Japan provides $6 million to support vulnerable people in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Japan has provided $6 million to promote vital livelihoods opportunities for vulnerable people in Afghanistan, a statement said on Monday.

The Government of Japan and UNHCR have signed an agreement for a project to promote vital livelihoods opportunities for forcibly displaced Afghans, including refugee returnees, as well as the communities supporting them, reads the statement.

The new project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Under the partnership, various activities will be launched to empower vulnerable populations, prioritising women, in several UNHCR-designated Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARRs), where there are high numbers of returnees and displaced.

Activities will include constructing and operationalising dairy processing and production centres for women; building cold storage facilities to support fresh vegetable farming; building greenhouses; a new carpet weaving processing centre and a silk weaving processing and production facility, and business and market centres.

Other interventions will include training and capacity-building, including setting up and supporting local co-operatives to ensure the facilities are fully operationalized and effectively utilized.

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