Taiwara, a remote village in Obe district, Herat province, with a population of 15,000, has long been cut off from essential health services due to harsh geography and a complex environment. 

Yet, against the odds, a beacon of hope has emerged, powered by the sun and sustained by strong partnerships between UN agencies and communities. This is a story of how access to energy and water is transforming healthcare for women in rural Afghanistan and what it means for communities striving toward a brighter future.

Taiwara’s remote location places it far from the nearest health facility, a daunting distance for expectant mothers and those in urgent need of medical care. For many Afghan women, the barriers extend beyond geography; socio-cultural restrictions and security concerns often impose further obstacles. A 2023 analysis by UNDP revealed that only 22 per cent of women could visit health facilities unaccompanied, underscoring the tremendous need for accessible healthcare solutions.

In response to high maternal and infant mortality rates, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has established Family Health Houses (FHHs) around Afghanistan as community-based facilities to provide essential reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services for women and children in the most remote and under-served “white” areas of the country. However, many FHHs often struggled with unreliable power supply and inadequate water resources. Together, UNDP and UNFPA intervened with an innovative solution and partnership.