Context:

Over three decades, Afghanistan has experienced conflict, environmental degradation, natural disasters (e.g., floods, earthquakes, landslides, and droughts), and insufficient investment in key infrastructure essential or social services, which have contributed to increasing vulnerability of the Afghan urban poor to cope with the sudden shocks. The government takeover in August 2021, exacerbated the situation, triggering a dire humanitarian crisis in the country, leading to serious violations of human rights, poor governance, and a sharp decline in socioeconomic development. Infrastructure deficits, such as the deteriorating state of public health facilities, inadequate WASH systems, and poor access roads, pose additional barriers for already vulnerable populations. 

These challenges have contributed to migration into urban areas and thus rapid urbanization. The urban population is 11.4 million in 2024, accounting for more than 27% of the total population. Some macro-level analysis indicates that in 1950, only 1 out of every 20 Afghans lived in cities, but in 2024, 1 out of every 4 live in cities, and by 2060, it is estimated that 1 out of every 2 – 50% of the total population – will live in cities (UN DESA, UN-Habitat, World Bank). While many Afghans are fleeing from frequent natural disasters, seeking better employment opportunities, and living environment, Afghanistan has also been experiencing a massive increase in the arrival of Afghan returnees from Pakistan following a government decree in September 2023. 

In Kabul and Herat, the two most populous provinces in Afghanistan, rapid urbanization and a changing climate will continue to increase the urban poor’s vulnerability to hazards. Afghanistan’s economic outlook remains very challenging. In 2024, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (OCHA 2024), an estimated 23.7 million people, more than half of Afghanistan’s population, need humanitarian assistance. According to the World Bank, in 2023 the population of Afghanistan was estimated at 42.2 million and a GDP of USD 14.5 billion, making Afghanistan to be amongst the countries with the lowest per capita income in the world. The OCHA’s report highlights that urban households continue to increase their monthly expenditures on water to meet their needs from 185 AFN (USD2.59) per month in 2021 to 317 AFN (USD 4.47) in 2023, more than 1.7 times in two years (based on WoAA 2023). Growing financial barriers have been exacerbating urban poverty.

About Project:

Community Infrastructure rehabilitated or reconstructed through the partnership between UN-Habitat & JICA in Zinda Jan, Herat. The project objective is to improve the living environment of the urban poor through rehabilitating essential community infrastructure in Kabul and Herat Provinces in a sustained and disaster-resilient manner. Through the project, the following two outcomes will be archived: 

• Access to basic services and livelihoods is improved through the rehabilitation of community infrastructure in a sustained and disaster-resilient manner. 
• Target communities’ self-reliance and ownership are enhanced by establishing spatial plans and taking community actions with voluntary contributions.

Key Activities:

• Rehabilitating and retrofitting public health facilities and comprehensive WASH systems, including water supply networks and public toilets, by incorporating the Build-Back-Better (BBB) approach. 

• Constructing paved roads with roadside drainages by incorporating the BBB approach. 

• Providing livelihood support to households through vocational skills training sessions and income generation opportunities. 

• Developing spatial plans that support gender-responsive community actions to improve community cohesion and resilience. 

• Conducting capacity-building sessions for communities.

Main Outcomes:

6 public health facilities rehabilitated and retrofitted

16 public toilets rehabilitated and retrofitted

21 paved roads with drainages constructed

10 water supply networks rehabilitated and retrofitted

38 vocational training sessions for 1,900 HHs

38 capacity building sessions conducted