LocationsAfter the Rains
May 10, 2026
“Every year when heavy rain came, the floodwater entered our land. Our crops were destroyed, and sometimes even the roads were damaged. We never knew how much we would lose,” says Sayed Nabi, a farmer in Kandahar province of the Southern Afghanistan.
With a wife, and five children between the ages of 2 and 9, and a livelihood dependent entirely on agriculture, Sayed understands only too well the toll of unregulated floodwaters. Seven years ago, a severe flood wiped out his wheat crops and badly damaged his home, pushing the family deeper into hardship.
Sayed lives in Decobat village in Maiwand District of Kandahar province, home to 3,710 people. Like most families here, his household depends on agriculture and livestock: growing wheat and seasonal crops and raising cows and sheep for dairy and income.
For years, seasonal flooding shaped life in the village, often with devastating consequences. Each heavy rainfall brought the same fear: floodwaters spilling into farmlands, washing away crops, damaging irrigation channels, cutting off roads, and at times threatening homes. Floods also reduced food availability and contaminated drinking water. Much of the resulting workload fell on women, who were tasked with managing food shortages, caring for children, and securing water under difficult conditions.
For almost 500 households, every flood meant lost income and growing debt.
Today, life in Decobat is changing. A new intake structure, constructed under UNDP’s Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme (ACRP), with support from the European Union, is now protecting the community from destructive floods. It safely channels excess water away from farmlands and homes, regulates water flow during heavy rains, and reduces the risk of sudden, devastating flooding.
Community members report significant improvements, including:
- Reduced soil erosion
- Safer roads
- Better drainage
- Less damage to irrigation canals
- Increased water use for irrigation and groundwater recharge
The diverted water now nourishes farmland instead of destroying it, strengthening agriculture and improving environmental sustainability.
The location of the intake structure was chosen through participatory consultations. Farmers, elders, and community members shared firsthand knowledge of the most flood‑prone areas. Joint technical assessments confirmed the point where water repeatedly overflowed into agricultural land and damaged irrigation systems.
This community-driven approach ensured the project addressed the village’s most urgent needs.
Construction also generated much‑needed employment through a cash‑for‑work (CfW) mechanism.
Sayed himself was among the labourers:
“Today, I am employed as a labourer on this project… This gives me relief and hope.”
“I am very happy to receive my wage. It helps me meet my immediate needs. I will buy food and repay part of my debts.”
“I had borrowed around 10 kilograms of flour from a neighbour, hoping I would soon find work.”
In total:
- 16 skilled workers contributed 194 labour days
- 194 unskilled workers contributed 2,330 labour days
Sayed worked 45 days, earning 18,000 AFN, which he used to repay debts and purchase seeds for the next planting season.
For the first time in years, he feels confident that the rainy season will not wash away his family’s future.
Another participant in the project is Atuallah Hadiullah Niazi. “My children were asking for their basic needs, and I was unable to provide for them,” he says. “This caused me a great deal of mental stress. Finally, I was able to secure this job.”
Hadiullah is a father of five and a refugee from Laghman Province who had been looking for work for several months. Hadiullah was hired as a site engineer by the contractor who was contracted by UNDP for this site. After undertaking 40 days of skilled CfW engagement, he earned 28,000 AFN, enabling him to improve his children’s nutrition, support their school attendance, and even save a small amount for emergencies.
“I am grateful to ACRP donors and UNDP for giving me the opportunity to support my family while serving my community.”
The project also strengthened community awareness of flood risk management. Residents now better understand the importance of preventive measures, collective planning, and safer construction practices. There is strong interest in replicating intake structures in other flood‑prone areas.
Communities have expressed willingness to contribute labour, or even small financial contributions, for future improvements. The success of the Decobat intake structure has increased confidence that locally supported infrastructure can significantly reduce flood damage and stabilize agricultural livelihoods.
With continued support from partners like the European Union, UNDP remains committed to helping Afghan communities move from crisis toward recovery—one locally driven solution at a time. Through integrated resilience and livelihood interventions, ACRP is protecting lives, sustaining livelihoods, and strengthening resilience in Afghanistan’s climate‑affected and conflict‑impacted areas.
