Thirty years of conflict, extremism and violence have left Afghanistan as one of the poorest countries in the world. Corruption, driven by political patronage and a war economy, as well as overall instability, has obstructed social and economic development.
While there has been some development progress made, particularly in the critical areas of public financial management and establishing public institutions, the reconstruction and development challenges are daunting. The country is off track on all Millennium Development Goals, sparking a five-year extension until 2020. In the vast majority of the country, the government is not capable of providing basic social services. Three out of four Afghans are unable to read and write, while average life expectancy stands at just 48 years. One in six Afghan children dies before the age of 6.
In line with the United Kingdom’s National Security Council Strategy, U.K. aid will support progress toward a viable Afghan state. Specifically, the U.K. Department for International Development and other U.K. development groups will work to build a more capable government at all levels and reduce poverty by tackling the root causes of instability and insecurity in Afghanistan.