Running out of options : tracing rural Afghan livelihoods

Abstract

In 2002-03, AREU research teams documented the livelihoods of dozens of rural households across seven Afghan provinces. New research suggests that toward the end of the decade, many of these same households struggle to meet day to day needs, and are even worse off than before. Their futures are clouded by uncertainty and by a lack of good quality livelihood options that could bring security. This paper examines how and why the livelihoods of 64 households from eight villages across Badakhshan, Kandahar and Sar-i-Pul Provinces have changed between 2002 and 2009