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SPIA Afghanistan Policy Lab

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afghanlab@princeton.edu

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The SPIA Afghanistan Policy Lab aims to help build an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan that represents all its citizens equally. Academic fellows from Afghanistan, who worked previously in support of U.S. government efforts there, collaborate with members of Princeton SPIA’s academic community on policy relevant research. The fellows also analyze and provide policy recommendations to address challenges from the evolving situation on the ground in Afghanistan including policies impacting humanitarian aid, women and girls, and national healing and reconciliation.
About The Initiative

Publications: Policy Papers

APL

Rethinking Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: From Elite Deals to Local Healing and Acknowledgment

This paper examines why four decades of peace initiatives in Afghanistan, ranging from the Geneva Accords in 1988 to the Doha Agreement in 2020, have produced only temporary political settlements. It finds that elite-driven processes have marginalized women, minorities, and grassroots actors, while neglecting historical grievances and local dispute resolution traditions. The analysis highlights persistent gaps between theory and practice, including the tokenistic application of liberal peace models, the absence of transformative justice, and the underutilization of community governance systems. Based on the findings of this paper, it offers recommendations that include institutionalizing local peace platforms, embedding peace education, leveraging women’s and youth leadership, integrating transitional and transformative justice, and ensuring that international support respects Afghan agency.
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SPIA Campus

Recommendations for UN Member States and UN Leadership about UNAMA’s Mandate Renewal

This policy document offers concrete recommendations for UN Member States and UN Leadership about UNAMA’s Mandate Renewal.
Download Policy Document
2024 Princeton SPIA Annual Report

Empowering Afghan Girls and Women: Artificial Intelligence Education Model

This research was inspired by the potential of the 4IR and 5IR to help Afghan girls and women achieve their full potential using an AI-powered education model. Globally, youth unemployment is rising. One of the key factors explaining this unemployment is the lack of skills required by the market (Mourshed et al., 2012). There is a disconnect between the market and education. Consequently, this study proposes a paradigm shift in the Afghan education system and curricula, responding to the needs of 4IR and 5IR, and linking education to the market and tangible economic returns.
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Nazeela paper

Reclaiming the Future: Rethinking Peace and Transitional Justice with Afghan Youth Amid Deepening Existential Threats

This policy paper examines the perspectives and experiences of Afghan youth as vital stakeholders in Afghanistan’s future to provide a bottom-up roadmap for peacebuilding in Afghanistan. Afghan youth have been continually marginalized from the Doha process and the culmination of the talks through U.N.-led frameworks, again taking place in Doha, including initiatives like the Mosaic. To inform these frameworks, the paper highlights their critical role in shaping Afghanistan’s future. Aligned with the Declaration for Future Generations, United Nations Security Council Youth, Peace, and Security Resolution 2250 this paper draws from: (i) two experts panels hosted at Princeton Afghanistan Policy Lab with international and Afghan transitional justice experts, (ii) 25 in-depth survey-interviews conducted online with Afghan youth in Afghanistan, and those recently exiled in Europe, North America, and Central Asia and (iii) desk research of pertaining documents and frameworks.
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Girls walking in Afghanistan

A Holistic Framework for Educating Girls in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

This policy brief provides a detailed analysis of the current education system under Taliban rule. The education system in Afghanistan has undergone a profound crisis since the Taliban’s return to power, with the most severe impact felt by girls and women. The Taliban’s restrictive policies and ideological control have dismantled previous educational progress, limiting access, quality, and inclusivity. This brief examines the current state of education under Taliban rule, highlighting the structural, cultural, and political challenges that have undermined the right to learn. It also outlines policy recommendations aimed at preserving education through alternative models and fostering international coordination to safeguard the future of Afghan youth, particularly women and girls.
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Robertson Hall

An Investigation Report: Supporting Afghan Women Protesters

This investigation report documents the narratives of Afghan women protesting the Taliban's misogynistic policies while living in desperate conditions both within Afghanistan and in neighboring countries. The report is based on desk research and interviews conducted with eight Afghan women protesters who were imprisoned by the Taliban. To protect their identities and ensure their safety, the author did not disclose the names or other identifying details of the victims. The interviews confirmed allegations reported by various public sources. These women's stories are deeply distressing and reflect severe violations of basic human rights. The psychological suffering these women have experienced is overwhelming, often leading to isolation within society and even within their own families and communities. The victims suffer from intense pain and struggle to find peace. The experiences shared by these women involve inhumane treatment that violates international laws and conventions and strips away fundamental human dignity.
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Robertson

Assessing Key Trends in The Afghan Economy Three Years into The Taliban Rule

In this policy research paper, APL Fellow Aman Farahi analyzes key trends in assessing Afghanistan's economy following the Taliban's takeover. According to his research study, Afghanistan's economy remains stagnant and fragile three years into Taliban rule.
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people in a field

The Correlates of Food Insecurity in Afghanistan

Written by Ahmad Zia Wahdat, nonresident fellow, Afghanistan Policy Lab. This research report uses data from the 2022 Whole of Afghanistan Assessment to identify key sociodemographic factors related to food insecurity and hunger in Afghanistan. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of food insecurity, emphasizing the importance of addressing not only socioeconomic variables but also infrastructure and housing conditions.
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woman and child standing in front of door

Adapting and Sustaining: Responses to the Taliban Takeover and Health System Disruption in Afghanistan

Authored by Mustafa Basij Rasikh, Elisa S Dickey, Alyssa B Sharkey. This research examines the effects of the Taliban takeover in August 2021 on health care delivery and management in Afghanistan, highlighting factors that facilitated and hindered continuity of services in the immediate aftermath of the transition. To do so, the paper relied on qualitative interviews with key informants operating at different levels in the Afghan health care system, including frontline workers, international organization staff, NGO staff, and other individuals who observed first hand the effects of the government transition on healthcare delivery across the country.
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UN conference attendees

Combatting Gender Apartheid: The Situation of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

On September 22, 2023 the Afghanistan Policy Lab and the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Dominican Republic, Malta, South African to the United Nations, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security hosted an event during the 78th UN General Assembly entitled "Combating Gender Apartheid: The Situation of Women & Girls in Afghanistan" at Headquarters in New York.
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Robertson Hall

“Bright Spots”: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustained International Engagement in Afghanistan

SPIA’s master’s class of Public Policy Affairs and Public Policy under the supervision of distinguished senior scholar Prof. Salam Fayyad, developed a research report titled “Bright Spots”: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustained International Engagement in Afghanistan under the course Designing a Framework for Afghanistan’s Future. The Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs engaged with the students in the class for the course on topics i.e. humanitarian assistance, girls’ education/women’s rights, civic space and reconciliation.
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Afghan girls at school in Herat Afghanistan

The War on Schoolgirls: Responding to the Education Crisis in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan over the past four decades, educational opportunities, especially for girls, have been limited. Chronic poverty, war, insecurity, and cultural norms have all impeded girls' access to education. This brief relies on primary source interviews to analyze the barriers to education for girls in Afghanistan and to assess the impacts on Afghan society of Taliban restrictions.
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More publications

News

APL
Career Building at the United Nations
The event “Career Building at the United Nations,” co-organized by the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International…
APL
Adela Raz
From Period Poverty to Economic Participation: Women-Led Solutions in Crises
On 12 March, Afghanistan Policy Lab Director, Ambassador Adela Raz, delivered a keynote speech at the event titled “From Period Poverty to Economic…
Adela Raz
APL
Policy Reform in Afghanistan: A Student-led Discussion with APL Affiliate - Abdullah Azizi
APL
APL
Non-Violent Resistance and Pathways to Peace: Afghanistan's Struggle for Justice and Reconciliation Conference with Princeton University’s Afghanistan Policy Lab
APL
APL
SPIA Undergraduate Students Attend UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and Speak at APL Side Event
APL
Adela Raz
Afghanistan Under Taliban Tyranny: A Conversation With Adela Raz
Adela Raz
Taliban members gathered around a desk
Princeton SPIA Faculty Share Insights on the Third Year of Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan
Taliban members gathered around a desk
Participants in World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
‘This Injustice Must End’: APL Director Raz Presses Davos Attendees on Girls and Women in Afghanistan
Participants in World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
Gran Hewad
Hybrid Means and Empowerment: Afghan Youth in Search of Creative Thinking
Gran Hewad, a fellow of the Afghanistan Policy Lab, has launched a series of research methodology seminars tailored for youth based in Afghanistan…
Gran Hewad
Omid Haqjoo, AP Photo
After Herat Earthquakes: Urgent Aid Required
Since October 8, 2023, the western province of Herat has been struck by a series of five powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquakes. In addition, during the…
Omid Haqjoo, AP Photo
person in red
Afghanistan: Two years on from the Taliban takeover
Life in Afghanistan on the second anniversary of the Taliban's takeover.
person in red
afghan women
Afghan Women Despair Taliban Rule, Yet Resolute for Change
For two years, the Taliban has controlled Afghanistan. When the Taliban regime collapsed in 2001, Afghan women believed that their suffering had…
afghan women
Ambassador Adela Raz
Afghanistan after two years of Taliban rule
Afghanistan after two years of Taliban rule: On today’s GPS, @biannagolodryga asked @AdelaRaz, the last Afghan ambassador to the US…
Ambassador Adela Raz
Adela
Former US Afghan Ambassador speaks on women's rights
Adela
More news

Insights, Interviews, & Reports

APl-Nowruz
Celebrating Nowruz and Building Stronger Community
On April 15, the Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs hosted its annual Nowruz celebration for…
APl-Nowruz
Nowruz Event
Celebrating Nowruz: Welcoming Spring and the New Year
On April 30, after several rainy days, the Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) hosted its annual Nowruz cultural event outside Robertson Hall, bringing…
Nowruz Event
Background Pic
Resilience Amidst Oppression Honoring Afghan Women’s Strength During Women’s History Month
To commemorate Women’s History Month, the Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) has once…
Background Pic
people at an event
The Quest for Inclusive Peace in Afghanistan
On December 13, the Afghanistan Policy Lab (APL) at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) hosted a high-level, one…
people at an event
people at an event
Aid Effectiveness in Afghanistan Centering Women and Girls in the Fight Against Food Insecurity at the 79th UNGA Side Event
On September 18, the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to…
people at an event

Upcoming Events

27
Aug
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
9:00 AM
Afghanistan Policy Dialogue Building the Foundations for Afghanistan’s Future: Advancing Peace, Prosperity, and Stability Through Education
27
Aug
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
1:30 PM
Twenty-Five Years After 9/11—Lessons Learned, U.S. Policy, and Pathways to Peace and Stability in Afghanistan

Past Events

14
May
Virtual
11:00 AM
UNAMA’s Mandate Renewal and Evaluating the Path Forward
Nowruz 2026
15
Apr
Outside of Robertson Hall
12:15 PM
Nowruz Celebration with Afghanistan Policy Lab
17
Mar
Robertson Hall
5:00 PM
Career Building at the United Nations and Multilateral Institutions
12
Mar
United Nations Headquarters, 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017.
10:00 AM
Ensuring Access to Justice for Afghan Women and Girls: Documentation, Accountability, Protection, and the Rule of Law
11
Mar
United Nations Headquarters, 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017.
10:00 AM
Radicalization of Education in Afghanistan: Access to Justice, and Implications for Peace and Security Side Event on the Margins of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)
26
Feb
Robertson Hall
4:30 PM
In a Fireside Chat with Mr. Colin Smith about the Role and Mandate of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team
More events
Afghanistan flag

Announcing the SPIA Afghanistan Policy Lab Initiative

Fellows in the lab include researchers, women activists, government officials, and journalists. They will produce work on humanitarian aid, civic space, women, and national healing and reconciliation.
Read MoreView Event
Amaney Jamal
— Amaney Jamal, Dean, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

“Our School is committed to being responsive to needs within the global community and providing humanitarian support. We are honored to support these fellows and welcome them to Princeton — especially in the face of turmoil. Their contributions will address the impact of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and will influence policy recommendations for the country.”

— Amaney Jamal, Dean, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Meet the Director

Ambassador Adela Raz is the Director of the Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs. Alongside this role, she serves as a Visiting Fellow at the Hudson Institute, sits on the UN Independent Expert Advisory Panel for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (2026–2030) as appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres, and is an advisory board member of the Reykjavik Global Women Forum.

Ambassador Raz is one of the most consequential Afghan diplomats of her generation. She served as the last Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States, representing her country through one of its most turbulent chapters. Before that, she made history as Afghanistan's first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, where she rose to become Vice President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The President of the General Assembly also appointed her to co-coordinate the UN's COVID-19 response, placing her at the center of global crisis management during one of the world's most urgent public health emergencies.

Earlier in her career, Ambassador Raz served as Afghanistan's Deputy Foreign Minister, directing the country's regional and economic cooperation strategy. She led major international platforms, including the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process, and was instrumental in negotiating key outcome documents at the Brussels (2016) and Geneva (2018) Donor Conferences on Afghanistan.

In 2013, she broke new ground again as the first woman to serve as Deputy Spokesperson and Director of Communications for President Hamid Karzai. 

She began her career at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) before working with several international development organizations in the United States and Afghanistan.

Ambassador Raz holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, a certificate in International Development from Fletcher, and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Simmons University, where she triple-majored in International Relations, Political Science, and Economics.

Adela Raz

Meet the Fellows

Hanifa Girowal
Hanifa Girowal
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Omar Sadr
Omar Sadr
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Bashir Mobasher
Bashir Mobasher
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Past Fellows

Habiba Sarabi
Habiba Sarabi
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Munazza Ebtikar
Munazza Ebtikar
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Nazeela Elmi
Nazeela Elmi
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Maryam Rayed
Maryam Rayed
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