News & Events

As part of the ORD–UNDP Earthquake Response Project in Kunar Province, the rehabilitation of 4 km of road in Mazar Dara, Nurgal District, has been completed, while works on the remaining road sections and three road structures including two culverts and one wash structure are currently in progress.

These activities directly support the project's objective of improving safe access to markets, schools, health facilities, and other essential services, while also generating short-term employment opportunities for earthquake-affected households through cash-for-work activities.

To date, about 52% of the project work has been completed, and up to 170 local community members, including women, have benefited from the project's cash-for-work component.

Today, on 28/10/2025, in Musakhil district of Khost Province, ORD under the FAO's Emergency Food Security Project "OSRO/AFG/150/WBK" successfully initiated the distribution of wheat seed packages, reaching 134 households and set to benefit a total of 500 deserving farmers in the district. Each beneficiary received 50 kg of wheat seeds, 50 kg of urea, and 50 kg of DAP.

It is worth noting that representatives from the district deputy director's office, the Department of Agriculture, ARM, and community elders participated in the distribution and closely observed the process. The distribution was carried out smoothly and efficiently. All beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to ORD and FAO for the valuable support provided.

22 October 2025 – Kabul, Afghanistan: The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), in collaboration with the REHA Organization, successfully concluded a four-day national training program focused on climate change adaptation and resilience. The closing ceremony marked a significant milestone in strengthening provincial capacity to address climate challenges across Afghanistan.

The event was attended by high-level representatives including Maulawi Matiulhaq Khalis, Director General of NEPA; Mr. Richard, Head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Afghanistan; officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and representatives from the Organization for Relief Development (ORD), Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), The Liaison Office (TLO), and REHA Organization.

In his keynote address, Maulawi Khalis emphasized the urgency of coordinated efforts: "Climate change is a global challenge, and our country is not immune to its impacts. We must intensify our efforts and take practical steps across all environmental sectors."

Mr. Richard, Head of FAO Afghanistan, highlighted the growing threats posed by climate change to agriculture, water resources, and rural livelihoods. He praised the collaborative efforts of FAO and its implementing partners, particularly ORD, for delivering climate-resilient agricultural programs across the country.

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates to all participants, recognizing their successful completion of the national training program.

Khost | 19 October 2025 – In a joint effort to boost high-density fruit production, a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), led by Regional Agriculture Specialist Mr. Mohammad Wazir Ahmadzai, visited pear orchards in Nader Shah Kot District. The initiative, part of the FAO-supported and ORD-implemented 140/WBK project, focuses on modern orchard development through T-trellising and improved tools.

The team assessed orchard performance, engaged with farmers, and offered tailored technical guidance. Farmers expressed appreciation for the expert support, while the ORD Khost team highlighted the strong collaboration between FAO, ORD, and local communities.

Mr. Khalid Salimee, Director General of the Organization for Relief Development (ORD), represented Afghanistan in the high-level off-side event titled "Uniting for a Just World: Strengthening South-South Solidarity and Partnerships for Equitable Climate Solutions", held on 19 June 2025 in Bonn, Germany. The event took place alongside the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies and brought together key stakeholders from across the Global South to explore inclusive and just climate action through strategic alliances.

Mr. Salimee contributed to the discussions by sharing Afghanistan's experiences and challenges in climate resilience, emphasizing the vital role of civil society organizations under restricted conditions. His intervention highlighted the urgency of equitable access to climate finance for vulnerable countries like Afghanistan and called for enhanced regional collaboration to address shared climate risks. ORD's active participation at this forum reinforces its commitment to promoting climate justice and elevating Afghan voices in global climate governance.

On 26 June 2025, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), in collaboration with and technical support from the Organization for Relief Development (ORD), convened the first national consultative meeting to prepare for Afghanistan's participation in COP30, in November 2025 in Belem Brazil.

Chaired by NEPA Director General Mawlawi Matiulhaq Khalis, the meeting brought together representatives from key government bodies, UN agencies, international organizations, and academic experts to discuss Afghanistan's climate vulnerabilities and coordination strategy.

ORD played a key technical role, presenting the proposed roadmap for the Afghan COP30 delegation and facilitating stakeholder input to shape national climate priorities. The organization's advisor, Mr. Hayat Wahdat, encouraged contributions to ensure a united and well-prepared Afghan presence at the global conference.

The meeting concluded with strong consensus on collective responsibility and continued collaboration to elevate Afghanistan's voice in international climate platforms.

The "Humanitarian WASH for Vulnerable, Remote, and Underserved Communities in Afghanistan" project was successfully implemented by the Organization for Relief Development (ORD) in Kushendeh District, Balkh Province, with funding from ECHO through DACAAR (Project Code: ECHO/-AS/BUD/2024/91008). Running from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, the project delivered essential WASH services to vulnerable rural communities and fully achieved its planned objectives.

Key Achievements:
✅ Construction of 5 new water wells
✅ Rehabilitation of 10 existing water points
✅ Installation of 30 Emergency Bath and Latrine (EBL) units
✅ Chlorination of 50 water wells
✅ Installation of 50 BSF (Bio Sand Filter) units
✅ Distribution of hygiene kits to 1,000 vulnerable households
The project benefited over 9,000 individuals by improving hygiene, reducing health risks, and promoting dignity.

On 22 May 2025, a senior management team from ORD's main office visited the implementation sites of the ongoing Emergency and Resilience project, funded by the World Bank, and implemented by ORD in partnership with FAO, in Gosfandi, Balkhab, Kohistanat and Sancharak districts of Sar-e-Pul province.

The project aims to support vulnerable communities and respond to climate-related shocks through emergency food security initiatives and cash for work (CFW) activities. 13,400 vulnerable farmers have received improved wheat packages and technical training. Additionally, 900 vulnerable food-insecure households are benefiting from at least 40 days of paid work.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress of the project, evaluate the quality of the work, and measure its impact on the targeted communities. The senior management team expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work.

12 May 2025, Pol-e Alam, Logar Province – The senior management team of ORD held a productive meeting with the visiting delegation from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) and representatives from UNIDO during their joint field visit to Logar province. The visit focused on monitoring the progress of the ongoing Sustainable Livelihood through MSME Support Project, being implemented by ORD in collaboration with UNIDO.

During the engagement, UNIDO and ORD teams provided a detailed briefing on project achievements, mechanisms ensuring transparency and accountability, and the project's role in promoting inclusive local economic development.

ORD further reiterated its commitment to upholding the principles of efficiency, transparency, and community ownership in all stages of project implementation.

On Monday, 12 May 2025, ORD officially inaugurated the MSME Support Project in a major investment event in Logar province. The gathering aimed to engage with local MSME holders through the MSME Support Project.

The project, funded by the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA), is being implemented by ORD in partnership with UNIDO in the southeastern region of Afghanistan, including Logar, Paktia, Khost, and Paktika provinces. The project aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods through providing grants and technical support to 101 individuals and 10 consortiums.

The event brought together 106 participants, including local MSME holders, representatives from DoIC and DoEc, Chamber of Commerce & Investment, UNIDO and representative from STFA.

May 3, 2025, Sharana, Center of Paktika: The technical team of the ORD office in Paktika province conducted scheduled monitoring visits to small greenhouses in the Sharana district.

The purpose of this monitoring was to assess the operational status of the greenhouses, evaluate crop progress, and provide necessary recommendations to the beneficiaries.

During the visit, it was observed that the beneficiaries had cultivated cucumbers in their greenhouses, which were approaching the harvesting stage. The beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the condition and productivity of their greenhouses and thanked ORD and FAO for its support.

Khost, May 3, 2025 – ORD, in partnership with UNIDO under the STFA-Joint Programme, officially launched its Sustainable Livelihood Support Project for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) development in Khost province.

The high-level inauguration event, held as part of a major investment forum, brought together over 120 participants, including representatives from government departments, UNIDO, national and international NGOs, private sector actors, and local entrepreneurs.

The project funded by the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA), aims to strengthen economic resilience by providing technical and financial assistance to 101 MSMEs and 10 business consortiums across Khost, Paktiya, Logar, and Sharana.

A major investment forum, organized by ORD, was held on 28 April 2025 at the Paktia Chamber of Commerce Hall in Gardiz. The event aimed to officially launch the ORD new project under UNIDO-STFA Joint Programme in South-East region (Paktia, Khost, Paktika and Logar provinces), and to engage local entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium sized enterprise (MSME) owners.

The project aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods through providing grants and technical support to 101 individuals and 10 consortiums in the four targeted provinces. It targets both formal and informal MSMEs across various industries.

The event brought together 140 participants, including 85 local entrepreneurs and MSME owners, representatives from the private sector, government line departments, and UN agencies.

ORD proudly represented Afghanistan at the Global South NGO Forum for Solidarity in Action, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from April 27 to 30, 2025. This Global NGO event was attended by Mr. Abdul Bari Hamidi, Deputy Director ORD. The event, hosted by the Social Welfare of the Citizens Public Union in partnership with the National NGO Forum (NNF), convened civil society leaders and development actors under the theme: "Strengthening Global South NGOs for a New and Fair World."

Bringing together NGOs from across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the forum focused on fostering South-South cooperation, accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and amplifying local solutions to shared global challenges. ORD's participation highlighted Afghanistan's civil society resilience and its commitment to advancing climate action, inclusive development, and regional solidarity.