Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, cascading humanitarian and economic crises threaten the hard-won social and development gains made over the last two decades. Amid significant humanitarian needs, Afghans face constant threats to their human rights—including rights to education and free speech—jeopardizing access to essential services, limiting opportunities to prosper, and barring Afghan women, girls, and other marginalized groups from full participation in society.

USAID remains committed to the people of Afghanistan despite these unprecedented challenges. With more than two dozen active awards, our work is focused on meeting basic needs through our support for livelihoods, agriculture, health, and education. We help Afghan businesses stay afloat and build their workforce, provide farmers with resources to feed their families and communities, facilitate employment opportunities around the country, and we are working to ensure all students—men, boys, women, and girls—have equal access to education. We also work to strengthen civil society and human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls.

In addition to our development work, USAID’s humanitarian partners provide lifesaving food, shelter, livelihood opportunities, essential health care, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services to better respond to the humanitarian needs generated by conflict, drought, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

USAID and donor partners have been and remain committed to the people of Afghanistan. We are working side-by-side with the Afghan people to lay the foundation for a brighter future driven by Afghan growth and ingenuity.

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