Since 2021, the ARTF has found pragmatic ways to provide support for essential basic services to the people of Afghanistan. On March 1, 2022, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved Approach Paper 2.0 in response to requests from the ARTF donors and international community. This approach aims to support the delivery of essential basic services, help preserve human capital and key economic and social institutions, and reduce the need for future humanitarian assistance. A key element of this approach paper is the provision of grants of more than $1 billion, called “Recipient Executed grants,” to select United Nations (UN) agencies and select international and national nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Under Approach 2.0, there are six ARTF-funded projects that provide essential health, education, agriculture, livelihood, and water management services to the people of Afghanistan. All these projects are outside the control of the Interim Taliban Administration (ITA) and implemented by UN agencies and select NGO partners.