Japan Allocates US$ 3 Million to UNDP’s “ABADEI” crisis response in Afghanistan

Kabul, 28 October - The government of Japan announced this week a US$ 3 million grant for UNDP's emergency agriculture initiatives under the newly launched "ABADEI" programme, as a response to the looming local development catastrophe in Afghanistan.

"We thank Japan for their generous and strategic contribution to supporting directly the people of Afghanistan in these difficult times," said UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan Abdallah Al Dardari. "With this contribution, we will be able to help people provide for their families and inject urgently needed emergency resources into local economies."

ABADEI, which denotes communities being resilient and inspires hope for a better future in several local languages, was launched on 21 October as part of the overall UN system's crisis response to help prevent a local economic collapse.

The funding from the Government of Japan was allocated within their "Emergency Grant Aid for Afghanistan and neighbouring countries," and it will be channeled directly to communities to help farmers improve their crops and increase income within the framework of the ABADEI initiative. The new contribution builds on a long-standing partnership between Japan and the UNDP in Afghanistan and beyond.

"The Government of Japan will continue to provide support and stand by the people of Afghanistan, and play an active role for stability in the region," stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in a statement announcing the emergency humanitarian assistance.

In September UNDP released an economic rapid appraisal which projected that up to 97 percent of the population may be at risk of sinking below the poverty line next year if an urgent response to address the country's economic crises is not launched.

"We call on other donors to step in and help prevent the total meltdown of the Afghan local economy and with it the destroying of human security and basic wellbeing," added Abdallah Al Dardari.

The new ABADEI programme is designed to support communities directly; help small and micro businesses including those owned by women; create short term jobs restoring critical local infrastructure; strengthen natural disaster mitigation by cleaning canals and building flood and drought protection measures; and a basic safety net to cover people with disabilities, the elderly, and the most vulnerable. The programme will be implemented in partnership with local community development councils and NGOs across the country.

ABADEI activities are funded from contributions to UNDP, as well as through the newly created "Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan," a UN inter-agency and multi-partner funding mechanism to enable UNDP, UN agencies and non-government organizations to coordinate their support for community level initiatives.

For Media Queries:

UNDP New York, Stanislav Saling, Communications Advisor, email: [email protected]

UNDP Afghanistan - Communications team, email: [email protected]

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