By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – On Wednesday, the United Nations declared that a program of $300 million per annum in cash for Afghan families (children, seniors and people with disabilities) is the best approach to decreasing poverty.

According to the U.N. Development Programme, Afghanistan has an “alarming” outlook in terms of socio-economic conditions for the next 13 month. It also promoted a $100m “cash for Work” project that will boost employment and $90m for small businesses payments.

Kanni Wignaraja – UNDP Regional Director Asia and the Pacific for Asia and the Pacific – stated to Reuters that “this will probably be the best shot of halting the huge collapse into near universal poverty”.

Afghanistan faces a drop in international assistance after Taliban rule in mid-August. The economy is in crisis, with severe drought and COVID-19 pandemic. UNDP predicts that poverty will soon become virtually universal by 2022, affecting over 90 percent of Afghanistan’s 39million inhabitants.

The U.N. World Food Programme reported that 22.8 million people live in acute food security.

UNDP established a trust fund to help Afghans in dire need of cash. It received a pledge from Germany for 50 million euros ($58million). Fund has so far received pledges of $170 millions.

UNDP’s report argues for the expansion of ABADEI (a cash payment program) which was established in October. UNDP claims that since October, it has paid out $100,000 in cash for work payments to create jobs for 2300 individuals in Mazar Kunduz and Herat. This program is now being extended to other provinces.

Also, the report warned that Afghanistan’s future economic growth won’t be positive unless it lifts restrictions on women workers. $250 million annually in humanitarian aid is still available to fight COVID-19.

According to the study, reducing female employment can result in an economic loss between $600million and $1Billion – 3-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

Wignaraja said that she met Taliban officials at Kabul. She stated that it was important to send a message to all capable people to get back on track and use their potential to help not only the immediate economy disaster but also to the nation’s future.