With 17.4 million people in Afghanistan projected to face acute food insecurity this year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are implementing a $100 million initiative aimed at supporting over one million of the country’s most vulnerable individuals.
The two-year programme is set to assist more than 151,000 households, equivalent to 1,057,000 people. Beneficiaries will include returnees from Pakistan and Iran, host communities, and families impacted by recent earthquakes and floods.
This intervention is designed to help rural households restore their livelihoods, protect livestock, and rebuild agricultural production systems disrupted by multiple, compounding crises.
Afghanistan”s agricultural sector, the foundation of its rural economy, has been hampered by low productivity and restricted market access. The situation is worsened by repeated natural disasters that have destroyed crops and infrastructure, and by the return of large populations from neighbouring countries, placing further strain on resources.
According to projections for 2026, the food crisis is deteriorating, with 4.7 million people expected to be in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), a classification defined by significant food consumption gaps and high rates of acute malnutrition. Persistent drought, compounded by anticipated La Niña effects bringing below-average rainfall and higher temperatures, is escalating the risks.
The new scheme prioritises climate-smart and people-centred interventions to boost agricultural output and diversify rural livelihoods. Special attention will be given to the most at-risk communities, particularly households headed by women.
This project represents a new milestone in the partnership between the FAO and ADB. Since 2022, the ADB has channelled approximately $265 million in grants through the FAO to combat acute food insecurity across the nation.
Previous collaborative efforts have reached an estimated 5.6 million people, supporting over 841,000 households in restoring crop and livestock production. These programmes have proven highly cost-effective; a $200 wheat cultivation package can sustain a family of seven for a full year. Farmers using FAO-certified seeds have reported 27 percent higher yields, and livestock support has increased herd ownership by 50 percent.
QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, stated that the partnership delivers measurable results by focusing on both immediate needs and closing the nation”s food production gap. He added that the collaboration has enabled millions to access essential resources and that this new project deepens that commitment by expanding support towards diversified, agriculture-based livelihoods, with a particular focus on the central role of women in the sector.
By combining immediate food security assistance with longer-term resilience-building, the initiative aims to ensure families can not only recover but are better equipped to withstand future shocks.