Ansari Rehabilitation Association for Afghanistan

ARAA
Livelihood feasibility Assessment 2017

Need Assessment/Feasibility Study

Report for Improving House-Hold
Livelihood of IDPs in Hirat_2017

Image from a conflict induced IDPs with livelihood creation by ARAA in 2016

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Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1
Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................2
Methodology of the assessment ...................................................................................................................2
Livelihood Incomes ........................................................................................................................................3
Assessment findings ......................................................................................................................................3
1. Saleh Abad (Sharyar) village of Injil district .......................................................................................3
2. Kahdistan area of Injil district ............................................................................................................3
3. Karizak area of Injil district ................................................................................................................4
4. Minaret camp ....................................................................................................................................4
5. Qader Abad area of Hirat city............................................................................................................5
6. Nasim Abad area of Hirat city ...........................................................................................................5
7. Guzara district ...................................................................................................................................5
Other major Findings and Protection Concerns Focused on Children and Girls that needs advocacy:........6
The demanded jobs are in follow with details ...............................................................................................7
Sustainability of the demanded occupations ................................................................................................9
Annex1.A sample of need assessment form (3 pages, 5 parts, 32 questions) ............................................10
Annex2. Conducted meeting for recruitment of IDPs in Hirat industrial town ..........................................13
ARAA visit from Hirat industrial factories, sample of photos (feasibility assessment for livelihood) .........14
Recommendations and conclusion .............................................................................................................15

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Introduction

ARAA has been operational in the sector of protection, re-integration/ social activities, agricultural and
education has partnership with UNHCR and involved in daily assessment and protection of conflict
induced IDPs with UNHCR and WFP.

One of the main challenges of IDPs in western region is interventions that have a direct and immediate
effect on peoples socio-economic wellbeing, aiming to reduce vulnerability and there is lack of
livelihood in protection and promotion or an opportunity to bridge the gap between emergency and
development.

In 2017, our war torn country experiencing an uncertain economic outlook, despite of insecurity, the
nation is entering to economic growth phase, but, unemployment is on the rise, and ongoing insecurity
hampers investment and encourages many of the most productive and educated citizens to migrate.

There is almost no job security in Afghanistan and no choice for those who are illiterate or unskilled such
as Internally Displaced, illiterate women, and widows, rural communities who displaced to cities due to
any reasons of pushing or pulling factor dwelling at urban vicinities or migrants who have been forced to
flee due to internal conflicts or encouraged urbanization trends.

Afghans are suffering from major three problems of 1.violence, 2.migration/ displacements 3. worst
socioeconomy ,which the causes can be measured from various dimension I.e. Rampant poverty,
recurrent conflicts and inter family disputes that causing displacement, refugee crises, illiteracy,
insecurity, involvement of youths to opposition groups, domestic violence against women, presence of
skilled worker from neighboring countries, consumption based socio-economy, closing of domestic
factories due to lack of support and unpredicted insecurity incidents and worst socio-economic due to
lack intervention to bridge gaps between emergency and development in Afghanistan.

Ansari Rehabilitation Association for Afghanistan- ARAA in order to find out the specific challenges of
livelihood,Understanding the refugee context; Recognizing diversity in refugee and conflict induced
populations in terms of economic and social capacities, in particular the market opportunities of the
host area; Building upon positive coping strategies;Facilitating access to livelihood opportunities and
related services ;Acknowledging the complexity in designing and implementing sound economic
interventions and the sequencing and targeting that quality programming requires, ARAA prepared a
comprehensive household livelihood assessment tool and conducted a feasibility study in Herat and
Ghor.

The assessment conducted in SalihAbadandKahdistanofEnjil district, Karizak, Minaraha, Qader Abad and
Nasim Abad of Hirat province.

By considering of the IDPs situation the assessment form designed by ARAA program/ field team to be
used in the field.

The assessment was started from 01 Mar 2017 till 20 Mar 2017 and was run by a team from ARAA ( Haji
Abdul WahedMukhlis, Dr. Adl, Abdul QadirEbrahimi, Said Nahim and Shir Ahmad Ahmadi)

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Objectives
Recognizing diversity in IDPs populations in terms of economic and social capacities and
livelihoods;
Understanding the IDP context, in particular the market environment and market Opportunities
of the host area;
Facilitating access to livelihood opportunities and related services;
Advocating for the right and access to work of IDP as the basis for all livelihood
Estimated range of IDPs who dont have access to sustainable livelihood
Finding the demanded jobs by IDPs.
Finding the priority needs of the IDPs in providing the space of work
Finding the factors which effected on IDPs finding jobs and sustainable income
Finding women needs skills in livelihood section.

Methodology of the assessment

The assessment included FGDs, Key informant interviews and HH assessments.Initially 6 areas were
selected for assessment, considering to the IDPs area, ARAA has conducted need assessment on the
places which IDPs are living in groups (with huge numbers), this methodology enable us to find the
general problems of IDPs in livelihood sections.

To achieve the needed information, ARAA has already designed a need assessment form to be used in
assessment sessions, by this way the form enabled the team to collect the usable/ mandate information
in sections of livelihood problems, skills the IDPs are skilled, the jobs which can be run in each area.

The need assessment randomly interviewed with some families (based on the population of an area).

No. Area Name Demanded jobs/Occupations

1 Salih Abad (Shariyar) and Jalil Abad of Agriculture: green houses
Enjil district Livestock: rear goat
wool spinning, quilt making and embroidery
working on industrial town
2 Kahdistan of Enjil district Wool spinning, Quilt making
Mobile repairing shop,
Livestock: rear goat
working on industrial town
Green house.
3 Karizak Wool spinning, Quilt making, embroidery
Mobile repairing shop
Livestock: rear goat.
4 Minret camp Wool spinning, Quilt making
Mobile repairing shop
Livestock: rear goat.
5 Qader Abad Wool spinning, Quilt making
Mobile repairing shop
Livestock: rear goat.
Green house.

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6 Nasim Abad Wool spinning, Quilt making
Mobile repairing shop
Livestock: rear goat.
Green house.

Livelihood Incomes
Based on the close conducted assessment with the IDPs the following finding are found:

Most of IDPs HOH are daily wage labor that may can find 2-3 days work in a week.
The lack of employment and income generation caused the negative effect on IDPs life, as in this
regard they have to force on their children for providing the basic needs for heating purpose.
Lack of employment caused early marriage between the IDP families.
The IDPs of assessed locations are able to run agricultural, livestock, types of shop keeping and
handicrafts if be an organization to provide them the space of work.

Assessment findings
1. Saleh Abad (Sharyar) village of Injil district
Salih Abad (Sharyar) is located in an agricultural area of Injil district, the local resident are most
busy on agriculture section and the area contains a wide range of agricultural lands, it estimated
the numbers of 180 IDP families are settled in this location, in the origin place they were
occupied in Agriculture and livestock sections and so their women are armed with wools
cleaning and quilt making. By the previous experience they demanded the following jobs to be
created for them:
Agriculture: As interviewed with the IDPs they have land in current location for agriculture
purpose, they have previous experience in this section they can run this occupation if any
organization provide them the space of work, by this way from one side we can help the IDPs to
improve their economic situation and form the other side we can do our job in providing food
the human.
Livestock: The conflict and displacement took all their property especially their livestock and as
they have experience in this section they can simply run this occupation if any organization
assess them.
Women skills: The woman are learned wool cleaning/ spinning wool and can have a proper
income if they start this type of business. They declared that they try to contract with some
traders to give the wool sand clean with some cost.
Most of women in Salih Abad location are illiterate and need to conduct education classes for
them.
Working in industrial town:the high range of unemployment make a tough life for this IDPs,
they really appreciate if any organization provide the space of work for them, so one of the way
for their income is to contract with Hirat industrial town and hire some of them with some
industrial corporations.
2. Kahdistan area of Injil district
Khadistan is located in the east side of Hirat province, the IDPs who live in this area try to find
money by daily wage, small shop keeping, and handicrafts. Based on conducted interviewing
with the IDPs they demanded the following job to be established for them:

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 Handicraft: women in this area are learned quilt making, and wool spining. By establishing an
industrial corporation for a group of women they can rich to self-sufficiency.
Shops:Recruitment a teacher for training mobile repairing for some IDPs will bring some visible
changes in IDPs life, they requested to establish this job for them.
Green houses: They are eager to work as jointly in a green house, some of them have previous
experience in Agriculture section and will be able to continue with this section too.
Working in industrial town: the high range of unemployment made a tough life for this IDPs,
they really appreciate if any organization provide the space of work for them, so one of the way
for their income is to contract with Hirat industrial town and hire some of them with some
industrial corporations.
3. Karizak area of Injil district
Karizak area is located on the east side of Hirat province and is a place that dedicated for IDPs, it
estimated that number of 152 families are settled in Karizak location, the IDPs who live in this
area are very vulnerable persons as most of them are jobless and dont have a proper income.
The IDPs demanded the following jobs to be created by any organization:
Handicraft: Their women can be start wool spinning, embroidery and so quilt making, the only
problem is that they are not familiar with the centers who provide the materials, also in quilt
making section they are not able to provide the basic materials for this purpose and secondly
they cant find market for the productions. If we start this small business for them we will
introduce them with market to can sell the products with proper cost.
Livestock: They have already experienced this occupation, but due to the conflicts and disputes
they have lost all their property and nowadays pass a seriously tough life, if they find a source to
start this occupation once more they will be able to run it a good way, regarding of their current
location may come a question that they dont have a proper place to rear goat so haw they can
start this business? We should say that when we start the business for them they are ready to
construct a simple place for rearing goat.
4. Minaret camp
Minaret camp is located on the north side of Hirat city and dedicated for IDPs. The residents are
very vulnerable and poor people who cant provide the basic needs of life for the family
members. Based on interview with the families of this area they strongly demanded the
following jobs to be created by any organizations:
Handicraft: Their women can be start wool spinning, quilt making and so embroidery, the only
problem is that they are not familiar with the centers who provide the materials, also in quilt
making section they are not able to provide the basic materials for this purpose and secondly
they cant find market for the productions. If we start this small business for them we will
introduce them with market to can sell the products with proper cost.
Working in industrial town: unemployment and lack of income is the main concern regarding of
this IDPs, most of them are jobless and/ or have not a sustainable work, by signing a contract with
Hirat industrial town will some of them start a new life, the process will be as follow: ARAA will
contract with some industrial corporations to pay six months the salary of some IDPs who are
working with, after this time the IDPs will find their way and can make connection with industrial
corporations and continue their life.

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 Livestock: with previous experience that the families have will be able to run this job will
successful income, its need to buy a number of goat for each family and train them for better
income.
5. Qader Abad area of Hirat city
Green house: some families bought land in current location and are ready to establish
greenhouses if any organization assist them on investment, also they have previous experience
in agriculture section.
Handicraft:somewomen in this area are learned quilt making, wool spinning and embroidery. By
establishing an industrial corporation for a group of women they can rich to self-sufficiency.
Livestock: most of the families in this area have their own home and if an organization crate
livestock job for them they will be able to rear the goat on their houses. They also have previous
experience.
Mobile repairing shop: this occupation will enable some teenagers or youths to learn it and to
start a new small business with, demand for this job is also in a good level, the organization will
hire a teacher/trainer for some students to teach them.
Working in industrial town: unemployment and lack of income is the main concern regarding of
this IDPs, most of them are jobless and/ or have not a sustainable work, by signing a contract
with Hirat industrial town will some of them start a new life, the process will be as follow: ARAA
will contract with some industrial corporations to pay six months the salary of some IDPs who
are working with, after this time the IDPs will find their way and can make connection with
industrial corporations and continue their life.
6. Nasim Abad area of Hirat city
Green house: The families have previous experience of agricultural occupation and by holding
some training regarding of greenhouses they will be able run it with self,
Quilt making and wool spinning are the occupations that the families requested to create for
them, they have previous experience but due to the worst economy they are not able to run this
jobs.
Livestock: some the families in this area have their own home and if an organization crate
livestock job for them they will be able to rear the goat on their houses. They also have previous
experience.
Mobile repairing shop: this occupation will enable some teenagers or youths to learn it and to
start a new small business with, demand for this job is also in a good level, the organization will
hire a teacher/trainer for some students to teach them.
Working in industrial town: unemployment and lack of income is the main concern regarding of
this IDPs, most of them are jobless and/ or have not a sustainable work, by signing a contract
with Hirat industrial town will some of them start a new life, the process will be as follow: ARAA
will contract with some industrial corporations to pay six months the salary of some IDPs who
are working with, after this time the IDPs will find their way and can make connection with
industrial corporations and continue their life.
7. Guzara district
Guzara district located on south side of Hirat province, the area includes the huge numbers of
conflict induced IDPs, the settled IDPs suffer from lack of income and no employment, most of
them pass a serious tough life and need to humanitarian attention, for having a sustainable
livelihood the IDP residents demanded the following jobs to be created for them:

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 Green house: some families on Guzara district have bought land and are ready to grant it for
greenhouse establishing, as the area contains a huge number of IDPs this job will help them to
bring some positive visible changes. The families also have previous experience in this section
and can run the greenhouse with holding some trainings by the implementer organization.
Working in industrial town: unemployment and lack of income is the main concern regarding of
this IDPs, most of them are jobless and/ or have not a sustainable work, by signing a contract
with Hirat industrial town will some of them start a new life, the process will be as follow: ARAA
will contract with some industrial corporations to pay six months the salary of some IDPs who
are working with, after this time the IDPs will find their way and can make connection with
industrial corporations and continue their life.
Livestock: when they were on origin place had livestock and were busy to this occupation, so
they will have proper income.
Mobile repairing shop: this occupation will enable some teenagers or youths to learn it and to
start a new small business with, demand for this job is also in a good level, the organization will
hire a teacher/trainer for some students to teach them.

Other major Findings and Protection Concerns Focused on Children and Girls that needs
advocacy:

Children 0-4 Year (male-female): mostly facing of chronic food suffering, as per WFP standards Food
Accessibility, Availability and Utilization are main pillars in ensuring food security, but the IDPs
chronically lacking one of these essences.

Some IDPs facing of hunger or particularly Mothers in general utilizing less foods or the utilized food
source in their dietary regimes doesnt have sufficient nutrient values/ vitamins (for example in routine
dietary regimes, there is no vegetables, no fruits, no meats/ eggs, sugar, or no major protein contained
cereals) such deficiencies contributes to chronic malnutrition and in long rung would cause harmful
impacts in their mental and physical growths. Majority of Cash for food is utilized in other living
priorities of displacement.

From the other side, there is unfair or biased ethical customs among IDPs of Ghor and Hilmand, Badghis,
that female Childs are more privileged in the family because of high dowry received from
early/ childhood marriages, which is a kind economical source and considered as main negative coping
mechanism.

It worth to be mentioned that, IDP mothers are mostly unaware of suspension between birth deliveries,
for example: the father is begging among host community, but have 8-10 or 12 children who also have
no specific brighter future than, their parents.
Children 05-17 (male and Female): 5-8% of female children at the age 10 to 17 are either early or
forcedly engaged or married, some sent to Iran to work for dowry and boys are sent to hazardous
laboring or become street scavengers or street vendors, this issue brought a lot of disparity between
host community and IDPs and directed them to drug addiction.

The challenges not only born because of displacement, but issue stem-out from ethics and abused
habits, literacy, poverty and overall negative coping mechanism, some awareness training for IDPs may

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help in short run and community mobilization efforts will indirectly support children rights, majority of
children in this group deliberately leaved school and parents are careless due to incomes.

The demanded jobs are in follow with details

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Sustainability of the demanded occupations
As is clear sustainability is one of the most important part of a project in long duration, the aim of
livelihood project is to enable the IDPs to arrive in a self-sufficiency and can continue their life without
demanding of any assistance, so, the need assessment also focused on this issue and selected the
occupation that have a long term sustainability, for a clear details the following points describe a little
more about this issue:

The green house which demanded by the IDPs is a sustainable occupation, as when a
greenhouse establish will enable the IDPs to take benefits for years. (the skeleton of the green
house will not damage in early years and the IDPs can provide the seeds and other needs of a
greenhouse with their income)
Handicraft, is also can be a sustainable livelihood, after creating this job for some IDP persons
they will have income and by the income they can provide the row materials for continuing the
job.
Livestock, as is clear when a person start to rear goat, at first he/ she can make income by the
milk of goat and secondly each goat (chili variety) will deliver 2-3 kids after one year.
Working on industrial town, if the organization make a contract with industrial town that the
organization pay the salary of some IDPs within six month and gradually IDPs can find their way
and bill a connection with industrial sector.
Mobile repairing shop for IDPs will enable them to have their own income, as this is the century
of technology most of the persons use from mobile and so computer, by this reason the
occupation will have good income.

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Annex1.A sample of need assessment form (3 pages, 5 parts, 32 questions)

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Annex2. Conducted meeting for recruitment of IDPs in Hirat industrial town

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ARAA visit from Hirat industrial factories, sample of photos (feasibility assessment for
livelihood)

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 Recommendations and conclusion
Based on the above information we have the following recommendations to be considered in
implementation of the project:

The IDPs who already bought landwhich is adoptable for agriculture is better to select
for greenhouse.
If the greenhouse establish for more than one person will occupy some more IDP
members in this duration
The greenhouse should establish in areas that be enough water for irrigation purpose or
should be considered drilling of tube well.
The green house with 20 meter length and 170 m2will is suitable for 5-7 IDPs members
and so local community as shared land.
Establishing 6 green houses for the selected areas will be enough for jointly working and
for proper income.
Received information shows that cucumber greenhouse have good income in Hirat
province, so it will be high income to establish cucumber greenhouses for IDPs.
As experienced each greenhouse can have product till 5 months that after this duration
the selected IDPs will achieve a proper income and they will be on self-sufficiency level.
Working on industrial town, if the organization make a contract with industrial town
that the organization pay the salary of some IDPs within six month and gradually IDPs
can find their way and bill a connection with industrial sector.
During the implementing and beneficiary selection the previous mobilize community
and self-help group can help in better identification of beneficiaries and make the
project more sustainable.
Handicraft will provide a good income for housewife and who are illiterate.
For mobile repairing, it is need to hire a trainer for some IDPs to train them.
Most of the IDPs women are illiterate and is need to hire a teacher for teaching them
literacy, numeracy and life skill trainings.

Based on the above information the project will have a very good impact on the IDPs life and will bring a
positive visible change to their life.

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