The European Union has launched a €4.7 million partnership with UNESCO to expand community-based skills development and literacy training in Afghanistan. The initiative aims to strengthen economic empowerment by reaching 7,500 youth and adults, including both returnees and host community members, across five provinces. It is designed to meet locally identified needs through flexible and community-driven approaches that prioritize safety and inclusivity.
The programme integrates foundational literacy and numeracy training, equivalent to a Grade 3 level, with practical vocational skills that reflect local economic opportunities. This combined model equips learners with both essential education and market-aligned livelihood skills. EU Chargé d’Affaires Veronika Boskovic Pohar emphasized that the funding is intended to provide communities with concrete tools to improve well-being and support long-term economic stability.
Training will focus on income-generating skills such as tailoring, dairy production, poultry farming, and small-scale agriculture, which have proven effective for home-based economic activity in targeted regions. The initiative builds on UNESCO’s ongoing literacy and skills programmes, which have already supported more than 56,000 learners since 2023. UNESCO Representative Patricia McPhillips noted that the partnership will help communities address daily challenges, enhance self-reliance, and strengthen resilience through expanded access to education and livelihoods support.
