Oxfam's work in Afghanistan in depth

In Afghanistan, Oxfam's focus is on gender equality, livelihoods, education and humanitarian relief.

 

Emergency update: Afghanistan drought

The context

Three decades of war and disorder have caused widespread destruction of public institutions and facilities. Oxfam first provided support to projects in Afghanistan in 1964, and has been directly providing humanitarian and development assistance in the country since 1991, including during Taliban rule.

How is Oxfam helping?

Oxfam GB works in seven provinces of Afghanistan. We implement programmes directly in two of these provinces, and work through national partner organisations in the others. Our interventions typically help communities to move out of poverty by improving their means of earning sufficient and sustainable livelihoods; mitigating the impact of crises and disasters; and empowering women and girls socially and economically.

We work within the development frameworks laid out by the Government of Afghanistan, including the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the National Plan of Action for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA), and we build the capacity of local structures to own and drive the implementation of these frameworks.

Oxfam promotes gender equality in every aspect of its poverty-reduction work around the world – and makes every effort to ensure that women and men benefit equally from it. Working with other Oxfam affiliates in Afghanistan, we are prioritising community-led development activities. We are establishing civil society groups (especially in agriculture, livestock and horticulture); training participants to become community trainers; and forming women’s self-help groups to encourage their leadership and social and economic participation at community and household levels. This work also includes liaising with local government officials.

Since 2001, we have run rural development and water and sanitation projects in the southern provinces of Kabul and Kandahar: we have extended the water distribution network, built sanitation facilities, provided vocational training to women and trained local authority personnel.

We continue to respond to recurrent humanitarian emergencies. For example, we continue to work with vulnerable communities in drought-affected areas.

Oxfam calls for policy change that will reduce poverty and promote rural development, reconstruction and stability. We advocate stronger arms controls; greater support to peace-building at local level; increased support for agriculture; international trade policies that support poverty reduction; greater resources for reforming the education system; and for increased and more effective international assistance to the country. We’re also pressing for greater protection and support for civilians, displaced people and refugees – all of whom are at risk every day because of the country’s insecurity and the ongoing military operations.

 

Last updated: May 2011