The General Food Distribution program supplies essential commodities to households, including lentils, cooking oil, salt, and enriched wheat flour. Additionally, the program provides Super Cereal for pregnant and lactating women, and Plumpy’Doz for children under five years old. In areas with functioning markets, we implement cash-based transfers (CBT), allowing beneficiaries to receive cash to meet their basic needs.

The ASIO has undertaken the planting of 31,500 non-productive saplings, including Pinus Pinaceae and Mimosa Acacia, in the Fering Wa Gharu district and watershed areas in Baghlan-e-Jadid district. This initiative aims to ensure the survival and healthy development of seedlings such as acacia, pine, and pistachio in these watershed areas. The project focuses on maintaining the long-term sustainability and ecological integrity of the watershed ecosystems.

To support the growth of these saplings, the ASIO provides a consistent and reliable water supply during the summer months. This effort facilitates the healthy growth and development of pistachio, pine, and acacia trees, ensuring the survival and long-term viability of the reforestation efforts. Currently, the project is labor-intensive due to the lack of solar-powered irrigation equipment and permanent water reservoirs, involving community members who use donkeys to haul water from neighboring rivers.

Additionally, the ASIO prepares the land for the optimal growth and productivity of 30 kg of Hing seeds as intercrops. This initiative provides income generation opportunities for the communities living in or dependent on the rain-fed watershed areas. The project promotes community engagement and ownership in the long-term maintenance and sustainability of the watershed areas.

Designed to ensure the long-term survival and ecological integrity of the watershed ecosystems in the Fering Wa Gharu and Baghlan-e-Jadid districts, the project protects existing plantations and contributes to the overall success of reforestation and vegetation enhancement efforts in these critical regions. By safeguarding the watershed ecosystems and their valuable vegetation, the project contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Fering Wa Gharu and Baghlan-e-Jadid communities.

At ASIO, we are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and have established a robust framework to ensure the safety and well-being of our beneficiaries and staff. Our PSEA team consists of a female main PSEA Focal Point, a female Gender Focal Point, and two male PSEA experts who also act as PSEA Focal Points. This diverse team is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of conduct and safeguarding within our organization.

Training and Awareness:

ASIO delivers comprehensive PSEA training to every newly hired staff member. This training includes introduction to the ASIO’s PSEA and zero tolerance policy, signing and acknowledgment form and a code of conduct that encompasses PSEA principles. To ensure continuous awareness and adherence, we conduct refresher training sessions for all staff every month.

At the field level, prior to the commencement of any program or distribution, we conduct PSEA awareness sessions for beneficiaries. These sessions cover critical topics such as understanding SEA and the available reporting channels. Additionally, we extend PSEA sessions to children, empowering them to report any unacceptable behavior to their parents, who can then submit a complaint.

Reporting Channels:

We have established multiple channels for reporting SEA to ensure accessibility and confidentiality for all beneficiaries. These channels include:

• PSEA Hotline Phone Number: + (93) 785-286-413.
• Email Address: hotline@asio.org.af
• Complaint Boxes: Strategically placed for anonymous reporting
• Awaaz Afghanistan Hotline: 410 toll free number.

Beneficiaries are also informed that they can directly report to the funding agencies if they lack trust in reporting to our organization. Contact details for the donors’ hotline for PSEA are provided to ensure that all reports are addressed appropriately.

Commitment to Safety:

Our commitment to PSEA is reflected in our proactive measures to educate, monitor, and support both our staff and beneficiaries. By fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment for all those we serve.

The Northeast and North regions of Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as erosion and flooding. These recurring environmental threats pose serious risks to the local community and their livelihoods. Flooding, in particular, has had a significant impact, threatening the safety and security of villages and putting the local population at risk. Additionally, floods have posed a serious threat to agricultural lands and infrastructure, jeopardizing the economic well-being of the community.

In response to these environmental challenges, local authorities launched a project in collaboration with ASIO, an organization specialized in disaster risk reduction and community development. ASIO’s swift response involved the construction of a 990-meter gabion wall in the Baghlan-e-Jadid district. This wall, built using wire mesh containers filled with stones, serves as a sturdy and effective barrier against flooding. The implementation of this project, part of the RFS program, aimed to mitigate the vulnerability of the Baghlan-e-Jadid district to flooding and its associated risks. The project directly protected over 300 hectares of agricultural land, ensuring the preservation of valuable crops and sustaining agricultural productivity in the region.

ASIO also played a crucial role in constructing a 246-meter stone masonry protection wall in five strategic locations around the Fering Wa Gharu district. This wall was designed to serve as a robust barrier against the devastating effects of flooding. The project was carried out over six months, with the dedication of 48 skilled workers who ensured the wall’s structural integrity and durability.

These disaster response initiatives have led to enhanced protection for the community’s natural, agricultural, and social assets, including soil, water, roads, and vital infrastructure. The resilience of the Fering Wa Gharu district against environmental hazards such as flooding and erosion has significantly improved. Additionally, the safety and security of residents have increased, safeguarding their homes and overall well-being. These efforts have had positive long-term effects on the community’s sustainable development and overall well-being, ensuring the safety and prosperity of the local communities.

Mrs. ‌Bibi Gul daughter of Abdul Nazar lives in Ainulmajar Balla village of Chahardarah district, Kunduz province and grew up there. She is 55 years old. Mrs.Bibi Gul is the mother of 2 children. Her husband pas away about 20 years ago in other word she is widower. their village about 20 Kilo miter away from local bazar & market of Chahardarah district city. she headed a poor HHs she doesn’t have anybody in their family members therefore she needs to work and feed their children, need to support them. ASIO/UNDP had an Integrated Farming System (IFS) helping program. These assistance aims to support vulnerable women-headed families, without any able-bodied member to work and don’t have earner and income. And she received Vegetable production package which include (certified vegetable seed, Vermicompost fertilizer, Micro-nutrient, Shovel rake with handle, Garden rake, planting tray, working gloves, Hand gardening trowel, Watering can, Harvest basket and plastic tunnel), poultry package it is encompassed (Roosters and hens, Poultry feed standard, Plastic drinker, Metallic Feeder and Wire mesh), Goat farming package composed (Female milking goat + young kid, Plastic feeding basket, Plastic drinking basket, Cloth Tarpaulin, Plastic hat for milking, Milk collecting steel container, Mask, Sanitizer and gloves), and Vermicompost production package including (wooden compost bin, earth warm, working gloves and raw materials. At first ASIO colleagues referred to the Ainulmajar balla CDC with close coordination of stakeholders, especially chief CDC and interviewed with them via Kobo collect. Fortunately, Bibi Gul identified as vulnerable for IFS packages. In her recent interview she said that when I received aforementioned helped packages. I cultivated vegetable seeds and we used its fresh products for our food. We reared lactiferous goat and egg-laying hens and used dairy products and their eggs to prevent malnutrition. By selling additional products I treated my children and I paid my debts and other needed issues. She thanked from organization of ASIO/UNDP and asked for similar helps for women in the future to become independence and self-sufficient.

Suggestions, requests and problems:

1.       Mrs. Bibi Gul asked similar assistance for them and other vulnerable women to solve their needs and problems.

2.       She kindly requests kindly to UNDP to provide agricultural facilities including (vegetable hybrid seed and its related working tools specially for women, Home gardening facilities, harvesting tools, seedling for women for making home gardening.

3.       Providing livestock facilities for women including: poultry tools, rooster and hens and its required tools. Dairy tools wrench, chekni, jam and salad tools to be self-sufficient and to become independence in the future.

4.        Helping to provide Handicraft’s facilities to women. In this case women can support themselves and their family. 

One inspiring success story in the RFS project related to kitchen gardening activities is the experience of a participant named Wajiha. She is a resident of an urban neighborhood, had limited access to fresh and nutritious produce due to the lack of nearby markets and high prices at grocery stores. The fact that her elderly father, who is unable to work, is the head of the family. However, through the project's interventions, Wajiha was able to establish a thriving kitchen garden and achieve self-sufficiency in his vegetable needs.

Initially, Wajiha received training from the project on organic gardening techniques, soil preparation, seed selection, and composting. Armed with this knowledge, she transformed a small portion of her backyard into a productive vegetable garden. The project provided her with high-quality seeds and seedlings, ensuring that he had access to a diverse range of vegetables suitable for her local climate.

The establishment of a kitchen garden has also improved their lives, and since the ASIO/WFP project was added, their financial situation has improved significantly. She now receive 6400 AFN a month in addition to using the kitchen garden's produce for their family's needs. 

Wajiha diligently applied the techniques she learned and took care of her garden, ensuring proper watering, nutrient management, and pest control. As a result, her kitchen garden flourished, yielding a bountiful harvest of fresh and organic vegetables throughout the year. Wajiha was able to enjoy a regular supply of nutritious produce for her family's meals, eliminating the need to rely heavily on expensive and often less nutritious store-bought vegetables.

Moreover, the project facilitated peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and community engagement. Wajiha participated in regular gardeners' meetings and workshops organized by the project, where she exchanged experiences, learned from others, and received additional guidance on improving her gardening skills. This sense of community and support enhanced Wajiha's motivation and commitment to her kitchen garden.

As Wajiha's garden thrived, she began to have surplus produce, which presented an opportunity for her to contribute to her community. With the support of the project, Wajiha started a small neighborhood market where she sold her excess vegetables at affordable prices. This initiative not only provided her neighbors with access to fresh and locally grown produce but also generated a modest income for Wajiha, further improving her economic resilience.

Wajiha's success story inspired other community members to engage in kitchen gardening activities as well. The project facilitated the establishment of community gardens and provided ongoing support, including training, resources, and access to markets. Through these collective efforts, many households in the neighborhood were able to establish their own kitchen gardens, leading to improved food security, enhanced nutrition, and a sense of self-sufficiency.

Wajiha's journey in the Resilience and Food System project demonstrates how kitchen gardening activities can empower individuals and communities to overcome food access challenges, improve nutrition, and create economic opportunities. By providing training, resources, community engagement, and market linkages, the project played a pivotal role in Wajiha's success and the larger transformation of the community's food system.

By implementing these activities and interventions, the Resilience and Food System project aimed to empower individuals and communities to establish sustainable kitchen gardens, enhance food security, improve nutrition, and create economic opportunities. The combination of training, resources, technical support, community engagement, and market linkages contributed to the success and transformative impact of the project.