ActionAid, Afghanistan ‘s WASH Anticipatory Action in Sar-e-Pul Province

ActionAid Afghanistan, with funding from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), implemented a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project under the Anticipatory Action framework to support drought-affected communities in Sar-e-Pul Province. The intervention targeted three districts, Sancharak,  Sozma Qala, and Gosfandi, aiming to reduce immediate water insecurity while building longer-term resilience to climate shocks.

The project aimed to provide immediate access to safe and reliable drinking water for drought-affected communities, strengthen long-term water resource management and sustainable water-use practices, and improve groundwater recharge and environmental resilience through both nature-based and structural measures.

ActionAid, Afghanistan constructed five water supply systems, two in Sancharak,    , two in Sozma Qala, and one in Gosfandi , supplying safe drinking water to nine communities. Six check dams (two per district) were established to support water retention and improve groundwater recharge. Approximately 54,000 trenches were excavated across Sancharak, Sozma Qala, and Gosfandi districts to enhance infiltration and raise groundwater levels.

Overall, 2,800 families (20,286 individuals) benefited from the WASH interventions across the three targeted districts.

Fakhruddin, a resident from Nawabad Bazar Bashi village of Sancharak,    , represents one of the households served. His family of eight previously relied on canal water located three kilometers away, which was unsafe for household use. “Before the project, my children and wife had to drink water from a canal three kilometers away. The water was not safe. Now we have safe water nearby,” said Fakhruddin, reflecting the immediate improvement to daily life and health risks.

The project addressed immediate humanitarian needs by providing timely access to safe drinking water and reducing exposure to waterborne disease risks. The combination of check dams and large-scale trenching contributed to increased groundwater recharge and better environmental resilience. By integrating structural works with community-focused water systems, the intervention laid the foundation for longer-term water security and climate adaptation in the targeted districts.

“This anticipatory action gave us not only immediate relief but also hope for long-term water security,” said a community representative in Sozma Qala District, summarizing local sentiment about the project’s benefits.

The AHF-funded WASH project implemented by ActionAid, Afghanistan successfully combined life-saving interventions with measures that enhance long-term water sustainability. By improving access to safe water, strengthening groundwater recharge, and promoting resilient water management practices, the project strengthened community resilience and reduced vulnerability to future droughts in Sancharak, Sozma Qala, and Gosfandi districts of Sar-e-Pul Province.