General Situation
Afghanistan has seen marginal improvements in food security since 2021, despite multiple shocks including natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a political transition. During the 2025–2026 lean season, an estimated 17.4 million people (36% of the population) are experiencing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 4.7 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). Most provinces remain in Crisis.
During the peak lean season (November 2024–March 2025), 14.8 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity, a slight improvement compared to the previous year due to better harvests and lower food prices. However, climate change, unemployment, limited livelihood opportunities, and returning populations continue to place significant pressure on food security, requiring sustained humanitarian support.
Fahim* (12) helps his mother Shafiqa* (31) to harvest produce from their farm in Afghanistan. Sacha Myers / Save the Children
Our Response
Save the Children applies a sustainable livelihoods approach to food security and livelihoods programming, strengthening the resilience of vulnerable households and communities. The approach improves access to food through market-based support, household production, and livelihood diversification, linking emergency assistance with recovery and longer-term resilience to climate-related and human-induced shocks.
Our Food Security and Livelihoods Programme integrates income-generating support, business and financial literacy training, agricultural inputs, improved agronomic practices, vocational and life skills training for youth and adolescent girls, support to women’s agri-processing groups, kitchen gardening and nutrition demonstrations, and climate-resilient practices such as watershed management, conservation agriculture, and disaster risk reduction to enhance food security and community resilience.