Some Notes on the Livelihoods of the Urban Poor in Kabul, Afghanistan

This paper summarises some of the basic features of Afghan urban poor livelihoods gathered from interviews with returned refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and long-term residents living in Karte Nau (District 8) in Kabul. The fieldwork was based on a sample of 23 vulnerable households that participated in a CARE-run cash-for-work project. Although the paper does not enable analysis of the diverse livelihoods of the urban poor, several strong themes emerge. Findings show the lack of suitable jobs available in Kabul and subsequent hardship for households, the importance of informal safety nets and reciprocity, the desire for wasita (access to power) and balad (to know others and to be known/trusted in a neighbourhood/community), the diversity of intra-household dynamics, the negative psychological effects of deprivation and insecurity, and the desire for formal education and literacy.