Deadline: 12-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is set to scale up health service delivery in Kunduz and across Afghanistan through the recently approved Health Emergency Response Additional Financing 2 (HER AF2) grant from the World Bank, and the anticipated support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the SAFE initiative.
This expanded phase of health programming will run from July 2025 to December 2026 and aims to strengthen access to essential health services for communities in all 34 provinces.
Under the HER AF2 grant, UNICEF will continue implementing the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) in 17 provinces, including Kunduz. Simultaneously, the SAFE project—Strengthening Access to Essential Food Security and Health Services—is expected to be approved soon and will extend similar services to the remaining provinces. Together, these initiatives represent a national-scale commitment to improving healthcare in Afghanistan.
The contracting-out model, where non-governmental organizations serve as service providers, will remain central to the strategy. This model enables flexibility and efficiency in delivering quality healthcare, even in difficult and remote areas. UNICEF, working in close collaboration with the World Bank and ADB, will oversee implementation and ensure consistency, accountability, and impact across all supported areas.
Key focus areas include general and emergency health services, maternal and newborn care, immunization programs, and overall health system strengthening. Targeted High-Impact, Value-Added (HIVA) interventions will also be introduced to address urgent health needs and fill critical gaps in service delivery. These interventions aim to reduce maternal, infant, and child mortality rates, combat the spread of communicable diseases, and improve nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations.
In Kunduz, these efforts will play a vital role in enhancing health outcomes for communities affected by prolonged conflict and instability. By improving both access to and the quality of essential health services, UNICEF and its partners aim to build a more resilient healthcare system that can respond to both current and future challenges facing the Afghan people.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
