The IRC s Afghanistan Rehabilitation Program in 1998 assists communities in the Afghan provinces of Khost, Paktia and Logar in revitalizing their infrastructure and local economies, with the goal of encouraging the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. IRC s Gardez office in Afghanistan serves as the primary operations facility for IRC s integrated and multisectoral rehabilitation strategy. The programs, which try to draw in women, respond to specific areas of vulnerability in communities of repatriated refugees. Farms are monitored to ensure they are applying the new techniques. IRC water teams rehabilitate shallow wells and sub-contract to local groups to construct wells.
Communities provide labor and local materials and are responsible for maintenance.
The IRC s Small Business Assistance Project assists in establishing small sustainable enterprises in several areas. Training and loans, to both men and women, are also available. The IRC also arranges apprenticeships to promising workers from Nangarhar and Kabul provinces. The IRC maintains a basic education program in villages in five Afghan provinces. The IRC provides teacher training, classroom materials and supervision, while communities assume responsibility for providing classrooms and teacher salaries.