داستان‌های ما. درباره کارکردهای ما در راستای اهداف توسعه پایدار بیشتر بدانید.

For families living in District 10 of Herat city, seasonal floods are a cyclical, recurring disaster. Each year, between February and March 2026, rising waters would sweep through the community, destroying fragile mud homes, washing away belongings, and forcing families to flee with little more than what they could carry. Recovery was slow, and just as households began to rebuild, the next flood would arrive, trapping them in a relentless cycle of loss and uncertainty.The constant fear of losing homes and livelihoods every rainy season weighed heavily on the community, particularly on women, children, and the elderly, who were the most vulnerable during floods and harsh weather conditions. Many of these vulnerable families live on the far side of the Robat Baba Khan canal, a major water channel that channels seasonal rainwater and flash floodwaters during the rainy season, where access to safety was limited, and evacuation during floods was both dangerous and chaotic. Essential services like clean water, education, and healthcare were frequently disrupted, deepening the vulnerability of an already marginalized community. Recognizing the urgent need for a long-term solution, the Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (CRLP) supported the construction of a nearly one-kilometer flood protection wall. Designed and implemented with active community participation, the initiative brought together local residents, skilled workers, and community leaders to address one of their most pressing challenges. The construction process itself became a source of resilience. It generated over 1,000 labor days for women and approximately 16,000 labor days for men, providing much-needed income to households while fostering a sense of ownership among community members. Residents contributed not only their labor but also their voices, ensuring the project reflected their priorities and realities.Today, the impact is visible and deeply felt.The protection wall now stands as a strong barrier against destructive floodwaters, effectively diverting them into the main canal and away from homes and farmland. For the first time in years, families experienced a flood season without fear. Children continued going to school, small businesses remained open, and households were spared from the devastating losses that once defined their lives.Noor Ahmad, a community elder, reflects on the transformation:“Now, when it rains, we don’t panic. We feel safe. This wall has given us peace of mind and a chance to rebuild our lives.”Beyond physical protection, the project has strengthened social cohesion. The participatory approach, where community members were involved in decision-making and implementation, has built trust, reinforced collective responsibility, and enhanced the community’s ability to respond to future challenges.This story from Herat highlights a simple but powerful truth: when communities are engaged in shaping solutions to their own challenges, the results are not only effective, but they are also lasting. The Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (CRLP) is implemented by UNOPS with support from the World Bank and the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund. Through its community-driven approach, CRLP supports vulnerable communities across Afghanistan by creating short-term jobs, improving access to basic services and climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthening livelihoods, and promoting women’s participation in community decision-making, while prioritizing poor and vulnerable groups, including female-headed households, returnees, and internally displaced people.