| Project Detail |
The Taliban takeover in August 2021 changed the political landscape and the socio-economic and humanitarian situation has been deteriorating. Being a driver of the former governments’ reform agenda, the ARTF shifted to an off-budget approach in support of over 70 percent of the Afghans with basic services (e.g. health, food security). As ARTF’s donor, Switzerland takes part in strategic decision making and supports the WB in its crucial aid coordination role in nowadays Afghanistan. The Afghan economy has shrunk by 25 percent in comparison to the situation before the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The economic outlook remains uncertain. A dysfunctional financial sector, an unclear legal system and low demand constrain the private sectors’ recovery. Without buffers, the economy remains vulnerable to external shocks, like natural disasters or the absorption of returnees. The economy is heavily reliant on humanitarian aid and remittances and it faces challenges exacerbated by the exclusion of women from many activities. The exclusion of women and girls from most facets of life, including education, has significantly increased their protection risks and worsened an already deeply challenging humanitarian situation. With no engines of growth and limited policy space, the country lacks drivers for poverty reduction. Overall, poverty and vulnerability remain high. According to the United Nations (UN), in 2024, an estimated 23.7 million people – more than half of Afghanistan’s population of approx. 43 million – require humanitarian assistance. Objectives The ARTF aims to deliver basic services in health, education, water, social inclusion and to improve economic opportunities and resilient livelihoods through a sustainable and principled approach ensuring servic es for women and girls. |
