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7.5 Conclusion
Although the analysis of poverty is constrained by lack of consumption data, the use of alternative poverty estimation method allows to track the changes in poverty over time. The analysis of ALCS
2013-14 data reveals an increase in poverty over the last two years. Increase in poverty is consistent with the pattern of economic growth and different macroeconomic events taking place in the economy
during this period. Political uncertainty, increasing conflict and downtur
n in aid have limited Afghanistan’s growth. Compared to real per capita GDP growth of 11.3 percent in 2012, growth in 2014 is estimated to be
negative -0.96 percent. The slowdown in economic growth and the downturn in aid
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has translated into an overall deterioration in labour market opportunities. The proportion of individuals in the labour
force that is unemployed has increased since 2007-08 see section 5.3.2. Deteriorating labour market opportunities coupled with deteriorating security account for most of the estimated increase in poverty.
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Looking at US funding alone, the amount appropriated by Congress for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan has more than halved between 2012 and 2014 SIGAR 2015.
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8 FOOD SECURITY
Summary
. A high proportion of Afghanistan’s 28 million people face chronic and transitory food insecurity. Food insecurity based on the food consumption score and food-based coping strategies is
estimated at 33 percent 9.3 million people of total population. Among them, an estimated 3.4 million or 12 percent are severely food insecure, and 5.9 million or 21 percent moderately food insecure.
The proportion of the food insecure is significantly higher in rural areas, with 36 percent of the rural
population being food insecure, compared to 30 percent of the urban population. The Kuchi population is significantly better off compared to the rural and urban counterparts, with 9 percent or
about 140 thousand being food insecure. Food insecurity is mainly attributed to households’ lack of access to sustainable income.
The North-East, West and South-West regions of Afghanistan have the highest proportions of food-insecure people, as well as the highest proportions of severely
food insecure people. The diet of the Afghan population is not only quantitatively inadequate, but also qualitatively poor
and heavily cereal-based.
Poor diet diversity is a serious problem across much of Afghanistan. Most of the food consumed is made up of staples wheat in particular. Overall, the proportion
of households with low dietary diversity accounts for 36 percent of all Afghan households 20 percent in urban, 42 percent in rural and 41 percent among the Kuchi households.
To cope with shocks, the majority of households mainly adopt short-term viable coping strategies. However, some unviable distressed coping strategies are also used, which negatively impacts
food security in the future. Many more rural households than their urban and Kuchi counterparts adopt coping strategies, particularly unviable strategies.
8.1 Introduction
Kategori