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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

News

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…
Salma
The Struggle for Education
To commemorate Women’s History Month in March, the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs has conducted…
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…
person in red
Afghanistan: Two years on from the Taliban takeover
Life in Afghanistan on the second anniversary of the Taliban's takeover.
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…
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…
Adela
Former US Afghan Ambassador speaks on women's rights
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Interviews & Insights

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…

Publications & Reports

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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Upcoming Events

APL
Aug
29
SPIA-DC
9:30 AM
Three Years Later: The Dire State of Afghanistan and Global Strategies for Ways Forward
fountain
Sep
09
Robertson Hall
4:30 PM
Dean's Leadership Guest: Conversation with General Mark A. Milley '80

Past Events

afghan flag in the sky
Jun
24
Virtual
10:00 AM
The Afghanistan Question: America's Policy Impasse
afghan flag in the sky
May
30
Virtual
9:30 AM
Unveiling Potential: Afghan Youth As Architects of Peace and Reconciliation
afghan flag in the sky
Apr
15
Fountain of Freedom, Outside Robertson Hall
12:15 PM
Nowruz Luncheon with Afghan Music
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.
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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 served as the last Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. Prior to that Amb. Raz served as the first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations.  At the U.N., Amb. Raz was the Vice President of the 75th session of the General Assembly, and was also appointed by the President of U.N’s General Assembly to serve as the co-coordinator on COVID-19-related initiatives.

Before her arrival at the U.N. Amb. Raz was the Deputy Foreign Minister in Afghanistan. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), she managed the regional and economic cooperation portfolios and led the two major platforms: the Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences on Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process. On behalf of MFA, she helped to manage and coordinate the Brussels (2016) and Geneva (2018) Donor Conferences on Afghanistan and led the negotiations on the outcome documents.

In 2013, she served as the first female Deputy Spokesperson and Director of Communications for President Hamid Karzai.

She began her career with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and continued to work in a variety of positions at various international development organizations in the U.S. and Afghanistan.

Amb. Raz holds a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, with triple majors in International Relations, Political Science, and Economics from Simmons University in Boston. She also earned a certificate in International Development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Adela Raz

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