In August 2021, the Taliban, a fundamentalist group that adheres to its strict interpretation of Sharia law, regained power in Afghanistan, reversing several development gains and setting into motion a more restrictive regime. Women have been banished from secondary schools and universities, from working at NGOs, and going to certain public spaces, while the media has been censored and political opposition repressed.
At the same time, a reduction in overseas aid due to this leadership has meant a decline in projects that may have helped alleviate poverty and unemployment. Less money at the government level has also affected services such as health care and clean water. And while the country has been excluded from global climate talks, it is the third most vulnerable to climate impacts.
For nongovernmental organizations and aid agencies operating in the country, this means there are a multitude of development challenges to work on and vast humanitarian needs: 17.3 million people are estimated to require assistance. This is layered with a difficult operating context as the Taliban’s restrictions evolve and the threat of violence and conflict is never too far away.