LocationsRestoring Roads, Restoring Livelihoods: Cash-for-Work in Nurgal District
February 10, 2026
Roads in Afghanistan are notoriously difficult to navigate, especially in remote areas where communities rely on narrow, unpaved routes to reach markets, schools, health centers, and job opportunities. Poor road conditions also contribute to frequent and often tragic accidents.
In Nurgal district of Kunar province, last year’s earthquake made this situation even worse. A vital rural road was badly damaged, cutting off several villages. While heavy trucks and humanitarian vehicles could still pass, small cars, rickshaws, and even ambulances were unable to reach affected communities. Medical emergencies were delayed, and families found themselves isolated from basic services.
To support recovery in eastern Afghanistan, the REVIVE project, funded by the Republic of Korea (ROK), is helping communities rebuild after the quake. The initiative combines emergency employment with infrastructure rehabilitation, ensuring that families can earn income while essential community assets are restored.
Implemented on the ground by the Organization for Relief Development (ORD), the project in Kunar rehabilitated 15 kilometers of rural road and constructed or repaired three culverts to improve drainage and reduce the risk of future damage. Alongside the rehabilitation work, the project offered cash-for-work opportunities to local residents, prioritizing vulnerable households.
This approach addressed immediate livelihood needs while strengthening critical infrastructure that supports mobility, economic activity, and access to essential services.
Community members took part in road surfacing, debris removal, and drainage improvements along key sections of the damaged route. Beyond creating short-term employment, the activity encouraged teamwork and strengthened social cohesion across the participating villages.
Ahmad Khan, a 35-year-old daily laborer supporting an eight-member family, described the impact:
“This project restored both our livelihoods and our access. Before, only heavy trucks could reach our village. Now the road is properly rehabilitated, and small vehicles and rickshaws can pass. Patients can reach health facilities on time, and daily life has become much easier.”
Each participant earned AFN 350 per day for 26 working days, helping families cover food, medicine, and transportation costs during a challenging post-earthquake recovery period.
The benefits go far beyond income. The rehabilitated road has reduced travel time, improved access to health services, reopened economic opportunities, and supported local markets. By creating jobs while restoring critical community infrastructure, the ROK‑REVIVE project is contributing to greater stability and faster recovery in earthquake-affected areas.
The initiative demonstrates how cash‑for‑work programmes can deliver lasting, multi-dimensional benefits—reviving livelihoods, reconnecting communities, and laying the groundwork for long‑term resilience in rural Afghanistan.
