DCA has been working in Afghanistan since 1988, supporting herder and pastoralist communities to build sustainable livelihoods. DCA operates at the intersection of humanitarian response, development, and peacebuilding. DCA's Vision is" Empowered and resilient Afghan farmers and pastoralists, driving sustainable and climate-friendly food production for the People of Afghanistan. Our approach is community-driven and structured around four interlinked pillars:
- Livelihoods and food security
- Extension and training services
- Value chain development
- Institutional capacity strengthening
We mainstream gender equality and One Health approaches across all programs—acknowledging the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, especially in the context of emerging epidemics and zoonotic diseases.
Project background:
The project’s global objective is to achieve greater resilience, food security, livelihoods, and stability for 300,000 households, particularly for women, youth, and vulnerable groups, including minorities, IDPs, and returnees, thereby curbing the drivers of forced displacement. The specific objectives are (i) Enhance economic opportunities by strengthening livelihoods of livestock value chain actors—including women, youth, returnees, minorities, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) through improved production, income-generating activities, and increased market access across 17 provinces, targeting 300,000 households; (ii) compliment and strengthen resilience at house hold level by promoting climate-smart agriculture, sustainable resource management, and local capacity building, achieving improved social inclusion against the project baseline over project duration period of 4 years; (iii) Promote the Afghan Cashmere and Wool value chain through certification under international standards, improved competitiveness, and enhanced market access, benefiting 16,000 households
Project Outcomes:
Outcome 1: Increased economic opportunities for 300,000 households (including women, youth, returnees, minorities, and PWDs) through strengthened livestock value chains, improved production, income generation, and market access in 17 provinces.
Outcome 2: Improved household resilience via climate-smart agriculture, sustainable resource management, and local capacity building, with measurable gains in social inclusion over four years.
Outcome 3: Promote the Afghan Cashmere and Wool value chain through certification under international standards, improved competitiveness, and enhanced market access, benefiting 16,000 households.
