IDA grant helps improve food security, lessen drought in Afghanistan

The World Bank has approved a grant of $97.50 million from the International Development Association to provide regular and predictable cash support to Afghans affected by droughts and COVID-19. The grant will also help build Afghanistan’s drought early warning and response systems.

The grant will help finance the Drought Early Warning, Early Finance, and Early Action Project. The project will provide regular targeted financial assistance to households to build resilience and scale up support across the country before and during droughts. It will also support the Government of Afghanistan to deliver critical weather, water, and climate information services, disseminate early warnings, and strengthen disaster preparedness within communities. 

The IDA grant complements grants of $115 million from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, a multi-donor trust fund managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors, plus $8 million from the Global Risk Financing Facility, and $2 million from the program for Asia Resilience to Climate Change Multi-donor Trust Fund.