Publications

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.
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.
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.
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.
afghan protest

Insecurity in the Physical and Virtual Spheres: Violence, Repression, and Activism in Afghanistan

Following the drawdown of foreign forces from Afghanistan in 2014 and the complete takeover by the Taliban in August 2021, the space for activism in Afghanistan has been significantly restricted. This policy brief aims to shed light on the transition of activism in Afghanistan from the physical sphere to the virtual sphere, the various factors that played a role in that shift, and the current state of repression faced by activists.
APL Policy Paper

The Collapse of the Civic Space in Afghanistan And Supporting the Fight To Reclaim It

Civil society activity in Afghanistan has been significantly constrained since the Taliban regained control of the country in August 2021. This policy brief analyzes how the Taliban has constrained the civic space in Afghanistan.
flowers

Humanitarian Assistance at a Crossroads

More than 18 months after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the country remains gripped in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. This brief provides an overview of the existing challenges and the dilemma facing international donors and their implementing partners operating in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Policy Lab

Afghanistan Under the Taliban: A State of “Gender Apartheid”?

Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Afghan women and girls have suffered a severe rollback of rights, from denial of education to restrictions on movement to a lack of participation in the economy. Considering the significance of the matter, Afghanistan Policy Lab conducted a policy paper Afghanistan Under the Taliban: A State of "Gender Apartheid"?, where we discussed the scope and impact of directives and restrictions issued by the Taliban on women and girls. In our analysis, we examined how these actions violate international human rights norms and guarantees made by the previous Afghan government under its National Action Plan.