Afghanistan's HNRP is an activity-based costed plan, where each cluster has estimated the cost per beneficiary. These estimates account for a range of assistance-related expenses, including in-kind support, cash transfers (where applicable) and logistical costs associated with the delivery of assistance—such as staffing, security and operational overheads. Overall, the funding requirements for the 2025 HNRP have decreased by 21 per cent compared to 2024, reflecting a 3.1 per cent reduction in people targeted for assistance and the adjustment of certain activities. As a result, the average cost per beneficiary has decreased by almost 19 per cent, from $177 in the 2024 HNRP to $144 in 2025.
Costing methodology
Cost estimates for each cluster are tailored to their specific activities and needs. The Education Cluster requests $93.3 million to support 831,000 children, with an average cost of $112 per beneficiary, reflecting slight increases for gender-sensitive interventions. The ES/NFI Cluster requires $179 million to assist 1.1 million people, with a 22 per cent cost increase due to expanded shelter initiatives. The FSAC Cluster estimates $1.1 billion to support 14.2 million people, with monthly food costs of $16 per person and $238 per household for agricultural support. The Health Cluster seeks $279.7 million to provide primary healthcare, essential secondary care and disease outbreak preparedness and response for 9.3 million people. The Nutrition Cluster plans to deliver life-saving preventive and curative services to 6 million children under five and PLW across all provinces, with a budget of $296.4 million and an average cost of $50 per beneficiary. The Protection Cluster aims to assist 6.3 million people with a variety of protection services— including child protection, general protection, GBV, HLP and mine action—with an estimated cost of $24 per beneficiary. Lastly, the WASH Cluster requires $264.3 million to support 6.3 million people, prioritizing access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion, at an average cost of $42 per beneficiary.
Cost effectiveness
In preparation for the 2025 HNRP, clusters engaged in boundary setting and prioritization that guided their sector-specific plans. Cost efficiency will be a core priority across all clusters, achieved through careful planning, strategic integration and strong collaboration. By aligning interventions with local needs, minimizing duplication and leveraging partnerships, the clusters aim to deliver high-impact outcomes for the most vulnerable populations. This approach not only addresses immediate needs but also contributes to the long-term resilience and recovery of affected communities.
The Education Cluster will collaborate closely with DfA and development partners to streamline resources, ensuring that educational interventions are both effective and sustainable. The ES/NFI Cluster will work closely with BHN partners to harmonize shelter strategies, support referral mechanisms, and develop cohesive approaches for long-term shelter needs. The Nutrition Cluster will integrate nutrition services with existing healthcare platforms, reducing operational costs and enhancing the reach and impact of its interventions. Similarly, the WASH Cluster will work together with the Health and ES/NFI Clusters to implement cost-sharing practices, particularly in urban areas, to maximize resource use and improve service delivery. Protection clusters will focus on optimizing spending through community-based approaches, strategic legal services, and integrated activities, ensuring that resources are used effectively to meet the diverse needs of vulnerable populations. For Mine Action, cost-effectiveness will be achieved by prioritizing high-risk rural areas and leveraging local expertise and resources as well as applying proper land release processes as per the national and international mine action standards. Inclusive budgeting by all Clusters will ensure that accessibility and reasonable accommodation measures for persons with disabilities are mainstreamed across all areas of the response.
Changes in the cost of operating
Operating costs have increased due to inflation, currency fluctuations and logistical challenges. The ES/NFI Cluster experienced a 22 per cent increase in costs due to expanded technical support to people with specific needs, an increase in rental assistance packages and other operational costs related to
minimum quality programming, while Protection costs have increased due to labour constraints and specialized services for vulnerable groups. WASH has
faced higher supply and transportation costs, leading to the adoption of more cost-efficient logistical solutions. Partners aiming to continue to employ
women, face higher costs due to mahram requirements. Despite these challenges, strategic planning and strong partnerships have helped mitigate
some of the financial pressures, ensuring that interventions remain effective and impactful.
Accountability to Affected Populations
Accountability to affected populations (AAP) is fundamental to the humanitarian response. Humanitarian partners are committed to seek out, listen, and act upon the diverse voices of all affected communities. In 2023, humanitarian partners successfully established and implemented a collective AAP Strategy, coordinated by the ACBAR and UNFPA-led Afghanistan AAP Working Group. Guided by this inter-agency AAP commitment, efforts to ensure meaningful participation of affected communities in humanitarian response were made throughout the year, including:
- Ensuring minimum standards for quality and inclusive programming in response.
- Tracking and monitoring community feedback and perceptions through the Afghanistan Community Voices and Accountability Platform and Awaaz helpline to inform response decision-making processes.
- Implementing “do no harm” approaches through rolling out Data Responsibility SOP for community feedback and complaint systems.
- Communicating a series of critical and lifesaving messages to local communities, including DfA directives and impacts on humanitarian activities, as well as standardized key messages on available assistance in the Herat earthquakes and Returnee responses.
Humanitarian partners will continue to strengthen community-centered approaches in the response. With the support and guidance of the AAP Working Group, key AAP areas such as real-time community feedback and perception monitoring, community validation, and inclusive, protection-sensitive and gender-responsive AAP mechanisms will continue to be strengthened. The AAP Working Group will also continue to build and strengthen the capacity of frontline teams, particularly local actors and community members, to ensure the Afghanistan humanitarian response is fully guided by crisis-affected communities.
Source: Afghanistan Accountability Index (Jan-Jun 2024)
Changes in the cost of operating
Operating costs have increased due to inflation, currency fluctuations and logistical challenges. The ES/ NFI Cluster experienced a 22 per cent increase in costs due to expanded technical support to people with specific needs, an increase in rental assistance packages and other operational costs related to minimum quality programming, while Protection costs have increased due to labour constraints and specialized services for vulnerable groups. WASH has faced higher supply and transportation costs, leading to the adoption of more cost-efficient logistical solutions. Partners aiming to continue to employ women, face higher costs due to mahram requirements. Despite these challenges, strategic planning and strong partnerships have helped mitigate some of the financial pressures, ensuring that interventions remain effective and impactful.