Thousands of families returning to Bamiyan Province have settled in informal settlements near the valley’s centuries-old cultural sites, stretching already limited resources and placing one of Afghanistan’s most treasured heritage landscapes under increasing pressure.

To help address the challenges, UNESCO and UN-Habitat have launched the Facilitating Opportunities through Revitalization of Settlements and Traditional Community-held Assets (FORSAT) joint project, funded by the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA).

The initiative recognizes that preserving Bamiyan’s cultural heritage begins with supporting the people who live alongside it.

“We are joining forces to support the communities in Bamiyan. For this project, we apply an integrated approach. We think about people’s lives and the challenges, as well as the opportunities, through a people-centered approach but also tailor our interventions based on the specific location they live in.” Stephanie Loose, UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager.

Over the coming months, the project will improve living conditions in informal settlements by expanding access to basic services, upgrading public spaces, and strengthening climate resilience. At the same time, it will help safeguard Bamiyan’s cultural heritage while creating new livelihood opportunities linked to the province’s rich cultural and creative industries.

“Heritage is not only about preserving the past, but it is also an investment in people’s futures,” Brendan Cassar, UNESCO Programme Specialist, said. “By supporting traditional crafts and skills, we can protect culture while creating jobs and opportunities, particularly for vulnerable populations.”

The project reflects the STFA’s mission, bringing together the complementary expertise of UNESCO and UN-Habitat to tackle interconnected development challenges through a single, coordinated intervention supported by several donors through the STFA.

“This partnership demonstrates that protecting cultural heritage and improving people’s lives go hand in hand,” said Peter Nordstrom, Senior Trust Fund Manager for STFA. “We are grateful to all our donors, with special thanks to the Government of Italy, whose support is helping communities preserve their heritage while building more resilient futures.”

The project will address four key pillars:

• Protecting historical sites from the compounding threats of climate change and rapid urbanization.
• Upgrading living conditions in informal settlements to reduce health risks by improving access to clean water and sanitation.
• Strengthening climate resilience by developing safe, climate-resilient public spaces to ensure people have safer living environments.
• Creating sustainable livelihoods tailored to returnees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and local communities.

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“Welcome to Bamiyan. We are happy that you are going to implement a project that is beneficial to the public and is development-oriented and income-generating.” A local resident said at the project’s opening ceremony.

Heritage-linked economic activities, such as carpet weaving, pottery, and traditional woodcraft, will remain essential sources of income, as the project will emphasize these creative sectors to empower local women, for whom these crafts are a vital economic lifeline amid tightening social restrictions.

FORSAT will help ensure that Bamiyan’s rich cultural legacy continues to benefit the communities who call it home, not only as a reminder of the past, but as a foundation for the future.