Conflict, disasters, and other humanitarian emergencies have broad reaching consequences, but often lost in emergency responses are the psychosocial impacts of these events. Yet such crises can have a detrimental effect on psychosocial wellness, as demonstrated by Samuel Hall research with urban youth in Kabul. 71 per cent of youth interviewed by Samuel Hall had experienced a traumatic event, with many reporting symptoms associated with trauma. Our data shows that the mental health of these youth should absolutely be considered a priority – the time for action is now.
The State of Afghan Cities report provides the first-ever assessment of the conditions in all of Afghanistan’s 34 Provincial Capitals that are home to over 8 million people. It shows that Afghan cities are a driving force of social and economic development, state-building and peace-building, yet their full potential has been constrained by the absence of an effective urban policy and regulatory framework, insufficient and poorly coordinated investment, and weak municipal governance and land management. Samuel Hall contributed its expertise to the urban economy analysis section of the report.
DRC/PIN – Urban Poverty and Food Insecurity in Afghanistan
There are now 24% of the population of Afghanistan living in urban areas. At the core of the urbanisation trend lies the complex question of migration and displacement in a country, where a large share of the population is or has been in movement. This urbanisation trend comes with increasing urban poverty and food insecurity: the latest National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (NRVA) found that 34% of the urban population were food insecure as against 29% of the rural population. This confirms the necessity to look into the acute problem of urban food insecurity in the country to reduce the risk of chronic food crises in Afghan cities. Surprisingly, whilst urban food security is increasingly considered to be a priority by national and international stakeholders, there are important gaps in the knowledge of its socio-economic determinants and its consequences, leading to gaps in the provision of services and assistance to the urban poor. In order to fill this gap, People in Need (PIN) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) commissioned Samuel Hall to conduct a large urban poverty study in Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Mazar-e- Sharif and Kandahar. The study is based on a 5,400-household survey and will be presented to key stakeholders during a series of consultation in September 2014.
This research, funded by Samuel Hall, is a first look at the situation of urban displaced youth in Kabul. It draws attention to the vulnerabilities of IDPs and deportees, while acknowledging the low levels of social and economic inclusion and integration of all (displaced) youth. Displacement has a clear impact on vulnerabilities – and migration is not accompanied by greater skill sets. How to ensure that migration can benefit development? How to reinforce the skills, potential and role of displaced youth in Afghanistan?
This ground-breaking study was funded by the European Union and conducted by Samuel Hall, DRC and PIN. It provides new insights into the nature, level and complexity of poverty, food security and resilience issues among urban households in Afghanistan. It compares the experiences of host communities, IDPs and returnees across the five major Afghan cities and provides evidence-based recommendations for practical action and policy reform to more effectively address urban poverty. The Kabul report launch and discussion was attended by many high-profile guests, including relevant government actors.
DFID – Mobile Cash Transfer for Humanitarian Action
The objective is to inform DFID about the effectiveness and value for money of setting up emergency short-term, cash-based projects for disaster affected populations. It contributes to DFID’s humanitarian knowledge base on the use of mobile technology for emergency food needs.
NRC – Evaluation of the Youth Education Pack Projects in Afghanistan
The Youth Education Pack project targets male and female youth in Herat, Faryab and Nangarhar in Afghanistan. It provides life skills training, vocational training and literacy and numeracy training to vulnerable and illiterate youth under poverty level. The target group includes refugees, returnees and IDPs along with host communities. This report is an evaluation of the YEP project using the OECD-DAC criteria and substantive quantitative, qualitative and contextual information from the field.
WHH/DRC – Cash-Based Assistance Programmes for IDPs in the Kabul Informal Settlements
In this context of increasing internal displacement, urbanization and winter-related vulnerabilities, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) are actively providing, in the KIS, targeted assistance to enhance the livelihood potential of IDP households. During the harsh winters, WHH and DRC work with members of the KIS Task Force to coordinate emergency response and a comprehensive winterization plan. Samuel Hall was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the 2013/2014 winter’s cash interventions through a three-phased approach including a baseline, midline and endline survey of their winter cash assistance activities in the KIS through a field- and evidence-based, quantitative and qualitative research study.
DMoYA/UNFPA/UNDP/UNICEF – Future in Transition: A Participatory Assessment of the Afghan Youth
As the Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs, drafts the National Youth Policy of Afghanistan, this report commissioned by DMoYA, UNFPA, UNDP and UNICEF is a first of its kind to be a dedicated, up-to-date document on the youth. The purpose of this report is to understand the conditions, aspirations and current state of youth in Afghanistan.
Seeds of Peace – Conflict Resolution in South Asia: Programme Evaluation
A changing political, social and economic context requires the evaluation to start with a main research question: how can Seeds of Peace adapt its theory of change to the regional and local dynamics in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan and India)?
This paper published in REMMM in French draws attention on the progressive loss of identity of nomadic Kuchis. It highlights the reduction of pasture land and the settlement of Kuchis, who live in an increased situation of socio-economic marginalisation.
DRC commissioned Samuel Hall Consulting to research the relevance and applicability of cash-based interventions in the Kabul Informal Settlements, with a focus on identifying the risks and protection issues for a cash approach, and assessing its viability for IDPs.
Solidarités International – Sustaining the Working Poor in the Kabul Informal Settlements
There are over 50 Kabul informal settlements (KIS) where returnees and IDPs live in extreme poverty. Skills upgrading can be an effective policy to strengthen local integration; vocational training can lead to increased productivity and higher income. This third study by Samuel Hall on the living conditions of IDPs contributes to the knowledge needed to mainstream protection in policy responses.
JICA – A Study of the Kuchi Population in the Kabul New City Area
The area of Deh Sabz and Barik Ab has been selected as the intended site for the New Kabul City – a development that when completed will occupy a space 1.5 times the size of the current capital. The intended development will therefore affect the current residents as well as migratory and sedentary Kuchi populations.
This report presents the findings of a Women’s Safety Audit conducted in 10 public locations in Kabul city. It is designed to give a voice to women’s safety and security concerns and sets forth a number of recommendations to address the challenge of improving women’s security in public spaces in Kabul.
MISSION EAST – Self-Help Group Programme Evaluation
This evaluation examines one particular component of Mission East’s work in Afghanistan: Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The purpose of this report is to evaluate the SHG initiative in its current condition and assess its future potential within the context of the broader Mission East strategy in Afghanistan.
The report seeks to i) establish a gender-focused baseline for the evaluation of community trust building and police capacity building programmes; ii) identify major trends and evolutions in public perceptions of the ANP in Kabul, notably amongst women; and iii) propose pragmatic recommendations for improving the relationship between Afghan women and the police.
MEI/FRS – Urban Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons
How to respond to urban displacement and improve the care and maintenance to vulnerable displaced and returnee populations in Afghanistan’s main cities? After reviewing the background and context of urban displacement in Afghanistan, this paper aims at highlighting the relevance and timeliness of analyzing the movements of returnees and IDPs to Afghanistan’s main cities.
AKDN/UCA – Undertaking the Faizabad Labour Market Survey
To extend its reach and impact, the Khorog campus of the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) will be delivering Training of Trainer programmes in vocational education/progressive technology implementation and administering scholarships to Afghan learners to take SPCE courses. This evaluation assesses the local economic situation and highlight crucial sectors.
