Deadline: 12-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in partnership with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is launching a new phase of health service delivery in Afghanistan through the upcoming Strengthening Access to Essential Food Security and Health Services project, also known as SAFE.
These initiatives aim to strengthen Afghanistan’s health system and improve access to quality healthcare services across all 34 provinces from July 2025 to December 2026.
With HER AF2 now approved by the World Bank, UNICEF will continue supporting the delivery of the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) in 17 provinces. At the same time, the SAFE project, currently under final review for approval by the ADB, is expected to extend similar support to the remaining 17 provinces. This comprehensive approach will ensure national coverage of critical health services, focusing on both routine and emergency healthcare needs.
Operating under a proven contracting-out model, the projects will rely on experienced NGOs as service providers (SPs) to deliver health services on the ground. This model, which has been a cornerstone of healthcare delivery in Afghanistan, allows for greater flexibility, local engagement, and accountability in service provision. UNICEF, acting as the executing agency, will oversee implementation alongside the World Bank and ADB, ensuring quality control and coordination across all supported provinces.
The projects are designed to significantly improve maternal and newborn health, expand immunization coverage, enhance emergency obstetric care, and strengthen overall health systems in both stable and emergency settings. Special emphasis will be placed on reducing maternal, infant, and child mortality, combating communicable diseases, and addressing malnutrition among women and children through targeted, high-impact interventions.
Through these coordinated efforts, UNICEF and its partners aim to create a more resilient health system that delivers equitable, high-quality healthcare to millions of Afghans—especially the most vulnerable populations in underserved and conflict-affected areas like Farah Province. By reinforcing service delivery and capacity building, the HER AF2 and SAFE initiatives will play a vital role in improving health outcomes and advancing long-term stability and development across Afghanistan.
More for information, visit UN Partner Portal.