UN announces Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF) for Afghanistan to save lives, sustain services and preserve community systems

“This UN system wide strategy will help ensure that Afghans can meet their basic human needs; acting on this now is more important than ever to avoid that an even wider proportion of the population requires lifesaving humanitarian assistance. It’s especially important now as millions are suffering with the harsh winter months, and we thank the international community for stepping up their vital support to the Afghan population,” said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov.

The US$8billion required to implement this UN-wide framework include the $4.44 billion previously requested through the Humanitarian Response Plan, launched on 11 January, since all the activities in the TEF complement one another and are interdependent. While the HRP aims to deliver lifesaving assistance to 22.1 million people, through the TEF, the UN requires an additional $3.6 billion in immediate funding to sustain essential social services such as health and education; support community systems through maintenance of basic infrastructure; and maintain critical capacities for service delivery and promotion of livelihoods and social cohesion, with specific emphasis on socio-economic needs of women and girls.

“The United Nations are grateful to all donors for their continued generous support of relief and recovery efforts in Afghanistan, demonstrating the strong solidarity of the international community with the people of Afghanistan,” Dr. Alakbarov said, launching the TEF in Kabul today with UN team representatives and members of the international community.  

The European Union recently announced 268 million Euros (US$302 million) to meet the basic human needs of the Afghans. Key contributions also include $308 million from the United States as well as continued generous support from the UK, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Republic of Korea and other donors. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $405 million in grants to support food security and sustain delivery of essential health and education services, while the World Bank (WB) and the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) donors approved first transfer of $280 million in support of delivery of essential services.

Staying and delivering at the grassroots level across Afghanistan, the UN and partners will continue to engage in the sustained effort to meet humanitarian and basic human needs of Afghans, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2615 adopted in December of 2021.   

“With the world coming together in aid of the resilient Afghans, adherence to the principles of equity, transparency and accountability inscribed in TEF will work towards restoring hope and dignity for all Afghans,” the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan added. 

Contact:

Ahmad Ali Fakhri

Communications and Advocacy Officer | Resident Coordination Office | E-mail: ahmad.fakhri@un.org| Phone: +93790429427 | Kabul, Afghanistan

NOTE TO EDITORS

One UN Transitional Emergency Framework is arranged into three strategic outcomes:

OUTCOME 1 - By the end of 2022, more people in Afghanistan will have benefitted from life-saving humanitarian assistance that enable them to live in safety and dignity.

The scope of work under Outcomes 1 includes:

1. emergency food and nutrition services, emergency shelter, WASH, health, education and protection services to reduce mortality and morbidity
2. interventions to prevent, mitigate and respond to emergency protection risks, particularly of women, children and other vulnerable individuals
3. protecting critical livelihoods for rural and urban populations
4. contributing to durable solutions for vulnerable internally displaced people and international returnees, including refugees

The total estimated cost for Outcome 1 on a needs basis is US$ 4.44 billion, although not all will be covered by UN programming, as other international and humanitarian international actors will also contribute to the collective outcomes of the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan.

OUTCOME 2 - By the end of 2022, essential services are sustained that address basic human needs for the people in Afghanistan.

1. activities and services that sustain basic human needs for all people in Afghanistan, particularly health, nutrition, education, food security, protection and critical elements of infrastructure such as water, sanitation and energy.
2. activities that prevent people from falling or falling back into acute vulnerability and reduce people’s dependence on humanitarian aid, by preserving livelihoods and providing social protection, beyond humanitarian assistance, including basic income support, mitigating protection risks and further displacements, and contributing to resilient communities.

The total estimated cost for Outcome 2 is US$ 3.42 billion.

OUTCOME 3 - By the end of 2022, Afghanistan will preserve social investments and community-level systems essential to meeting basic human needs, protect gains to the SDGs, and develop scenarios for future engagement.

The total estimated cost for Outcome 3 is US$ 208 million.