Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Livelihood Security

The government and the international community are making slow progress in rebuilding the war-torn country and Afghans are expressing frustration that they are unable to see more tangible results of peace. ACT members Christian Aid (CA), Church World Service/Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A), Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), together with their local partners, are continuing to assist the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to rebuilt the nation and its communities. The emphasis of programmes is still on basic recovery and reconstruction and including relief components – especially with the winter coming. It is clear from experience gained during implementation of previous appeals that combining reconstruction and livelihood programmes are essential to the rebuilding of lives and communities in a sustainable way.

The role of women remains a very sensitive issue in Afghanistan. ACT Members believe that women should be fully represented in all aspects and at all levels of the decision-making processes fully participating in society and government. The ACT Members aim to include women, the poorest members of society and ethnic minorities by including them in the design, implementation, monitoring and review stages of every project at field, regional and head office level. But even this fundamental process will be a challenge, as some partners have no female staff.

Security in Afghanistan has been the overriding concern since December 2001. Security is the precondition for tangible reconstruction and development and provides an environment that allows development professionals to do their job.

Currently, ACT members CWS P/A, HIA, NCA and UMCOR are in the process of submitting their proposals for a new ASAF-31 Appeal.

ACT member CWS P/A plans to continue its reconstruction activities in the Shomali Valley with their local partner Norwegian Project Office- Rural Rehabilitation Association for Afghanistan (NPO-RRAA). The main goal is to assist the most vulnerable families, including displaced people and returnees, to resettle and provide for their families by assisting with reconstruction of safe and secure shelters and through the creation of income generation opportunities.

The activities will include support with housing materials to build safe and secure homes for 1,000 of the most vulnerable families in Bagram district of Parwan province; providing Livelihood Kits to 2,500 families to increase income opportunities and to strengthen community participation and promote rehabilitation of the centuries old institution of collective decision making i.e. Shura.

ACT member HIA plans to continue its activities in the northern provinces with a special focus on Balkh and Jawzjan provinces. The proposed activities aim to provide:

• access to primary/secondary education for boys and girls by re/constructing schools and equipping the schools as well as distributing school kits
• access to health services by constructing health centres and providing basic equipment
• shelter for returnees in Khoja Du Kho district, Jawzjan province by building houses
• access to clean water by drilling wells and building latrines in the (re)constructed schools
• support to female-headed families in income generation by providing raw materials for carpet weaving courses and organising literacy programs
• support households by distributing livestock and organising tailoring courses.

ACT member NCA has based its proposal on the current situation in 9 Afghan provinces and Kabul City were 9 NCA-partners are operational and will focus on increased food and livelihood security. The proposed activities aim at:

• providing minimum food requirements to 10 – 12,000 members of the most vulnerable families to survive the winter period
• reducing the levels of malnourishment amongst children in the most vulnerable families by improving competence on health and nutritional issues among targeted mothers.
• assisting the rural areas and agriculture sector by rehabilitating roads and irrigation canals through cash for work projects that will at the same time help to break dependence on food relief and stimulate the local economy.
• competence training including – basic literacy and numeracy and vocational training.

ACT member UMCOR is also preparing a proposal focusing on improving the livelihood and income earning potential of returnees through the re-establishment of agriculture production and marketing. UMCOR plans to work in 3 districts of each province in the Kunduz-Bakhlan Region, the Nangahar-Laghman-Paktia region and in the Shomali Plain. The activities will include:

• provision of agricultural inputs including tools, seeds and training
• small business inputs including micro-credit loans and in-kind grants
• implement additional water infrastructure repairs.

The ACT members are increasing their co-ordination and consultation both at project and organisational level.

Estimated summary of Appeal Targets:

* The indication provided by UMCOR is a very first estimate.

The ACT CO has raised with all the ACT members the issue of the high targets and its concerns related to the possible funding coverage. It is not yet clear how much can and will be funded through back donors.

ACT CO would appreciate your responses, questions and comments at this stage.

Any funding indication or pledge towards the forthcoming appeal ASAF-31 should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org). Thank you.