On September 3, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement (Grant Agreement: G/A) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (hereinafter “UNODC”) for the “Project to Strengthen Drug Control Capacities for Vulnerable Populations (in collaboration with the UN / implemented by UNODC).”
Scenes from the signing ceremony
Through this project, JICA and UNODC are collaborating to promote the cultivation of alternative crops and provide support for drug use prevention and treatment in five provinces across Afghanistan where the cultivation of opium poppies—a narcotic raw material—is widespread. Through these efforts, the project aims to secure legal means of livelihood and reduce health risks associated with drug use, thereby helping to stabilize the lives of vulnerable populations while also addressing humanitarian needs and contributing to the stabilization of local communities.
The business overview is as follows.
Plan to Strengthen Drug Control Capacities for Vulnerable Populations (in Collaboration with the UN / Implemented by UNODC)
The Project to Strengthen Counter-Narcotics Capacities for Vulnerable People
・Country (Target Region)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
(Tahir Province, Badghis Province, Badakhshan Province, Kandahar Province, and Helmand Province)
・Business Objectives
In five provinces of Afghanistan (Taher, Badghis, Badakhshan, Kandahar, and Helmand), by supporting the promotion of alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers—whose crops are used as raw materials for narcotics—and the development of prevention and treatment systems for drug use, this initiative aims to improve livelihoods through legal means and reduce health hazards associated with drug use, thereby contributing to ensuring healthy lives for the people of Afghanistan and supporting the country’s sustainable and self-reliant development.
・Business Activities
1. Development of an Implementation Plan for Support for Alternative Livelihoods for Opium Poppy Farmers
2. Promoting the Adoption of Alternative Means of Livelihood
3. Development of an Implementation Plan for Reducing Drug Demand
4. Development of Prevention and Treatment Services Related to Drug Use
・Maximum Grant Amount
1.488 billion yen
・Scheduled Implementation Period
24 months (including the detailed design and bidding periods)
・Implementing Agency
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
・ Contributing to the Achievement of the SDGs
Goal 1 (End Poverty)
Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all)
© Source JICA