Kuwait City -The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF) signed a grant funding agreement to implement an important food security project in Afghanistan.
The US$ 1 million grant provided by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) under AHTF envisages to contribute to enhancing the agricultural sector and tackling food insecurity in Afghanistan.
AHTF is managed by the Islamic Development Bank and serves as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance, address basic needs, and promote self-reliance and development in Afghanistan. It was launched following a collective decision by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at its 17th Extraordinary Session held on 19 December 2021 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The project will be implemented by the ICRC in partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society - ARCS. It prioritizes "empowering Afghan smallholder farmers to improve agricultural practices and build resilience to food insecurity".
The agricultural sector in Afghanistan is a vital component of the country's economy which is reeling under the pressure of many challenges. Nearly 80% of the country's population relies on agriculture offering hope to millions of Afghan farmers and rural communities for their livelihood.
The initiative seeks to improve agricultural livelihoods and increase income opportunities for farmers through cash-for-work schemes aimed at the rehabilitation of infrastructure that is essential for crop cultivation and land protection.
