Afghanistan

After over two decades of conflict and coercive regimes, Afghanistan is seeking to provide poverty alleviation and develop the livelihoods of its people, including persons with disabilities, through a strategy of moving towards democracy and a free economy. The ILO, through a joint effort with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, has sought to raise the profile of disability in country by assigning an international disability advisor to the work in the country from late 2004 through 2005 in the areas of vocational training and employment.  

A large proportion of the population of Afghanistan has disabilities resulting from the effects of war as well as from poor health conditions and problems at birth.  According to the preliminary findings from the National Disability Survey in Afghanistan (NDSA) 3.8% of the Afghan population appears to have at least one form of disability. The rate of disability for Afghan men (4.21%) is reported to be higher than that for Afghan women (3.29%). The figures from the preliminary findings of the National Disability Survey in Afghanistan are lower than the estimates for the prevalence of disability according to the World Health Organization; which suggests that approximately ten percent of any countries’ population is disabled.  For Afghanistan, this would imply that there are approximately 2 million persons with disabilities.  Additionally, findings from the NDSA suggest that the majority of persons with disabilities in Afghanistan are over 15 years of age and have fewer educational and vocational opportunities than that of the non-disabled counterparts.

The ILO established a Technical Resource Unit on Disability for Vocational Training and Employment within the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) with the intended purpose of developing the institutional capacity of the Ministry to provide comprehensive vocational training and employment related services to persons with disabilities. Recognized nationally by Government, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations, the Technical Resource Unit on Disability, supported by ILO’s expertise, possesses the strongest knowledge base on vocational training, employment and disability in the country.

The ILO’s disability advisor designed an inclusive vocational training and employment model for persons with differing disabilities that was being implemented by the UNDP National Programme for Action on Disability (NPAD) with ILO technical assistance. The objective of this model is to develop the capacity of mainstream vocational skills training, business development services (BDS) and micro-finance institutions to provide services to persons with disabilities; thus, increasing significantly the number of persons with disabilities who will, ultimately, obtain gainful employment in either the formal or informal sector.

The ILO disability advisor organized staff development training workshops for MoLSA Employment Service Centre staff, vocational instructors from Government, private organizations and non-governmental organizations, staff of mainstream business development service providers and from mainstream micro-finance institutions.  Additionally, training on disability-related international conventions, recommendations, principles and standards, including those of ILO, has been provided by the ILO disability advisor to the staff of MoLSA and the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled (MMD).

The ILO’s overall presence in Afghanistan includes the National Emergency Employment Programme to rebuild infrastructure through the use of labour intensive methods that target vulnerable populations, including disabled persons; the Employment Services Centre Project that is establishing nine centres around the country, inclusive of disabled persons; and special advisors in microfinance, business development services and labour administration. Through the actions of these projects and advisors the ILO plans to continue the approach facilitated by the disability advisor and accepted by Government that is an inclusive approach to service provision for persons with disabilities in Afghanistan.

The disability advisor post resulted from the report and recommendations of a consultant the ILO sent a consultant to Kabul in late November to early December 2003.

For more information about disability related laws and policies and the country consult our National Laws and Information pages.

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