Environment:  A World Bank-financed project has enabled the collection of over 120,000 cubic meters of solid waste that had been lying around Kabul. For the longer term, it has supported the mobilization of 46 community organizations and hired teams of professional female hygiene and health educators who have spoken to over 68,000 students and visited over 170,000 households to raise awareness about the correct and safe clearing of rubbish. 

Learn more about the Emergency Infrastructure Reconstruction Project

Education:  In the past two and a half years, over 3 million students and teachers in Afghanistan have returned to school as a result of a donor-assisted Back-to-School Campaign. The numbers have far exceeded expectations, and the World Bank is helping by supporting the rehabilitation of primary schools and the training of teachers, while giving technical assistance designed to strengthen the Ministry of Education.

Learn more about the Emergency Education Rehabilitation and Development Project

Finance:  A group of 28 international donors—known as the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor or "CGAP"—has begun making small loans available to some of Afghanistan's poorest people.  CGAP was established by the World Bank in 1995 to increase the quantity and quality of microfinance institutions worldwide. Recently it has established the Microfinance and Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan, or  MISFA—the first of its kind in the world, funneling various donor funds into one coordinated source of assistance. The facility has already financed small loans for around 20,000 Afghans.

More information on CGAP

Infrastructure:  The Salang tunnel connects the city of Kabul to eight provines and the country of Afghanistan to both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. However poor ventilation and electricity connections, combined with snow and ice in winter have made it treacherous and often impassable. A World Bank project has rehabilitated the tunnel and kept it open for two-way traffic, day and night, for the first time since 1997. The tunnel is the only entry point to Kabul for humanitarian aid and other goods as well as for returning refugees from the North.  Safe passage will also facilitate trade, and thus the economic recovery of Aghanistan.

Learn more about the Emergency Infrastructure Reconstruction Project

Rural Development:  The Government of Afghanistan's main vehicle for providing jobs and improving roads and other infrastructure throughout the country is its National Solidarity Program. The World Bank is the largest international funder of the program, and has so far supported activities in over 4,000 village communities in 31 provinces.  Over 3,000 of these communities have held village development council elections and are preparing community infrastructure projects to improve their lives.

Learn more about the Emergency Community Empowerment and Public Works Project