatives in which the gender component is transversal, with Gender Policy Marker 1, meaning “significant”.
Initiatives in the field of maternal, reproductive, neonatal, child, and adolescent health through Family Health Houses (FHH) align with Gender Policy Marker 2. This type of intervention is designed to reach remote and underserved areas, ensuring an integrated approach that provides women and girls with dedicated spaces for health services. In 2024, 17% of funding—equivalent to €9.5 million—was allocated to two interventions in support of FHHs, with gender equality as the primary objective.
Given the widespread needs across all sectors and the systemic discrimination faced by women, girls, and female children, the ongoing gender mainstreaming approach enables action in support of women’s empowerment and the protection of their rights across various areas of intervention. Currently, 54% of funds invested in Afghanistan—amounting to €30.4 million—are allocated to eight initiatives marked with Gender Policy Marker 1, indicating that GEWE is a significant focus. These initiatives include clearly defined expected results, dedicated activities, and specific budget lines. Among them are contributions to the “Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund” (ARTF) for the EMERGe programme (Empowering Microfinance and Enterprises for Resilience and Growth), which supports micro and small enterprises—particularly women-led businesses—and to the “Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan” (STFA) for drug use prevention and treatment programmes, with a particular focus on women and their families.