In Afghanistan, around 40% of the workforce is employed in agriculture. However, in recent years, consecutive droughts have severely impacted these sectors, damaging farmers’ ability to generate income and develop livelihoods. Because of this, young people are often forced to travel outside their home provinces, or even to leave the country altogether, in search of income. On these (often dangerous) journeys, the risks of are unknown, and the rewards uncertain. Sometimes they result in more hardship or even death.

Under the ABADEI program, and working with Action Against Hunger (ACF), UNDP aims to address this challenge by protecting, sustaining, and supporting people’s livelihoods in three provinces of Afghanistan: Daikondi, Ghor, and Badakhshan. One of the main ways of promoting better livelihoods options and sustainability is through the provision of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for members of the community, focusing on youth. These trainings are provided over six months for 350 people in need.

In these classes, participants have been trained in marketable professions such as tailoring, embroidery, carpet weaving, motorcycle repair, solar system installment, and mobile phone repair. In addition to their trainings, all participants are supported with monthly food baskets to help them to feed their families in the short term.

Mr. Habib Rahman is one of the TVET students supported through this project.

“I worked in Iran for nearly four years. I was barely earning enough to feed my family. After I came back to Ghor province, I faced financial hardship and had trouble finding a job. Now, I am very happy that I have this vocational training opportunity. On the one hand, it helps me and my family to have enough food while I am attending the TVET classes, and on the other hand, it is teaching me a new profession through which I will be able to find a decent job or open my own shop for installing and repairing solar systems."

One of the previously unemployed participants in a tailoring class in Lal wa Sarjangal district of Ghor said, ”I always wanted to be an educated person and have a bright future. But, due to our weak economic situation, I wasn’t able to continue my education. With the opportunity provided by UNDP, I am hopeful again for my future and excited to continue my education.”

The UNDP has facilitated skills improvement and capacity building opportunities for more than 65,500 individuals, with a special focus on youth and marginalized groups, across all eight regions of Afghanistan. Thanks to generous financial support from the government of Japan, the European Commission, and our Partners At Core, this program will continue to offer these vital opportunities in 2023. The UNDP has facilitated skills improvement and capacity building opportunities for more than 65,500 individuals, with a special focus on youth and marginalized groups, across all eight regions of Afghanistan. Thanks to generous financial support from the government of Japan, the European Commission, and our Partners At Core, this program will continue to offer these vital opportunities in 2023. 

"Technical and vocational education and training is one of the best ways of giving people in need the power to find jobs and create livelihoods,” said UNDP Resident Representative Abdallah Al Dardari. “It’s particularly effective when it comes to reaching youth and women who are among the most vulnerable groups. Investment into technical and vocational education and training in Afghanistan is a lifesaving investment.”

Area Based Approach to Development and Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI) is UNDP’s flagship area-based development programme: a comprehensive strategy to address poverty in all its dimensions, and to help people transition  from reliance on humanitarian aid to become resilient, self-reliant and prosperous communities, through investing in basic services, livelihoods and social cohesion. UNDP implements the ABADEI strategy across all regions and provinces of Afghanistan, including in remote and hard-to-reach communities.