HOPA - Empowering Afghanistan

Organizational Overview

The Humanitarian Organization for the People of Afghanistan (HOPA) is a women-led and youth-led, non-governmental, non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan (Registration No. 5412) and as a Canada Not-for-Profit Corporation (Corporation No. 1652866-0).

Grounded in women's leadership and youth engagement, HOPA delivers emergency aid and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations across Afghanistan, including women, men, youth, and children. The organization works across key sectors: social affairs, agriculture, health, reconstruction, and support to returnees, addressing urgent humanitarian needs through integrated service delivery and advocacy aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening community resilience.

Our Approach

HOPA uses a holistic, inclusive, women- and youth-centered approach to promote long-term, sustainable development at the community level. By fostering meaningful participation of women and young people throughout the project cycle—from planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation—HOPA ensures strong local ownership, accountability, and sustainable outcomes. The organization collaborates closely with community leaders, civil society actors, and humanitarian partners to deliver effective, context-sensitive interventions that prioritize equity, dignity, and the rights of marginalized groups.

Our Team and Community Engagement

As a women-led and youth-led organization, HOPA has built strong roots and trusted relationships within local communities. Our team consists primarily of young Afghan professionals and volunteers, with women forming the majority of staff and leadership, strengthening our capacity to design and implement responsive, community-driven humanitarian programs for women, youth, and returnees.

Organizational Structure and Presence

HOPA maintains main offices in Kandahar, Kabul, and Canada, serving as central hubs for regional coordination, national-level operations, and international donor engagement. To ensure effective field implementation, HOPA operates sub-offices in Helmand and Urozgan provinces, enabling close engagement with communities and timely service delivery.

Program Implementation by Province

Kandahar Province

In Kandahar Province, HOPA implements returnee-focused projects in Takhtaful District and Kandahar City, including:

• Food distribution
• Cash assistance
• Nutrition support (LNS and WSB for women and children)

Additional programs implemented across various locations in Kandahar Province include:

• WASH interventions
• Livelihood micro-lending for returnees and persons with disabilities
• Livelihood Basya micro-lending for women
• Malnutrition awareness and monitoring
• Shelter for women and children in prisons
• General shelter assistance
• Education for women
• Contingency response activities

To ensure culturally appropriate access for women and girls, HOPA employs dedicated female staff members specifically for scoping activities for returnees in Kandahar City.

Helmand Province

In Helmand Province, particularly in Baramcha District, HOPA implements returnee-focused assistance, including:

• Food distribution
• Cash assistance
• Nutrition support (LNS and WSB for women and children)

Urozgan Province

In Urozgan Province, HOPA implements:

• Food distribution activities
• Health awareness sessions under the Integrated Health, Nutrition, and Immunization Promotion (IHNIP) program, focusing on:
• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition education
• Hygiene practices
• Immunization awareness
• Disease prevention

HOPA has also implemented a School Feeding Project in Urozgan Province, funded by Mediothek Organization, providing nutritious meals to school-aged children to improve attendance and reduce malnutrition.

Additional Services and Coordination

HOPA operates an education information desk for returnees in Kandahar, provides educational resources for school-aged children at reception centers, and delivers shelter and support services for women and children in prisons through its own funding and strong coordination with UN Women.

Since August 2023, HOPA has actively participated in monthly sub-national cluster meetings, contributing to coordinated, multi-sectoral humanitarian response efforts while ensuring that women's and youth perspectives are meaningfully represented in humanitarian coordination mechanisms.