Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

Spring 2007) estimated that 42 percent of thetotal population was estimated to be poor andliving below the CBN poverty line. The incidenceof food poverty has been estimated to beeven higher. Afghanistan has one of the largestchild populations and the smallest proportionof working age populations in the world. Almost40 percent of the adult population is unemployed.Health and natural risks: Afghanistan hasone of the lowest life expectancies in the worldwith the life expectancy of 43 years for womenand 44 years for men. Unlike in most countries,the life expectancy of women is shorterthan for men. Faced with natural disasters,many vulnerable families sold the assets, childrenwere taken out of school to work, manypre-pubescent girls were married and manyyoung men migrated in search for work.Life-cycle and social risks: Despite legislationprohibiting this practice, around 57 percentof girls are married before the age of sixteen.The early marriage of girls, and consequently,early pregnancy, puts women in highrisk. Widespread poverty and the nonexistenceof an effective safety net or pensionsystem leaves a high proportion of elderly peoplevulnerable. According to a study conductedby UNIFEM, out of the 1,327 registeredcases of violence against women 30.7 percentwere related to physical violence.Environmental risks and seasonality: People’shigh dependence on natural resources hasincreased with rising poverty resulting in seriousdevastation of the environment. Forestshave been seriously depleted. This adverselyaffects soil stability and weakens flood protection.According to the NRVA 2005 the consumptionof the poorest is the highest in summerwhile it typically falls to critical levels inwinter.Table 7.6. Reach of social protection programsSocial protection Number of recipientsprogramMartyrs’ families 224,850Disabled 87,717Orphans 10,500Children enrolled in25,000kindergartensPensioners 54,000Public works 1,700,000Microfinance 340,000Total 2,442,067A rough estimate shows that half of the Afghanpopulation (12 million) requires public support.They are either poor or concentrated veryclose to the poverty line and are vulnerable tofalling into poverty. In 2006 only around 2.5million people benefited from social protectionarrangements. Currently social protection interventionscover several groups: (i) martyr’sfamilies; (ii) disabled with war-related disabilities;(iii) orphans and children enrolled in kindergartens;(iv) victims of natural disasters; (v)pensioners; and (vi) unemployed. A roughcalculation shows that the Government wouldrequire annually around $2 billion just to keepthe poorest and most vulnerable above thepoverty line.Sector targets and expected resultsThe implementation the strategy will aim toachieve the following targets in line with theAfghanistan Compact and MDGs:• By end-2012/13 the spring national povertyheadcount rate (42 percent) will decreaseby 2 percent per year; by end-2010proportion of people who suffer from hungerwill decrease by 5 percent per year;• By end-2012/13 prevalence of underweightchildren under five in urban and rural areaswill decrease by 2 percent per year; byend-2012/13 proportion of the populationbelow minimum level of dietary energyconsumption (urban and rural areas) willdecrease by 2 percent per year;• By March-2011, the number of femaleheadedhouseholds that are chronicallypoor will be reduced by 20 percent andtheir employment rate will increase by 20percent;• By end-2010 increased assistance will beprovided to meet the special needs of alldisabled people, including their integrationinto society through opportunities for educationand gainful employment;• By end-2010 skill development trainingwill be provided for 150,000 unemployedof which women will comprise 35 percentand the disabled will comprise minimum10 percent;• By end-2012/13 the Government will employ3 percent of disabled persons withinits administration;124Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS)