Between 2002 and 2021, Italian Cooperation contributed to the development of the country with resources amounting to €1.25 billion, through both grants and aid credits, in the following sectors: infrastructure and urban planning, health, governance and justice, private sector, education, gender equality, agriculture, rural development, and the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. Initially, the geographical focus of Italian interventions was in the provinces of Herat and Kabul, but over the years it expanded to include the province of Bamiyan and other parts of the country.
In August 2021, the AICS office in Kabul was evacuated, and responsibility for Afghanistan was subsequently transferred to the AICS office in Islamabad.
After August 15, 2021, Italy mobilized alongside the international community to provide assistance to the Afghan population who facing a severe humanitarian crisis. During the High-Level Conference on Afghanistan held on September 13, 2021, organized by the United Nations, Italy announced a pledge of €150 million in support of both Afghanistan and neighboring countries hosting Afghan refugees. The funding was directed to UN agencies (UNOCHA, UNHCR, IOM, WFP, UNHAS, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA) and other international organizations (ICRC, IFRC), also operating through national and international NGOs. At the following Donor Conference held in March 2022, Italy announced an additional pledge of €50 million.
Since 2022, Italy, in coordination with the donor community, has continued supporting Afghan people through the annual allocation of funds on the bilateral and multilateral channel to respond to the basic human needs, particularly in the health, education and agriculture sectors. Great attention has been paid to women and girls rights and to the human rights of vulnerable groups.
Italy also contributes to the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF), the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) and the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF).
Since 2022, Italy has also been a member of the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) and of the SSAR Support Platform Local Core Group Afghanistan.
For further information on specific projects, please visit AICS Islamabad website, www.islamabad.aics.gov.it.