We have been working in Afghanistan since 2002 on projects designed to support the most vulnerable groups. Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, we decided to resume our activities the following year to ensure access to essential services, particularly for female-headed households, children and girls.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan represents one of the most critical situations globally, exacerbated by decades of conflict and recurring political and economic instability. Following the return of the Taliban government in August 2021, the situation deteriorated drastically, leading to the suspension of international development aid and the collapse of essential public services.
In 2023, Afghanistan had one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the world, with 80% of households living on less than a dollar a day. The situation has been further exacerbated by recurring natural disasters: the 2023 earthquake in Herat province left tens of thousands of people homeless, whilst the earthquake in August 2025 in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nuristan, Laghman and Nangarhar caused widespread devastation in remote areas, blocking major roads and isolating affected communities.
Over 28 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with women, girls, children and female-headed households among the most exposed and vulnerable groups. The lack of access to essential services such as food, drinking water, medical care and protection remains a structural problem.
Restrictions on the rights of women and girls in education, the workplace and public life life have further compromised the humanitarian response and recovery efforts.
Our operations are organised through a significant on-the-ground presence: a coordination office in Kabul, a field office in Herat province and an outpost in Kunar. We currently work with 36 local staff members and collaborate with 3 local partners to implement multi-sectoral interventions in the three provinces covered by our programme.
Over the course of a year, we have reached over 32,000 people, 81% of whom are women and children. Our interventions include:
Behind every humanitarian intervention lie personal stories of resilience and strength from those who face the consequences of the crisis on a daily basis. We highlight the testimonies of affected communities in Afghanistan, often overlooked by media narratives.
In 2025, our team documented stories of resilience from the hardest-hit areas, from Herat province to the remote communities of Kunar. We gathered the voices and experiences of women, children and families who continue to build their future despite extreme adversity. These visual and narrative accounts were presented at the WeWorld Festival 2025 in Milan through the photographic project ‘A Daily Struggle in Herat’ by Jafar Mosavi, an invitation to look closely, listen without prejudice and recognise the quiet strength of Afghan women who, every day, continue to create possibilities.
Furthermore, the research produced by the Research Centre offers a direct and documented insight into the reality experienced by the affected communities, highlighting the consequences of the crisis and the urgent needs that remain unaddressed. Among the most recent studies, “Her Future at Risk – Focus Afghanistan” analyses how the humanitarian crisis exacerbates existing gender inequalities and the crucial role of women in the country’s response and reconstruction.
WeWorld's intervention in Afghanistan is possible thanks to the support of ChildFund Australia, ChildFund Korea, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and many companies and people who are supporting us.
The recent escalation along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes, losing their livelihoods and access to essential services.
The report “Her Future at Risk. The Cost of Humanitarian Crises on Women and Girls” examines how humanitarian crises exacerbate existing gender and generational inequalities, particularly in fragile contexts and protracted crises, highlighting the importance of empowering women and girls in crisis response and recovery.
