LocationsDuring the visit, the villagers expressed their appreciation by giving Napoleon a turban to wear, an Afghan token of respect. “The turban is also the best thing to protect you from the sun,” said Napoleon. “A cap isn’t good enough!”. Photo Ⓒ UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat / 2018
From July 25th to July 28th 2018, we were in Herat province, where UNDP has implemented more than 54 livelihoods projects (54 greenhouses, 6 raisin houses, 1 beehive, 1 kitchen garden and 2 rangeland rehabilitations), supported by the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). We also trained 294 farmers on how to process and store food, and protected 76 hectares of land from flooding.
The project, which partners with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL), improved irrigation for 5,090 hectares of agricultural land and helped communities to repair 4 canals, 6 protection walls, 8 canal intakes, 1 Kariz rehabilitation and 2 water control gates.
During the trip, Napoleon Navarro, UNDP’s Senior Deputy Country Director (programmes) visited several irrigation projects.
“Our people are always grateful. They will appreciate and remember if people take even the smallest obstacle from our path, or lay just one stone to rebuild our country.” a villager told Napoleon during his visit to an irrigation project in Karukh district.
Napoleon also visited other components of the Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP), including greenhouses managed by women and a beekeeping farm for women in need, as well as meeting with local people and listening to their concerns.
Photo Ⓒ UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat / 2018
Photo Ⓒ UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat / 2018
Photo Ⓒ UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat / 2018
“We are nothing without agriculture and irrigation,”
said another beneficiary in Zindajan district. “So we hope that there are more and more projects like this. They have a great effect on our lives.”
During the visit, the villagers expressed their appreciation by giving Napoleon a turban to wear, an Afghan token of respect.
“The turban is also the best thing to protect you from the sun,” said Napoleon. “A cap isn’t good enough!”
Thanks to the project, 800 women & 150 men understand climate-resilient farming and alternative livelihoods. Around 15 women self-help groups are engaged in sustainably profitable livelihoods and 150 farmers have benefitted from increased livestock production through rehabilitation of 400 hectares of degraded rangeland.
Women beekeeper alongside her husband in Karukh district of Herat province. Photo Ⓒ UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat / 2018
Furthermore, UNDP environment projects are helping people adapt and finding jobs in the face of climate change, bringing clean power to rural areas, preparing for natural disasters, establishing and protecting national parks, and conserving biodiversity for future generations.
