“A sacred profession” – The midwives ensuring safe births in Afghanistan

Afghanistan in pictures: The faces of resilience

Abdul Bari is 24 years old. In Baghlan, he is working with AKF to help cultivate and irrigate agricultural land. There isn’t always work like this available to young men like him, but the province is highly dependent on agriculture and AKF is committed to creating jobs in this sector to build economic resilience. “Most young people are forced to leave the country because they do not have a job. I was very worried that I would have to do that too, but now I am happy and hope that I will find more work soon.”

AKDN / Sayed Habib Bidel

Learn more

Afghanistan in pictures: The faces of resilience

Abdul Bari is 24 years old. In Baghlan, he is working with AKF to help cultivate and irrigate agricultural lan...

AKDN / Sayed Habib Bidel

Learn more

New grants to support humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan

The current situation in Afghanistan is unparalleled, with the UN reporting more than 24 million people requiring humanitarian assistance to survive.

AKDN / Kiana Hayeri

New grants to support humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan

The current situation in Afghanistan is unparalleled, with the UN reporting more than 24 million people requir...

AKDN / Kiana Hayeri

Continuity through conflict: Disaster risk reduction in Afghanistan

Field observation by a geologist to help assess the risks of natural hazards.

AKAH

Continuity through conflict: Disaster risk reduction in Afghanistan

Field observation by a geologist to help assess the risks of natural hazards.

AKAH

Afghanistan today: An interview with Dr Najmuddin Najm, CEO of AKF Afghanistan

“We need to look at people in Afghanistan as much more than beneficiaries; they are true stakeholders and are an important part of the solution.”

AKDN / Sayed Habib Bidel

Afghanistan today: An interview with Dr Najmuddin Najm, CEO of AKF Afghanistan

“We need to look at people in Afghanistan as much more than beneficiaries; they are true stakeholders and are ...

AKDN / Sayed Habib Bidel

UNDP and AKDN expand collaboration to meet needs in Afghanistan

In Kabul, a young mother holds her infant at the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, which has invested over US$ 16 million in its Patient Welfare Programme, changing the lives of over 200,000 patients from all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

AKDN / David Fox

UNDP and AKDN expand collaboration to meet needs in Afghanistan

In Kabul, a young mother holds her infant at the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children, which has ...

AKDN / David Fox

This page is also available in

AKDN | Afghanistan

AKDN began working in Afghanistan in 1996, distributing food aid during the civil war. Since 2002, we and our partners have committed over $1 billion in development assistance to the country.

Read about our commitment to Afghanistan, our work during the current humanitarian crisis and recent grants supporting humanitarian relief efforts.

AKDN’s development work now spans the humanitarian, economic, social and cultural fields. Our economic projects cover over 240 cities and towns in the country’s 34 provinces. Our social development and humanitarian work is focused in 61 districts in seven provinces, impacting over three million people. Our cultural programmes, which operate in Kabul, Herat, Balkh and Badakhshan, have restored over 90 historic buildings.

We work to strengthen Afghan institutions and the public sector, engaging communities and local leadership. In the private sector, we support the Chamber of Commerce, business associations and entrepreneurs. Local civil society organisations are also strengthened as critical partners, for example, extending community savings programmes to further districts.

Our aim is to enable comprehensive area development, led by Afghan institutions and built on partnerships between government, business and civil society. We believe that this is the surest way to secure Afghanistan's transition to stability and prosperity.

Gender equity is central to our work. Our approach tackles social barriers, promotes equitable decision-making, and empowers women and girls through increased voice and agency.

$1 billion

We channel $1 billion per year into development projects.

Our work reaches all 34 provinces.

$1 billion

We channel $1 billion per year into development projects.

Our work reaches all 34 provinces.

“

As Afghanistan enters a new period of transition, it will need the contributions of all its people, men and women, in every part of the country, to address their common challenges: rising poverty, climate disruption, an unforgiving pandemic. It will need all their talents to build an inclusive future with more opportunities, requiring more education, more knowledge, more private initiative. In these endeavours, AKDN is, and will remain, a steadfast partner.

His Highness the Aga Khan
Geneva, November 2020

Areas of Activity

Agriculture and Food Security

2.1 million

Over two million people benefit from our agriculture and food security work

We address spatial poverty in rural areas through infrastructure construction. Our natural resource management programme has reached more than 2.1 million beneficiaries through its work in field crops and horticulture, land and water management, and livestock.

Learn more

Cultural Development

6,780

We have trained almost 7,000 people in employable skills

Our conservation and restoration projects regenerate Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, stimulate local economic development and improve residents’ quality of life.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Disaster Preparedness and Response

143,400

Over 143,400 people have received aid

We provide early warnings of disasters such as avalanches, floods and earthquakes, train residents in emergency response to evade and mitigate them, and help rebuild after incidents.

Learn more

Early Childhood Development

We operate 74 pre-primary units

We have established and sustained 74 preschools and early childhood development centres in remote areas, supporting teachers and providing resources.

Learn more

Economic Development

35,000

35,000 people have access to electricity for the first time

We aim to stimulate long-term economic growth while improving the quality of life. Our projects address everything from national infrastructure to individual access to finance.

Learn more

Education

313,000

Our education activities reached more than 313,000 students in 2020

We offer education from pre-primary to university levels; improving schools, establishing community classes and removing constraints to education.

Learn more

Habitat

50%

Our water and sanitation interventions helped to reduce child mortality and morbidity by 50 percent

We assess habitats for vulnerabilities and helps communities to design and construct inclusive and resilient environments in which future generations can thrive.

Learn more

Health

1.6 million

1.6 million patients per year receive care through our internationally accredited healthcare system

We are helping to rebuild the country’s health infrastructure and keep health care going through training, e-health, community initiatives and managing the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children.

Learn more

Microfinance

700,000

We have disbursed almost 700,000 microfinance loans since 2006

We have pioneered the provision of innovative and flexible microfinance products in Afghanistan, channelling over $1 billion towards reconstruction with the support of donors and partners.

Learn more