 When COVID-19 hit Afghanistan, the government ordered a nationwide lockdown. Movements across all districts and provinces were severely restricted. Agriculture and livestock markets were hit hard and sales plummeted. The fast and time critical humanitarian funding UNSERV allowed FAO to cover underfunded gaps and breach those most affected by the pandemic in rural and remote areas. Agriculture-based livelihoods were protected thanks to key agriculture inputs and cash assistance. This assistance helped farmers and herders withstand the unprecedented shock and minimise the transmission of the virus. This support also ensured the steady and safe functioning of the main agriculture markets which also raised awareness among market stakeholders, farmers and rural communities on how to prevent the transmission of the virus. Since the pandemic started and thanks to UN humanitarian funding, FAO has been able to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to the people most in need. These funds were the first and played a catalytic role in enabling further funding to deliver an effective humanitarian response to the COVID-19 crisis. This life-saving support protected the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, improved their food security situation and income and helped people avoid negative coping strategies such as distressed sales of livestock or other assets and displacement from rural areas.