/ SCA / Background

Background

Brief background & history

SCA was founded in 1980, in protest against the Soviet invasion. The purpose was to support the Afghan people’s struggle for national independence and, by efforts to affect opinion, to act for a Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In 1982, SCA started to provide aid to Afghanistan, funded by own campaigns and by the Swedish government. A management office was established in Peshawar, Pakistan, providing cross-border support to health centres inside Afghanistan. In 1985 an education programme was initiated, followed by agricultural activities in 1987. Three regional offices inside Afghanistan were opened in 1993 and in March 2002 the management office in Peshawar shifted to Kabul.

In 1981, SCA began its fund-raising work to support those remaining in the country and, in the following year, a contribution was received from Sida (Swedish International Development Agency) for the first time.

Initially, humanitarian aid comprised healthcare personnel and deliveries of pharmaceuticals. Somewhat later, educational and agricultural aid was also provided. Aid operations grew rapidly and have, over the years, developed from catastrophe aid to aid focusing more on development.