Building on the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) 2024–2025, UNFPA Iran, in partnership with the International Farda Development Activists Association (IFDAA), launched an initiative to improve the health and well-being of Afghan migrant and refugee women and girls in the provinces of Golestan and Sistan-Baluchestan.

Afghan women in Iran face unique health challenges, including higher maternal mortality rates (43 per 100,000 for Afghan women vs 16 for Iranians), lower rates of antenatal care visits ( 85% for Afghan Women vs 94.3% for Iranians), and lower rates of births delivered in health facilities (71 % for Afghan women vs. 95% for Iranians). Studies show that preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and diabetes occur at nearly twice the rate among Afghan women, especially those who are undocumented, unemployed, or have limited literacy. The project sought to address these challenges through an integrated and community-based approach focused on reproductive health, education, and empowerment.

Between March and August 2025, the project reached more than 9,000 beneficiaries directly and indirectly. Over 2,000 women and 4,000 adolescent girls participated in health and life skills sessions, while 20 traditional midwives were trained to provide safer and more informed maternal care. An additional 3,000 individuals benefited indirectly through community events, family sessions, and outreach activities.

The initiative’s impact was multi-dimensional. In both provinces, research on Afghan women’s health identified critical barriers to accessing care, informing future evidence-based interventions. Women’s health education sessions were coupled with cash and voucher assistance to enhance access to health care services. Meanwhile, training sessions for adolescent girls fostered confidence, improved health literacy, and encouraged open discussions about topics long considered taboo.

Traditional midwives, often the first point of contact for pregnant women in these communities, also benefited from targeted training in order to enable them to provide better counseling, prevent pregnancy complications, and promote safer deliveries.

Community-based health festivals brought together more than a thousand participants—63 percent of them women—creating safe spaces for health screenings, counseling, and awareness-raising exhibitions. These events were designed to improve access to essential services and to strengthen the bonds between Afghan and Iranian families, fostering inclusion and trust.

Madineh, a 14-year-old girl from Zahedan, recalled how attending a class on health and hygiene changed her outlook: “In class, they talked about things I was always curious about but too shy to ask. At first, I was embarrassed, but then I realized everyone had the same questions. When I came home, I told my mother what I learned. She smiled and said, ‘We’ll go again soon.’”

For Marwa, an 18-year-old mother from Zahedan, the change was life-saving: “Before, I believed home birth was our tradition. But after attending the reproductive health class, I learned how hospital delivery saves lives. My husband now accompanies me to the clinic and encourages me to go to the hospital for a safe birth.”

By combining education, empowerment, and community solidarity, this initiative has shown that improving health outcomes is not just about services—it’s about dignity, understanding, and opportunity. UNFPA Iran remains committed to ensuring that every woman and girl can live a healthy and empowered life.