Social protection comprises a set of public policies and interventions which would  help Afghan society to better manage risk at the individual, household, and community level, and to provide support to the critically poor. Historically, different forms of social protection have existed  through community and patronage systems. However, two decades of civil war  have considerably strained the traditional informal systems of support and, while increasing the number of dependents in society. There is an urgent need to  protect those who fall outside existing social networks. The Government needs to establish a functioning Social protection Policy that provides targeted assistance ( with the possible exception of food and assistance) to the most vulnerable groups. A low level of social protection often coincides with low levels of income and productivity while overall economic growth does not always mean  care and provision for all groups of the  society. Apart from standard rural development programs, targeted investments are required for those below the poverty line, and those not benefiting from community-based and self-help groups, and groups in remote areas. In line with Afghanistan’s MDGs, the Government is  committed to decrease the proportion of people whose income is less than US $1 a day by 3% per year and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 5% per year.   

Our goal is to increase the capacities, opportunities and security of extremely

Poor and vulnerable Afghans through a process of economic empowerment in order to reduce poverty and increase self-reliance. 

The goal for the Social Protection sector will be realized through Five inter-related and mutually supporting mechanisms. 

Within the social protection policy key measures will include the determination of a national poverty line, a focus on redressing gender-related discrimination and the effective inclusion of children and the elderly within programs. Given the limited resources and capacity of the government, the state will prioritize allocations and services to the most vulnerable within target groups and aim to generate self-help efforts within society for the long term. The Government will develop a national rapid response mechanism for humanitarian and disaster response. A comprehensive registration process and database will be established to monitor physically and mentally disabled people. An affirmative action program will enroll 10, 000 disabled people in the National Skills Building program. This program will also cover 100,000 unemployed youth and demobilized soldiers and provide training in market- demanded skills.  

There is a particular focus on vulnerable women: the number of chronically poor women will be decreased by 20% within the next five years. Finally, the Government will strive to complete the voluntary return and reintegration of all refugees from neighboring countries.

Five –year Strategic Benchmark

1.  By end 2010, in line with Afghanistan’s MDGs, the proportion of people living on less than US$ 1  a day will decrease by 3% per year and he proportion of people who suffer from hunger will decrease by 5% per year

2.  By end 2010, an effective system of disaster preparedness and response will be in place.

• Program 1: Humanitarian and Disaster Response
• Program 2: Support to Vulnerable Women
• Program 3: Support to Unemployed Youth and Demobilized Soldiers
• Program 4: Supporting the Disabled
• Program 5: Refugees and Returnees

Program 1: Humanitarian and Disaster Response

An institutionalized disaster response capability serves as the primary form of protection for Afghans. It helps them attain a basic level of physical security and enhances their capabilities to find sustainable livelihoods. The Government will establish a national disaster preparedness and response capacity that effectively deals with other slow and quick-onset disasters throughout the country, resulting from either natural or man-made causes. It will consider a national food security reserve in order to support the pre-positioning of food and other emergency aid with regard to the effective utilization and targeting of food aid, the Government will develop both the self-targeting procedures that minimize errors of exclusion, as well as focus on developing employment-generation capacities through public works communication and dissemination will serve as key tools in preparedness the Government will take measures so that disaster information and in particular, early warning information, is universally disseminated at the shura, district, provincial and national level. Furthermore, there is a need to integrate information across disciplines, organizations, and geographical regions the National Disaster \preparedness, Management, and Response Commission has overall coordination for new initiatives, including establishment of national “ Early Warning systems” (EWS), which are closely coordinated with more structured surveys, such as NRVA, the  commission is also responsible for national coordination with international community support, of international aid(food and non-food) during disasters.   

By end 2010, the number of female –headed households that are chronically poor will be reduced by 20%, and their employment rates will be increased by 20%.
Return to top ^ | Return to list of programs ^

Program 2: Support to Vulnerable Women  

Policies and projects for vulnerable women will serve to better integrate them within the social fabric of society through a process, primarily, of economic empowerment. The government’s goal is to work towards the elimination of discrimination against women in Afghanistan, particularly those who are chronically poor, and to build women’s capacities and ensure their leadership and equal participation in all aspects of national development. Gender mainstreaming is the government’s main strategy for attaining its goals in gender equality. Promotion of women’s advancement is a shared obligation within government and it I a collective responsibility of all sectors institutions and individuals to include women or gender concerns in all aspects of government work- from policies, to budgets, programs, projects, services and activities, including recruitment, training, promotion and allocation of benefits and opportunities. Affirmative step institutionalized to ensure women’s participation in all levels of policy and decision-making beyond ensuring that women are numerically represented in government, opportunities will also be created to develop heir leadership capacities the actual participation and leadership of women is an essential component of gender mainstreaming; this program will look to establish local political advocates to champion its implementation.   

Government’s Five- year Strategic Benchmark

By end 2010, employment opportunities or youth and demobilize increased throud soldiers will be special programs.  
Return to top ^ | Return to list of programs ^

Program 3: Support to Unemployed Youth and Demobilized Soldiers 

Inclusion of youth and demobilized soldiers in the formal economy is crucial to social  and economic rehabilitation goals; their achievement will be accelerated if able-bodied person can find employment avenues and support themselves as productive members of society. The goal of this program will be to enhance the productivity of unemployed youths and those demobilized through the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process and the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) process, supporting greater social integration while minimizing criminality and enhancing national productivity. Although the government has yet to fully develop an explicit policy to support youth development per se, government policies will aim to support the capacity building, knowledge enhancement, and promotion of juvenile abilities to participate in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and rehabilitation. It will set up an employment centre for employing of youth and juveniles, support scientific, cultural, and arts rights of young innovators. The Afghan Government will look to develop a national youth development policy and enhance coordination efforts between government departments. Furthermore, it will coordinate efforts by civil foundations /NGOs and international organizations in order to mainstream problems faced by young people into other key national programs.  
Return to top ^ | Return to list of programs ^

Program 4: Supporting the Disabled  

Government’s Five-Year Strategic Benchmark 

By end 2010 increased assistance will be provided to meet the special needs of all disabled people, including their integration in society through opportunities for education and gainful employment. 

The disabled form perhaps the most vulnerable group requiring social protection; initial provisions by the state will greatly contribute towards their inclusion in the social and economic mainstream of Afghan society. This program aims to create a barrier-free society for all based on the principles of participation, integration and the equalization of opportunities, as defined by the United Nations. In doing so, the Government of Afghanistan gives priority to enable disabled people to take charge of their lives by removing barriers that deter them from full participation in society Broadening of prioritization for disabilities beyond the war-disabled is a crucial task to be undertaken; emphasis will be expanded to include other disabled populations, while continuing to honor the sacrifices that the war-disabled have made for Afghanistan early detection prevention, and rehabilitation programs are critical to the success of the government’s health policy towards the disabled. The MoPH will look to develop policy and strategy aimed at early physical, visual hearing and intellectual impairment monitoring. Frontline health and education personnel will be trained to keep accurate records on children with disability and their “at risk” children from birth.  
Return to top ^ | Return to list of programs ^

Program 5: Refugees and Returnees

Government’s Five-Year Strategic Benchmark 

By end 2010 all refugees opting to return and internally displaced persons will be provided assistance for rehabilitation and integration in their local counties. Their integration will be supported y national development programs, particularly in key areas of return.