KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), will allocate €20 million to aid rural households in Afghanistan, enhancing their resilience against climate change and natural disasters.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 1, the EU’s delegation in Afghanistan said that it will contribute €15 million and SDC will add €5 million. This funding will support Afghanaid and its partners in empowering local communities to assess and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
According to the EU statement, the project will be implemented across four provinces, integrating watershed management with community-based disaster preparedness.
“The project will reduce vulnerability to flood and drought, and enhance climate-resilient rural livelihoods. This will enable households to increase their agricultural and livestock production, diversify income streams, and earn higher incomes.”
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation in the country has deteriorated significantly, making it one of the world’s most critical crises. Additionally, the country is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries with regard to effects of climate change.
According to the EU, 76% of Afghanistan population depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, therefore the negative effects of climate change exacerbate food insecurity and poverty levels.
Peteris Ustubs, Director for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific at the European Commission’s Department for International Partnerships, was quoted in the statement saying, “Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climate change. With a majority of Afghans relying on agriculture, climate readiness is crucial.”
In addition, Raffaella Iodice, the EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan, emphasized, “Preparing for climate change is essential for saving lives of Afghans, and protecting their livelihoods. Our additional €15 million in EU-funding will ensure that Afghan communities will be better prepared for climate-related disasters.”
The UN estimates that this year, 23.7 million people—over two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population—require humanitarian aid, with 12.3 million being children. However, it emphasizes that due to insufficient funding, it will be unable to assist all those in need.
The humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan led by the U.N. this year seeks to raise $3.07 billion to assist 17.3 million people. Yet, As of March, the appeal has only received 7% of the required funding.
The EU says that for more than 10 years, the organisation and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation have been providing long-term support to agriculture and rural development in Afghanistan.