In 2024, as drought, groundwater depletion, and recent earthquakes deepened the vulnerability of rural livelihoods in western Afghanistan, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) launched the Livelihood Support through Inclusive Food Security (LIFE) project, funded by the European Commission. The project aimed to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in Herat, Farah, Badghis, and Kunar through improved agricultural practices, climate-smart techniques, and sustainable production.
To deliver the training component, Shatoot Consultants was commissioned to assess local capacity needs, develop comprehensive training materials, conduct a Training of Trainers (TOT) for 25 technical staff from DRC and its local partner NGOs, and provide hands-on training for 750 farmers in Herat, Farah, and Badghis provinces.
Shatoot led the project end-to-end, from the capacity needs assessment and curriculum design to training delivery and impact evaluation, across three provinces.
Our team:
- Conducted 28 Key Informant Interviews and 14 Focus Group Discussions with agricultural authorities, community leaders, and farmers to design context-driven content.
- Developed a comprehensive Climate-Smart Agriculture Manual addressing soil and water conservation, livestock management, pest control, and crop diversification.
- Delivered field-based farmer trainings through participatory, on-farm sessions rather than classroom lectures, ensuring high engagement and practical learning.
- Implemented rigorous pre- and post-assessments, showing measurable increases in knowledge and confidence.
Farmers learned to apply sustainable land and water management techniques, integrated pest management, post-harvest handling, and innovative solutions such as greenhouse vegetable gardening and aquaponics trout farming. The training helped participants not only adapt to changing climatic conditions but also improve yields and profitability.
Each training combined theory with practical field demonstrations, enabling farmers to observe, practice, and internalize new methods directly in their own communities.
- Building Resilience, Growing Hope
This initiative demonstrated that with the right training, even the most climate-affected communities can adapt, thrive, and build food security. Through its partnership with DRC and the European Commission, Shatoot Consultants helped transform agricultural knowledge into a foundation for lasting livelihood improvement in Afghanistan’s western provinces.
