[{"bbox": [145, 151, 1083, 326], "category": "Text", "text": "the Child, ratified in 1994 and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. Two main education systems are in place in Afghanistan, both recognised by the Ministry of Education (MoE) before August 2021. The official and formal education system, based on public schools and the Community Based Education (CBE). The CBE includes community-based classes and accelerated learning programmes. The CBE has been part of the MoE formal education system since 2003."}, {"bbox": [145, 337, 1084, 596], "category": "Text", "text": "In April 2022, around 70% of boys and girls were back in primary education (4,060,000 out of 5.8 million children; 2.3 million girls) as indicated by UNICEF and Save the Children⁴. The primary education is facilitated by around 130,000 teachers of which 41% are female (around 53,000). In September 2021 the DFA excluded girls from secondary schools in certain provinces and districts in Afghanistan, where only boys and male teachers were allowed back into classrooms, sending a worrying sign to the international community. In contradiction with previous commitments, the reopening of secondary schools for girls was halted on 23 March 2022. The announced need for adoption of new policies in the sector by the DFA has not resulted in concrete action."}, {"bbox": [145, 610, 1084, 786], "category": "Text", "text": "At the writing of this Action, the ban is implemented in most of the country with some local exceptions. However the situation is not static and some of the schools that remained open for girls were subsequently closed in application of the ban. This raises significant concerns about the deprivation of basic rights, their consequences on women's dignity and status in Afghan society, and repercussions on the labour market. A safe and inclusive education for all children, girls and boys, is key for building peaceful, just and inclusive societies."}, {"bbox": [145, 796, 1084, 913], "category": "Text", "text": "Cultural norms, safety concerns, poverty insufficient relevant learning/teaching resources, capacity limitations in formal schools to take on additional children and inadequate or damaged classrooms are still obstacles to achieve better results. In addition, the COVID-19 measures led to gaps in Afghan children learning due to prolonged school closures during at least two years."}, {"bbox": [145, 933, 464, 962], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Livelihoods and food security"}, {"bbox": [145, 974, 1084, 1265], "category": "Text", "text": "The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) survey estimates that nearly 20 million Afghans are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in 2022. This is reflected in an overall increase of share of the population being in food insecurity from 2021 onwards. The persistence and severity of this trend stems from a combination of adverse climatic conditions, rise of food prices, enduring conflict and an overall stagnant economy as a result of the August 2021 events. The situation can be further compounded by the world price hike triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Further testimony that the food security situation will likely deteriorate comes from the recent annual harvest survey conducted by the Afghanistan Food Security and Agriculture cluster coordinated by WFP and FAO⁵. The survey predicts a below average harvesting season for the second year in a row across most of the country."}, {"bbox": [145, 1276, 1084, 1418], "category": "Text", "text": "To counter the threat of growing food insecurity in Afghanistan, the international community will have to complement its current response which is based on short-term and emergency interventions with longer term strategies and coordinated approaches to production and productivity improvement in line with the conventional approaches as applied before the Taliban takeover."}, {"bbox": [145, 1433, 1084, 1492], "category": "Text", "text": "Agriculture was historically a major driver in the Afghan economy, but in current terms almost at par with industry and outmatched by the service sector. A continued drive towards"}, {"bbox": [145, 1544, 1082, 1588], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ https://www.savethechildren.net/news/80-secondary-school-girls-afghanistan-missing-out-education-one-month-taliban-ban-extended"}, {"bbox": [145, 1589, 866, 1615], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ https://fscluster.org/afghanistan/document/fsac-monthly-meeting-presentation-may-0"}, {"bbox": [1068, 1641, 1084, 1663], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "9"}]