Urban Vulnerability in Afghanistan: Case Studies from Three Cities

This working paper offers an initial examination of the “asset vulnerability” of the urban poor in Kabul, Jalalabad and Herat. Focus group discussions with residents in these cities revealed four intertwined risks common to all social groups: loss of income and indebtedness, food insecurity, deteriorating health, and social exclusion and disempowerment. The study also examines how vulnerability is not confined to specific locations, and includes specific recommendations for ways to tackle urban vulnerability that go beyond programming solely targeted to “vulnerable groups.”