Kunduz, Afghanistan – 28 July 2025- The United Nations has launched a new joint project Participatory Action for Integrated Developmental Assistance to Areas of Return (PAIDAAR), to support returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and displacement-affected host communities in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces.

Implemented through a partnership between the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the initiative is financed by the multi-donor Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA). An allocation of USD15.8 million from the STFA and additional contributions from the agencies, bringing the total budget to UDS23.01 million.

Indrika Ratwatte, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG/RC/HC), officially launched this project at a ceremony attended by representative of the United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, and community representatives.

“This joint initiative is essential for ensuring the sustainable reintegration of returnees and meeting the recovery needs of people across the country,” said DSRSG/RC/HC Ratwatte. “Led by the United Nations and its partners, it is designed to bring real, lasting improvements to the lives of returnees and the communities that welcome them.”

In the face of unprecedented high returns, the United Nations' support to host and returnee communities has been a testament to its commitment to the people of Afghanistan. "We are grateful for introducing durable solutions that will change lives,” said Habibullah Khan, a project beneficiary from Kunduz.

Over the next 24 months, PAIDAAR will directly support communities in 11 areas across Kunduz and Baghlan provinces. The interventions, based on intensive community-driven and participatory processes, will address the urgent needs of housing, essential services, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. The project will also strengthen economic resilience of returnees, IDPs, and host communities. In addition, it aims to foster integration through enhanced community participation by establishing inclusive and accountable decision-making platforms.

The project will further strengthen protection and inclusion through mine risk education, support for Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights, and provision of legal identity documentation.

A central feature of the project is its community-led approach, which involves setting up Local Implementation Committees (LICs) and creating Community Action Plans (CAPs) to ensure transparency, foster local ownership, and promote inclusive participation throughout the implementation process.

The project comes at a critical time, as communities across northern Afghanistan continue to grapple with the compounding impacts of the influx of returnees from Pakistan and Iran, internal displacement, and limited access to basic services and economic opportunities. 

“Returnees bring valuable skills, experiences, and networks that can contribute significantly to rebuilding the economy,” DSRSG/RC/HC Ratwatte added. “By supporting housing construction, job creation, and long-term employment opportunities, the project fosters reintegration that enables returnees to become drivers of positive change in their communities.”

The STFA and participating UN agencies reaffirm their commitment to supporting Afghanistan by investing in locally led, sustainable solutions that foster resilience and hope.

Originally published on www.undp.org