Strategies and Goals
Welthungerhilfe strengthens the capacities of rural and urban communities for a self-determined improvement of their food and nutrition security.
Afghanistan has suffered from protracted conflict for over 35 years and many parts of the country continue to be marked by instability. There is also a high incidence of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and landslides and the United Nations estimates that around 290,000 people were affected by natural disasters in 2017, while around 400,000 were displaced within the country due to conflict. Food and nutrition insecurity continues to be widespread and over 70 percent of children in some regions of the country are suffering from undernutrition (stunting) and the country is ranked in the ‘serious’ category of the 2017 Global Hunger Index.
Facts and Figures
Sectors of Intervention
Welthungerhilfe has nine active projects in the country that focus on humanitarian assistance to support the needs of internally displaced people and those affected by natural disasters as well as agriculture and civil society and empowerment projects that work to build the capacity and resilience of communities.
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Preparedness
- Welthungerhilfe is working to increase the resilience of communities in Aybek with funding from the German Foreign Office (AA) through improved disaster management. This involves forming disaster management committees in villages, schools and health clinics who give training in areas such as first aid and disaster risk reduction.
- The Afghan National Disaster Management Authority is responsible for preparedness and resilience activities across the country yet it has very limited resources. Welthungerhilfe is building the capacity and improving the structure of the organisation to increase its impact across the country.
Agriculture and Environment
- In Jawzjan province Welthungerhilfe and local partners are combating the high malnutrition rate and increasing degradation of natural resources in 24 villages through rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure and promoting sustainable farming techniques.
- With funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Welthungerhilfe is also providing training in livestock farming and establishing veterinary clinics in Jawzjan and training community mobilisers in the field of nutrition, health and hygiene.
Civil Society and Empowerment
- In 15 districts in the province of Kabul, Welthungerhilfe and its local partner organisations are improving the income and employment opportunities of around 25,000 internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups through education and vocational training.
