ADB OKs $405m for food security, essential services in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $405 million in grants to support food security and the delivery of essential health and education services for the Afghans.

The Manila-based bank said it would provide direct financing to four UN agencies having a presence and logistics in Afghanistan under its Sustaining Essential Services Delivery Project.

A statement from ADB said on Tuesday it was part of immediate humanitarian support in response to the unprecedented crisis in Afghanistan.

The grants are financed by the Asian Development Fund that provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.

The World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will receive $135 million and $65 million respectively.

These funds will enable the provision of emergency food to over 800,000 people and farm inputs, fertilizers, or small farm equipment to around 390,000 households.

UNICEF will get $200 million to maintain basic health care and essential hospital services, covering a target population of about 5.3 million people, and the procurement and deployment of 2.3 million single-dose coronavirus vaccines for priority groups.

The grant will enable UNICEF to strengthen 10,000 community-based education classes, which use the same curriculum as public schools. It will cover around 264,000 children, including 60 percent girls.

The United Nations Development Programme will be given $5 million to monitor project implementation, undertake macroeconomic and social assessments in the country, and assess the impact of ADB’s assistance.

FAO, UNICEF, and WFP will engage third-party monitoring firms to verify the delivery of support to targeted beneficiaries and monitor project activities in the field.

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