NOVE ETS is an Italian non-governmental organisation and Third Sector entity established in 2012 by professionals in international cooperation and humanitarian aid. Its mission is to support vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, children, and persons with disabilities, in achieving dignified living conditions through humanitarian assistance, protection, education, and socio-economic empowerment.

Since 2013, NOVE ETS has been operating in Afghanistan, focusing on improving the living conditions of women and their families by promoting socio-economic independence through vocational training, business incubation, and access to labour markets. In parallel, the organisation implements emergency and recovery interventions, responding to major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing food insecurity affecting millions of Afghans.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe and complex humanitarian crises. Decades of conflict, economic collapse, and recurrent climate shocks have left over 23 million people dependent on humanitarian assistance. The situation further deteriorated following the earthquake of 31 August 2025, which struck the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman, causing widespread casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, schools, and health facilities. Around 500,000 people were directly affected, half of them children, while landslides and aftershocks continued to restrict access to remote mountain communities, further exacerbating food insecurity and limiting access to healthcare.

The impact is particularly severe for women-headed households and children. Cultural restrictions on women’s mobility often exclude them from public distribution systems, significantly limiting their access to aid. People with disabilities face additional barriers, as damaged shelters and inaccessible distribution points hinder their ability to receive assistance.

In response, NOVE ETS has launched an emergency initiative to support 150 female-headed households most affected by the earthquake in Dara-e-Noor District, Nangarhar Province. Supported by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) through May 2026, the initiative provides essential food assistance to help families cope with the immediate consequences of the disaster.

The project will also collect data to monitor improvements in food security and beneficiary satisfaction, contributing to greater accountability, strengthened community trust, and more inclusive humanitarian responses.