Uplift and CDDO Partner To Expand Cash-for-Work Project

Due to a number of circumstances—lack of sustainable jobs, drought, and a harsh winter—middle-income households in many Afghan villages have now been pushed into poverty. This change in economic status has resulted in a high number of forced economic migrations to neighboring countries.

Last year, Uplift piloted a Cash-for-Work program in 2 provinces in Afghanistan with great success in collaboration with our partner organization, Community Driven Development Organization (CDDO). This year, in an effort to contribute to reducing poverty, we have expanded the program to 12 provinces.

During the development of this project, Uplift and CDDO worked closely with community members to assess which sectors to target for Cash-for-Work projects, ultimately concluding that irrigation, clean water supply, and transportation were the areas of highest priority for villagers in these communities. Projects include rehabilitating and constructing irrigation canals, roads, protective walls for agricultural land, and reservoirs. Not only will these projects provide a steady income for community members, but they will also improve the overall quality of life in the villages themselves.

Uplift’s and CDDO’s shared goal with this project is to reduce economic migration, improve food security, and improve the overall quality of life for hundreds of vulnerable households.