Afghanistan poverty, vulnerability and social protection : an initial assessment / Human Development Unit, South Asia Region.

Cover title.
“March 7, 2005”—cover page.
“Document of the World Bank”—cover page.
“Report No. 29694-AF”—at head of title.

Includes bibliographical references.

Contents: Executive summary—I. Poverty and vulnerability : a historical perspective—II. Rural livelihoods—III. A profile of poverty and vulnerability in rural Afghanistan—IV. Urban poverty and vulnerability—V. Policy directions : towards a national strategy for poverty reduction—References—Tables—Figures—Boxes—Appendices.

Summary: “Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been impacted by political and economic shocks, and natural disasters. Following a succession of despotic regimes, the collapse of legitimate government institutions and their substitution with rule by force over the past quarter of a century, it is of little surprise that Afghanistan has emerged as a poor nation, whose people exhibit some of the worst human and social indicators in the world. Yet the poverty of the people is not as one might expect. Suffering has been widespread and multi-dimensional, yet the people of Afghanistan are not on the brink of starvation, nor have they been in recent years. This is due mainly to widespread personal and private initiative, and the support of non-governmental organizations…”—(summary page).

English