Food Security & Livelihood (FSL)
SHPOUL’s FSL programs are designed to combat hunger, strengthen local resilience, and address emerging vulnerabilities through food assistance, livelihood support, and sustainable agricultural practices. Our approach recognizes climate change as a cross-cutting factor that impacts food systems, livelihoods, and community stability; therefore, climate-sensitive programming and environmentally friendly interventions are integrated into every stage of our resilience-building efforts. For FSL, partnering with donors including WFP, FAO, AHF, ZOA, and DRA, we incorporate climate-smart practices such as promoting drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation systems, and agroforestry, along with soil and water conservation, reforestation, and restoration of degraded lands through food-for-work and cash-for-work interventions. People remain at the center of our programming, and all interventions are designed and implemented in close consultation with local communities, including vulnerable groups, as well as in coordination with the FSAC cluster to ensure relevance, ownership, and alignment with national and humanitarian priorities. Livelihood diversification is structured to not only reduce poverty but also minimize dependence on fragile natural resources by introducing vocational skills and green income-generating opportunities. Community mobilization integrates awareness on climate risks, adaptation measures, and sustainable resource management to strengthen local coping capacities against environmental shocks such as droughts and floods. Each year, these integrated and climate-responsive interventions reach thousands of families in rural and hard-to-reach areas, helping them achieve self-reliance while safeguarding ecosystems. By embedding climate adaptation, community participation, and environmentally responsible approaches into our food security and livelihood programming, SHPOUL ensures that interventions are not only life-saving but also climate-smart, fostering both immediate recovery and long-term resilience in the face of evolving climate challenges.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene save lives, and SHPOUL places these at the core of its humanitarian response. Our WASH initiatives assist returnees, displaced families, and crisis-affected host communities through the development of reliable water sources, the distribution of hygiene materials, and awareness campaigns that encourage positive hygiene behaviors. As climate change increasingly threatens water security and sanitation systems, SHPOUL integrates climate-sensitive approaches into its WASH programming by promoting efficient water use, installing climate-resilient infrastructure, and encouraging practices that protect water resources from degradation. Community participation is a cornerstone of our WASH interventions. Activities are designed through meaningful engagement of local communities, especially women, children, and marginalized groups, ensuring that solutions reflect their needs and contexts. Coordination with the WASH cluster further ensure that our programs align with broader humanitarian frameworks and technical standards. With the support of partners such as AHF and ZOA, SHPOUL not only provides immediate drinking water and prevents waterborne diseases but also enhances the long-term sustainability of water and sanitation systems. By embedding climate adaptation into WASH programming, SHPOUL empowers communities to maintain safe water access and hygienic living conditions while becoming more resilient to the growing pressures of climate change.
Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
SHPOUL works at the grassroots level to uphold human rights, prevent harm, and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) through a combination of community awareness, case management, psychosocial support, and the strengthening of protective environments. Our protection interventions actively engage men, women, youth, elders, and local leaders to challenge harmful social norms and promote positive masculinity, fostering attitudes and behaviors that reject violence and support gender equality. In addition to addressing GBV, SHPOUL contributes to peacebuilding by revitalizing the traditional jirga system and facilitating dialogue through both formal and informal justice mechanisms. This approach enables communities to resolve disputes constructively while reinforcing social cohesion. Child rights are also a priority, with programs aimed at preventing abuse, exploitation, and neglect while promoting safe and nurturing environments for children. Awareness-raising sessions on human rights, women’s rights, and child protection empower communities to take collective responsibility for safeguarding their most vulnerable members. Women’s empowerment is central to our work, with targeted interventions that build women’s leadership, strengthen their access to services, and enhance their participation in decision-making. These activities are implemented in close partnership with donors such as USIP, DAI-Musharikat, British Council – AMANAT, Counterpart International, ZOA, and DRA/AFJR, whose support enables us to expand outreach and impact. All protection initiatives are designed with a participatory approach, ensuring they are rooted in local realities and reflect the needs and perspectives of affected populations. By integrating human rights, gender equality, and community-based solutions, SHPOUL ensures that protection programming not only responds to immediate risks but also builds long-term resilience, strengthens social harmony, and promotes a culture of peace.
Education
Education is at the heart of SHPOUL’s vision for a better Afghanistan, serving as a pathway to empowerment, peace, and long-term development. We support both formal and community-based education (CBE), ensuring access to learning for children – particularly girls and those in remote areas – through safe, community-supported schools. To improve attendance and retention, SHPOUL implements school feeding programs with WFP and other partners, while rehabilitating school infrastructure to create safer learning environments. These efforts are complemented by WASH in Schools interventions, including the construction of gender-sensitive toilets, installation of water supply systems, distribution of hygiene kits, and hygiene awareness campaigns to enhance student health and dignity. Our education programming is strengthened by community awareness and Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) sessions that mobilize parents, caregivers, and leaders to support education and remove barriers – especially for girls. In collaboration with UN agencies and international partners, SHPOUL promotes girls’ education, empowers women, and integrates protection which not only expand access to education but also build resilient communities ready for a brighter, more inclusive future.
Health & Nutrition
SHPOUL delivers lifesaving health and nutrition services across Afghanistan, with a strong focus on improving the well-being of pregnant and lactating women, children under five, and other vulnerable groups. Our interventions include the Maternal and Child Benefit Programme (MCBP), Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP), and Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP), which provide essential nutritional support to prevent and treat malnutrition among high-risk populations. These programs are complemented by health awareness campaigns that promote improved nutrition, infant and young child feeding practices, and maternal health. To expand access to care in underserved areas, SHPOUL experienced with delivering of primary healthcare services through Mobile and Fixed Health Teams operating in rural and hard-to-reach districts of our targeted provinces. These teams provide essential services such as antenatal and postnatal care, immunization, growth monitoring, and treatment of common illnesses, ensuring timely care where formal health facilities are limited. Working in close coordination with health cluster, UN agencies, and health partners, SHPOUL strengthens community health systems, reduces preventable diseases, and builds resilience among vulnerable households. By integrating nutrition support with primary healthcare delivery, we ensure a holistic approach that saves lives and improves long-term health outcomes