In Afghanistan, livelihood and resilience are matters of survival. Eighty percent of the population relies on agriculture, yet communities face converging crises: decades of conflict, economic collapse, and a climate emergency that has made Afghanistan one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries.

Between 2021 and 2024, nearly 3 million people were displaced by climate-related events. Over 11 million people live in areas at high risk of future climate-induced disasters, and 73 percent of livelihoods are climate-sensitive.

Women face particular challenges. Restrictions on mobility, economic participation, and education have created severe impediments to their economic inclusion. Yet women remain essential to community resilience, they are the backbone of households and often the primary drivers of food security and nutrition.

Our Approach

The Livelihood and Resilient Communities programme recognizes that economic recovery and community resilience must advance together. We work to create conditions where people can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope, guided by humanitarian principles and a commitment to leaving no one behind.

We prioritize communities facing the greatest barriers: women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, and rural populations.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Agriculture is the foundation of Afghanistan's economy and the primary livelihood for most families. We support rural communities to sustainably manage natural resources, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen resilience to climate shocks.

Supporting kitchen gardens and food production for household nutrition and income

Promoting climate-smart farming practices, including drought-resistant crops and efficient irrigation

Key Focus Areas

Establishing fish farming and beekeeping initiatives

Providing training through farmer field schools and extension services

Strengthening food value chains and market linkages

Women's Economic Empowerment

Women-led enterprises and women's economic participation are essential for resilient communities. We work to address barriers that restrict women's engagement in the economy and provide support to women entrepreneurs.

Skills development and vocational training aligned with labour market needs

Grants, technical assistance, and mentorship for women-led businesses

Access to financial products and business development services

Support for income-generating activities in agriculture, handicrafts, and small enterprises

Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management

Afghanistan's communities face increasing threats from climate change: prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, flash floods, and rising temperatures. We support communities to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to these shocks.

Constructing and rehabilitating small-scale community infrastructure using employment-intensive approaches

Promoting disaster risk reduction and early warning systems

Supporting equitable access to clean water for consumption and agricultural production

Creating jobs through climate-resilient infrastructure projects

Our activities includes:

Small-scale farmers are the backbone of Afghan society, yet they face increasingly severe climate challenges. We support them to sustain their livelihoods and build resilience.

Training in sustainable farming techniques, pest management, and crop diversification

Connecting farmers with local markets

Providing productive inputs and assets, including seeds and tools

Supporting processing, packaging, and storage to reduce post-harvest losses

Our activities includes:

Smallholder Farmer Support

Community-Based Women’s Business & Skills Development

In 2025, we conducted a comprehensive women's market assessment across multiple provinces, visiting local markets, meeting with women entrepreneurs, and listening to their experiences and aspirations. This engagement continues as we build relationships with women in their communities, understand their evolving needs, and connect with partners who can help turn their aspirations into reality.

Afghan women entrepreneurs are resilient, innovative, and committed to their businesses despite overwhelming odds. More than 20 women entrepreneurs from different provinces, engaged in small businesses at the community and regional level, have submitted formal requests for support. Some need startup assistance to launch a business for the first time. Others need capital to expand, equipment to improve production, or training to strengthen their business skills.

We have reviewed these requests technically and financially, developed tailored proposals, and are actively seeking funding to make them a reality. Our approach is partnership-based: we work with women entrepreneurs to understand their specific needs, connect them with resources, and build their capacity to sustain and grow their businesses over the long term.

Financial literacy, marketing, business planning, and digital skills, practical training that helps women make better decisions, reach more customers, and build sustainable enterprises.

Business skills training

Connecting women entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders and with one another, creating networks of support that extend beyond our programmes.

Mentorship and networking

Technical assistance

Helping women improve product quality, develop new products, and connect with markets.

Many women operate from home, not by choice, but because of restrictions on mobility and public workspaces. We help them strengthen their home-based enterprises and explore ways to reach customers online and through local markets.

Support for home-based businesses

Our Initiatives

Compassionate Afghanistan is a proud member of the Afghanistan Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI), with a formal Memorandum of Understanding that reflects our commitment to women's economic empowerment. Through this partnership, we are able to reach more women, connect them with markets and resources, and amplify their voices in the broader economic conversation.

Alignment with Global Frameworks

Our work in Livelihood and Resilient Communities contributes directly to the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (2023-2025), which aims for more people in Afghanistan, notably women and vulnerable groups, to benefit from an increasingly inclusive economy, with greater equality of economic opportunities, jobs, more resilient livelihoods, strengthened food value chains, and improved natural resources management.

SDG 1: No Poverty

Creating income opportunities and reducing economic vulnerability

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Improving food security and agricultural productivity

Empowering women economically and supporting women-led enterprises

SDG 5: Gender Equality

We also support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals:

Creating jobs and strengthening livelihoods

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 13: Climate Action

Prioritizing excluded and marginalized groups

Building climate resilience and supporting adaptation

SDG 15: Life on Land

Promoting sustainable natural resource management

Our Commitment

This work is guided by fundamental principle

Do No Harm: Ensuring that our interventions do not increase vulnerability or expose communities to new risks.

Accountability to Affected Populations: Listening to communities and responding to their expressed needs and priorities.

Human Rights-Based Approach: Upholding the dignity and rights of all people, especially those most marginalized.

Gender Equality: Ensuring women and girls benefit from and participate in all aspects of our work.

In early 2025, we met Fatima, a mother of four running a tailoring business from home. She had skill but lacked business knowledge and market connections.

We provided training, mentorship, and networking support. Today, Fatima has a business plan, is reaching more customers, and her income is growing.

She is one woman taking steps forward, showing what is possible when women are listened to and supported with the tools they need.

- Fatima

Stories of Resilience

Afghan women are not passive recipients of aid, they are economic actors, leaders, and agents of change. We are committed to supporting them on their own terms, listening to their needs, providing resources and training, and walking alongside them as they build their businesses and their futures.

How You Can Help

Support our programs to reach more communities with livelihood and resilience support.

Partner with us to expand sustainable agriculture, women's economic empowerment, and climate resilience initiatives.

20+

15+

Provinces Reached

WSME assessed

CASDHO

Community and Social Development Humanitarian Organization. Empowering communities through sustainable development, education, and health initiatives.

Get Involved

Contact us

info@compassionate-afghanistan.org

Kabul, Afghanistan

© 2026 CASDHO. All rights reserved.

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