Japan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed a $6mn agreement to support forcibly displaced Afghans, including refugee returnees and their host communities.
Funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the initiative aims to create sustainable livelihoods in several UNHCR-designated Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs), where large numbers of returnees and displaced persons reside. The project prioritizes economic empowerment, particularly for women.
The partnership will establish dairy processing centers, cold storage facilities, greenhouses, and silk and carpet weaving production sites. Business and market centers will also be constructed, alongside training programs to enhance capacity-building and local cooperative development.
“We are delighted to work with JICA on these important efforts aimed at building resilience for refugee returnees, forcibly displaced persons, and host communities, with a particular focus on women,” said UNHCR’s Representative in Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal. “Creating new opportunities for economic inclusion reduces dependency on humanitarian aid and enhances dignity and prosperity for the entire community.”
Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Takayoshi Kuromiya reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to Afghanistan, emphasizing that inclusive and sustainable agricultural and infrastructure projects can reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen social cohesion.
The initiatives will be implemented in key provinces, including Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Logar, and Paktiya, aiming to alleviate economic pressure on local communities and foster long-term reintegration.
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