WFP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific - 2016 SPRs RBB 2016 SPRs by country | Page 6

Standard Project Report 2016
Country Context and WFP Objectives
Country Context
After decades of war, and with ongoing conflict, Afghanistan ranks 171 out of the 188 countries in the Human
Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for 2015. Afghanistan is a food-deficit
country that relies on imports to meet national consumption needs. The long term complex emergency in
Afghanistan is characterised by political and economic uncertainty alongside a dire security situation. The
presidential elections in April 2014 resulted in political tensions that continue to threaten the National Unity
Government. The country also experienced severe economic deterioration as a result of the loss of revenue from
foreign military disengagement, and an ambitious return strategy which failed to secure large-scale remittances.
This economic deterioration resulted in both 2015 and 2016 being characterised by the highest levels of in-country
insecurity and military confrontation. This reality has been exacerbated by a period of political turmoil that resulted in
a delay of the 2016 provincial elections.
According to the 2014 Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey (ALCS), 3.4 million people are severely food insecure,
which represents 12 percent of the total population. Another 5.9 million people (21 percent) are moderately food
insecure, in a situation where they cannot sustainably cope with regular and repeated shocks – both natural and
human-induced. Poor infrastructure, limited livelihood opportunities, food under utilisation, prevailing insecurity and
intermittent market access continue to negatively impact household food security.
In terms of gender, the 2015 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Gender Inequality Index ranks
Afghanistan as one of the most gender unequal countries globally. For example, gender inequity remains a major
concern in education. According to the ALCS, the disadvantage of girls and women compared to boys and men is
Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of (AF)
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Single Country PRRO - 200447