The UN-operated Awaaz Afghanistan hotline (410) is a confidential, toll-free hotline, and a vital component in upholding integrity and human dignity in Afghanistan's complex humanitarian landscape. This essential lifeline ensures the affected population, particularly women facing difficult situations, have a voice to report their concerns and issues. Through swift action and persistent follow-up, Awaaz has restored stolen assistance, corrected a discrimination, and secured urgent protection for families at risk. Awaaz ensures voices are not just heard, but that justice and fairness are delivered, thereby ensuring an accountable humanitarian response.Restoring Stolen Aid: The Fight for 23 Women’s DignityFor women in rural communities, cash assistance is a lifeline for basic survival. In one village, hope turned to dismay when a group of 23 women had their recently received funds forcibly confiscated by local gatekeepers immediately after distribution. Fearing retaliation, one of the rightful female beneficiaries reached out to Awaaz. She articulated a simple, powerful truth: “We are the ones who truly need this support.”Awaaz’s operators documented the confidential complaint and swiftly escalated the case through official accountability channels. Through persistent follow-ups, the stolen funds were recovered and returned to all 23 women, confirming the system is built to deliver justice.Ensuring Fair Access: Righting an Economic OpportunityFor women striving for economic independence, a skills training course is a priceless opportunity. When Ms. Zohra (name changed for confidentiality), a participant in a vital tailoring course, was removed without justification, she faced the loss of her future livelihood. She contacted Awaaz, expressing her core request: “Even if assistance cannot be provided, we ask that we be treated with dignity and respect.”Recognizing this as a clear case of discrimination, Awaaz escalated the complaint to the responsible implementing partner. Following a review triggered by the hotline, the organization acknowledged the error and immediately reinstated Ms. Zohra’s enrollment, restoring her right to equal opportunity.Securing Safe Passage: A Mother and Children SavedIn situations of crisis, the most vulnerable often face the greatest protection risks. Recently deported and stranded without resources in Nimroz province, Ms. Fatima (name changed for confidentiality) and her three young children had nowhere to turn. Desperate and unregistered, she called the Awaaz hotline (410), believing she had no one else to ask.Recognizing the severe protection risk, Awaaz mobilized an urgent response. Through persistent internal and external escalation, the family received AFN 10,000 in emergency aid. This critical assistance enabled Ms. Fatima and her children to secure safe transport home, ensuring they did not "fall through the cracks."“These cases remind us why Awaaz exists. For many women, speaking up comes with fear and risk, yet they still choose to reach out because they believe someone will listen,” said Edrees Omed, Awaaz Project Manager. “When women see that their voices can lead to real change, accountability becomes more than a principle; it becomes a lived reality.”A Shared Commitment to Accountability and ScaleAwaaz Afghanistan is the essential two-way communication channel, ensuring that feedback is used to improve the quality of programming and address systemic issues. The mechanism, established in 2018 by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), is the country's only interagency complaint and feedback system. The impact is far-reaching:Since its launch, Awaaz has handled over 660,000 calls from all over the country.The call centre has reached more than 4.6 million individuals with critical information and support.Approximately 20% of these calls have come from female callers, demonstrating Awaaz’s success as a safe channel for women.As the managing agency for this vital mechanism, UNOPS highlights Awaaz's strategic role in the entire humanitarian response.“Awaaz is more than a hotline; it is a shared commitment that fundamentally improves the way we deliver aid,” said Katy Webley, UNOPS Country Director. “By giving women a confidential and secure channel, this mechanism improves accountability, enhances aid efficiency, and is essential in protecting them from discrimination, exploitation, and other unjust practices.”The commitment of the UN and its partners is to ensure this vital mechanism remains sustainable, upholding the core promise that every voice, particularly those of the most marginalized, is respected and acted upon.

Living in a small house built of mud and bricks with his wife, daughter, and four sons aged between five and 14, his everyday life is a constant struggle to provide for his family and to keep hope alive.Two decades ago, Jan Mohammad’s life changed forever when he was caught in crossfire. The incident left him with serious leg injuries, creating a permanent obstacle to walking and working as he once did. After a long recovery process, Jan Mohhamad started learning to weave carpets in a factory – a job which he could manage with the physical disability affecting his legs. However, when a landmine later exploded near his home and he lost three fingers from his left hand, he could no longer pursue carpet weaving as a profession.  Despite the severity of the multiple incidents he has survived, Jan Mohammad has never been defeated by his disabilities. On the contrary, he is determined to do everything possible to support his family and ensure his children receive an education, despite the significant socioeconomic barriers.“What matters most to me is having a job to support my children so that they can learn and dream of a future I never had,” said Jan Mohammad. In Afghanistan, Jan Mohammad’s story is one shared with countless others. Decades of conflict have led to many Afghan people suffering from injury, trauma, psychosocial distress and interrupted healthcare. Accidents resulting from explosive ordnance, but also diseases like polio, limited access to prenatal and maternal care and overall poor healthcare services have resulted in a high number of persons with disabilities that might have otherwise been treated. UN OCHA’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP 2025) underscores the significant socio-economic challenges faced by households headed by persons with disabilities in Afghanistan. These households experience an unemployment rate that is about five times higher than the national average, and increased rates of child labour, affecting 31% of these households compared to 15% nationally. They also report the highest average debt levels, amounting to AFN 52,498 (USD 783) compared to the national average of AFN 37,433 (USD 558). In terms of food security, 35% of households headed by persons with disabilities report poor food consumption scores, and 41% experience moderate hunger. Such socioeconomic barriers not only limit access to basic services but also perpetuate inequalities, leaving persons with disabilities and their families further behind. Struggling to walk and unable to weave carpets, Jan Mohammad was left feeling alone. Yet, he did not give up. “I don’t let my disability define me,” he says. Despite the significant hardships he faced he persevered in seeking daily employment, driven by his determination to stand on his own and provide for his family. In July 2025, Jan Mohammad began to feel hopeful when he heard about a Cash-for-Work (CfW) programme launched by UN-Habitat with support from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the CfW programme was part of the Project for the Improvement of Living Environment for Vulnerable People in Urban Areas. The CfW initiative provided short-term income-generating opportunities to families in vulnerable situations, with the objective of helping them meet their most immediate needs. As is the case in many informal settlements across Kabul, Jan Mohammad’s community faced challenges such as uncleared waste clogging the drainage systems and uneven roads, leading to serious safety, health and hygiene concerns. CfW activities were designed to address these issues by road levelling, drain cleaning, and the removal of accumulated waste. Through this project, 50 people including Jan Mohhamad were provided with employment for two months to improve the living environment of their urban community. Shamsulhaq Noori, who worked alongside Jan Mohammad, recalled, “Jan Mohammad worked tirelessly like the rest of us. He didn’t use his physical limitations as an excuse. He always worked with honesty and pride.” Earning AFN 350 (approximately USD 5) per day, Jan Mohammad received his first payment at the end of the first month. The 7,700 AFN (approximately USD 110) made him proud and hopeful.  “For the first time in months, my family had enough food to eat without borrowing money from neighbours,” Jan Mohammad said. The dinner his family had that day was his youngest son’s favorite dish: rice with potatoes, locally called Palao. “We spent most days with only one meal, and we could barely afford two. Our life has never been easy,” said Bibi Kafia, Jan Mohammad’s wife. “But for that one meal, it felt like things might get better tomorrow.” When Jan Mohammad received his next payment, his joy grew. “Now, I feel an overwhelming sense of relief and happiness. I proudly brought home flour, rice, stationery, and clothes for my children. That work and the salary I received gave me hope, dignity, and a renewed belief that hard work still has value.” His children also noticed the difference at home. Mohammad Saber, his second son who is in grade 7, said, “My father bought us new notebooks and pencils. I was glad that I can now go to school with my new study materials.” “The support through this programme has reached people like me — the poor, the persons with disabilities, and those who have been struggling all their lives just to survive.” Thanking the Government of Japan for the support, Jan Mohammad continued, “This opportunity reminded me that even those who have suffered injuries or hardships still can contribute to the society and live with pride.” Although the project offered Jan Mohammad a brief moment of relief, the challenges he faces remain substantial. But he remains determined and hopeful, even when opportunities seem diminished. “I will continue to look for any work to search for work and provide for my family,” he said. Across Afghanistan, countless families like Jan Mohammad’s struggle with poverty and uncertainty. According to the HNRP 2025, almost half the population—48%—lives in poverty. With the economy in decline, limited employment opportunities, weak investment in infrastructure and basic services, and reduced aid from the international community, many Afghan households are struggling in poor living environments, relying on short-term work just to survive—holding on to hope for a better tomorrow. 

For nearly eight decades, the UN and Afghanistan have shared a journey of continued engagement, collaboration, and partnership. Throughout times of progress and challenge, the UN has remained a steadfast ally to the people of Afghanistan, working side by side to support their aspirations for peace, development, and dignity.To honour and celebrate this milestone, UN Afghanistan turned to the country’s talented adolescents and youth, with a nationwide Youth Art Contest to explore how young Afghans see the UN’s role in their country. The initiative invited participants to express their knowledge, creativity, and vision through art. The response was inspiring. Dozens of young artists, both male and female, from across Afghanistan submitted impressive, powerful works reflecting their perspectives. “Each piece carried a unique story—of resilience, hope, partnership, and the enduring bond between the UN and the Afghan people,” said Diloro Kadirova, Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Afghanistan.  As we present a selection of top submissions from different provinces, we can see that these pieces of art are more than creative expressions, they are a testimony of how deeply the UN’s presence and support resonate with Afghan communities.  From vibrant depictions of peace to symbolic portrayals of unity, the art captures the spirit of engagement that has defined the UN-Afghanistan relationship for generations. The stories told through these pieces of art remind us that the journey is far from over. They highlight the hope and resilience of Afghan youth, their determination to thrive. These works call for continued UN-Afghanistan collaboration, for which the UN’s commitment remains unwavering: to stand with the people of Afghanistan and to amplify their talent, voices, and dreams for a prosperous future - every brushstroke, every color, and every story contributing to building a brighter tomorrow.   

Each woman received a package of seeds along with training on planting, watering, and managing crop cycles. They grow cucumber and sweet capsicum using the seeds received, and most have since expanded by sourcing additional vegetable seeds from local markets, which they cultivate in their greenhouses. These crops feed their families, and they sell the surplus, creating a new stream of income.This initiative is helping women-headed households improve their livelihoods. “We were already tailoring to survive,” said Amina, one of the participants. “Now with the greenhouse, we can also grow food, eat better, and sell the rest.”Built from climate-smart, low-cost materials, the greenhouses are designed for small plots and can withstand even harsh weather conditions. The drip irrigation system reduces water use and boosts efficiency, crucial in water-scarce areas, where every drop counts.Another important aspect of the initiative is the formation of Common Interest Groups (CIGs), a single-purpose group formed at the village level. Several women from the same village meet occasionally in one of the members’ homes to discuss their progress, share challenges, and exchange knowledge on greenhouse management. These meetings provide mutual support and strengthen community bonds. Zahra, (not real name) one of the women now manages a demonstration greenhouse that serves as a model for others in the village.  Her work is encouraging more women in the community to explore home-based food production as a pathway to greater independence.Despite growing restrictions on women’s participation in many areas of public life, agriculture remains one of the few viable livelihood pathways still available to women in Afghanistan. This initiative offers more than just food and income; it opens doors to economic participation, climate resilience, and renewed confidence. Sustaining and expanding targeted support like this is essential to continue delivering direct, tangible benefits to women across the country.“We have hope,” Zahra said simply. “This is something we can do with our hands, right here at home.”This initiative is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as part of the STFA Joint Programme for the South-Eastern Region, an integral component of the UN’s unprecedented effort to Deliver as One (DaO) in Afghanistan. The programme brings together 11 Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).The JP adopts an integrated, community-based approach, catalyzing collaboration and capitalizing on the complementary strengths and synergies of PUNOs, thus delivering results that would not be possible through a traditional, siloed approach.By: Immy Mulekatete <immy.mulekatete@undp.org>