Afghanistan Essential Services and Livelihoods Stabilization Program (AESLSP); Lot 1: Livelihoods Support

A project funded by the European Union that responds to the needs of people in the country. The project aims to address the challenges of inadequate and expensive food due to conflict, severe drought, poor harvests, and the impact of COVID-19. It operates in 16 provinces and 136 districts, focusing on livestock and market systems that were previously unreachable due to conflict. The project aims to create and expand micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), increase employment opportunities, and improve the socio-economic conditions of communities in the VFU catchment areas. It also aims to improve animal health, increase dietary diversity, and enhance community resilience. The project targets 350,000 households, including 850 private sector actors, 49,000 pastoralist households, rural youth, elderly, disabled, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and women. Its main objectives are to safeguard livelihoods and diversify food intake by promoting private-sector development and enhancing the resilience mechanisms of rural communities through livestock-focused innovations. The project also addresses gender equality and one health as cross-cutting issues. In 2023, as part of the AESLSP project, 44 stop shops were established to collect and purchase animal by-products from linked herders. Additionally, 40 new veterinary paraprofessionals were trained and equipped to deliver veterinary services, and 263 existing veterinary field units were supported across targeted provinces. The project also saw the vaccination of 1,349,601 small ruminants against diseases like Sheep and Goat Pox and Peste des Petits Ruminants, while 3,351,713 animals were vaccinated against different types of diseases. A total of 2,995,642 animals were treated and 850,948 sheep, goats, and cows were dewormed against internal and external parasites. To support the lamb fattening activity of the project, 50,000 Kg of concentrated feed was distributed to 500 households, while 30,000 pullets, along with 1,12,500 Kg balanced feed and a complete backyard poultry package, were provided to 1,000 vulnerable women-headed households in the targeted area. As part of the project's extension approach, 46,922 male and female farmers were trained on livestock-related topics. Additionally, 1,899 women farmers were educated and made aware of animal husbandry through an innovative approach of Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model which is a successful approach in the current situation of the country to reach project women beneficiaries.