A new community-based initiative has been launched to address acute water scarcity and climate-related risks in Kabul, aiming to strengthen resilience for around 150,000 people in Afghanistan’s capital. Afghanistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and Kabul province faces severe water stress driven by groundwater depletion, prolonged droughts, and increasing flood risks, threatening long-term water availability and livelihoods.
Funded by $9.3 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the three-year project will be implemented by UNOPS and focuses on improving water management systems while empowering communities to adapt to climate impacts. The initiative combines climate-resilient infrastructure development with disaster risk management and livelihood support, addressing both immediate vulnerabilities and longer-term resilience needs in one of the country’s most climate-exposed urban areas.
Planned activities include the construction of check dams, water reservoirs, and irrigation canals designed to recharge aquifers, manage stormwater, and reduce flood risks. Infrastructure sites will be selected in close consultation with local communities to ensure ownership, sustainability, and relevance to local needs. In parallel, the project will establish community-based disaster risk management systems and generate short-term employment through cash-for-work activities, including ecological measures such as afforestation to reduce soil erosion.
A key component of the initiative is the integration of Japanese expertise and technology in disaster risk reduction and water management. Through collaboration with specialised Japanese organisations, the project will introduce innovative water-saving solutions and strengthen community-led approaches to climate adaptation, combining international technical knowledge with local leadership.
The initiative is expected to help address Kabul’s estimated annual groundwater deficit of 60 million cubic metres while improving water security, strengthening livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience for vulnerable populations, with a strong focus on inclusive participation, including women. Building on UNOPS’ experience delivering thousands of small-scale infrastructure projects across Afghanistan since 2022, the project aims to create a replicable model for water conservation and flood protection in climate-vulnerable urban settings.
