Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a country in transition and continues to face significant challenges that require improvements in security, the economy, governance, and education. The past year saw steps forward in education and women’s rights, declining levels of migration, and continued commitments from the international community, but much more progress is needed to create a stable and democratic society. The Asia Foundation supports the Afghan people through local programs and partnerships focused on improving rule of law, access to and quality of education, women’s rights and empowerment, regional cooperation.
Abdullah Ahmadzai
Country Representative
Contact
The Asia Foundation – Afghanistan
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 175
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: +93 799 343-462
Email: afghanistan.general@asiafoundation.org
Afghanistan Flash Surveys in 2020-21
A global pandemic made it impossible to conduct The Asia Foundation’s annual in-person Survey of the Afghan People this year. Instead, we carried out three waves of mobile phone surveys collecting the views of 4,303 Afghan adults from all 34 provinces over time. The Afghanistan Flash Survey series is designed to actively track public sentiment on a focused set of topics to support policymakers as they navigate a country in transition. Fieldwork for Wave 1 took place September 6 to October 4, 2020; second and third wave data will be available soon.
NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN
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The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog -
Just How Far Apart Are the Taliban and the Afghan Government?
December 9, 2020
Blog
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A Survey of the Afghan Returnees 2019
December 3, 2020
Publication -
Virtual Event – Afghanistan Flash Surveys on Perceptions of Peace, Covid-19, & the Economy
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Events
Afghanistan in 2019: A Survey of the Afghan People
Insecurity and economic uncertainty continue to be a concern for most Afghans; 84.4% say they would vote for a president who knows how to improve the economy, while 65.2% say they would vote for a president who accepts a peace agreement with the Taliban. Given the importance of peace, elections, and reconciliation, new Survey questions in 2019 ask Afghans what they might be willing to sacrifice to reach a peace deal, including the constitution, democratic elections, freedom of speech, and the presence of foreign military forces. The Survey of the Afghan People is the longest-running and broadest nationwide survey of Afghan attitudes and opinions. Since 2004, the Survey has gathered the opinions of more than 129,000 Afghan men and women, providing a unique longitudinal portrait of evolving public perceptions.
Educating women and girls
We support training in science, mathematics, and computer literacy to teachers and others in over 120 Afghan schools, reaching more than 12,000 female teachers and students. Of the more than 8,000 Afghan children who directly benefit, nearly 6,000 are girls. Funded by USAID, the Strengthening Education in Afghanistan project also prepares Afghan girls in Kandahar province for the national public university entrance exam. Last year, 78 percent of girls who received support passed the 2018 exam and gained entry to a four-year national university. Another 10 percent will pursue higher education at two-year national higher education institutions.
HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS ASIA
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Peripheral Vision: Views from the Borderlands – Fall 2020
January 12, 2021
Publication -
The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog
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The Asia Foundation Supports APEC Policy Brief on Women, Covid-19, and the Future of Work
January 4, 2021
News -
North Korean Refugee Entrepreneurs in South Korea: Unveiling Korea’s Hidden Potential
December 30, 2020
Publication
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Asia Foundation Tackles Governance Challenges in GovLab’s 100 Questions Initiative
December 16, 2020
Media Coverage -
Myanmar Business Environment Index: Covid-19 Impact on Businesses
December 15, 2020
Publication
Impact Report 2020
Leading through change