Rome/Kabul- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UK government have launched a new initiative to improve food security, boost rural livelihoods and help Afghan communities better withstand climate and economic shocks.
FAO's Resilient Agriculture Livelihoods (ReAL) project will reach over 151 000 people (21 572 households) over the next 10 months across 15 provinces in all eight regions of Afghanistan. The project will prioritize small-scale farmers, livestock keepers and landless laborers, with particular attention to widows and women-headed households. The project is generously funded from the UK as part of its 'Promoting Resilient and Equitable Recovery of Agriculture and Livelihoods in Afghan communities' (PREVALE) programme.
In its first year, the project will help farming families improve wheat and dairy production, restore community irrigation systems, expand access to high-quality seeds, and protect livestock through vaccination campaigns and local animal health services.
Women will play a central role in the project, with tailored support for widows and women-headed households through poultry packages, livestock training, and access to dairy markets-enhancing nutrition for women and their children and boosting income opportunities.
"We are very grateful to the UK government for this timely and strategic support," said Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. "Afghanistan's farmers are extraordinarily resilient, but repeated climate and economic shocks are eroding this strength. This project lays down important pathways to help farmers rebuild that resilience-leading to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and ultimately, a better life - what we in FAO call the 'Four Betters'. In a country where agriculture sustains most lives, this is a short-term investment with long-term impact."
Agriculture remains the cornerstone of Afghanistan's history, culture, livelihoods and food security. Between 2022 and 2024, FAO reached more than 30.3 million Afghans through emergency and resilience-focused agricultural assistance. These efforts have contributed to reversing the country's acute food security crisis, almost halving the number of people facing acute food insecurity over the past four years.
The ReAL project builds on this progress by investing in income-generating activities, expanding market access, helping communities better manage climate risks and reducing humanitarian needs over time. By promoting sustainable land use, disaster risk reduction and improved household nutrition, ReAL offers a timely investment in recovery, food sovereignty and long-term resilience for Afghanistan's most vulnerable communities.
FAO's ReAL project will be implemented in parallel to the PREVALE-supported project carried out by the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC), led by Afghanaid, which is also supporting climate vulnerable communities to build resilience, improve food security and reduce disaster risk. With the UK's support, the FAO and the ARC will together expand the evidence base, share best practices and promote the uptake of climate resilient, sustainable agriculture development practices to reduce food insecurity.
Agricultural support continues to be one of the most cost-effective ways to deliver tangible results at scale for the majority of Afghanistan's men, women and children facing chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. As Afghanistan continues to confront overlapping climatic and economic challenges, sustained support for rural livelihoods remains vital to protect hard-won gains, while pivoting to longer-term sustainable outcomes.
