Afghanistan

About

In Afghanistan, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung has been active since 2002 and from 2005 – 2017 with its own office representation, working in different fields: In the first years the work focused on media development, women empowerment and strengthening of local civil society organisations. Due to changing circumstances, the focus of the programme shifted in the course of time to environmental issues, the role of youth in the democratisation process and to foreign, peace and security policies.

If you want to get some impressions of the work of the former office, visit our Afghanistan archive!

Afghanistan: Ruling by Decree

POLICY BRIEF

Within Taliban governance, the absence of a constitution or legal structure leaves Emir's decrees as the principal guiding force. However, these decrees often linger in the realm of aspiration, lacking the concrete mechanisms necessary for effective implementation. This policy brief looks at Taliban governance and the challenges posed by the reliance on moral guidance in navigating administrative and policy realms.

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Afghanistan: Response to Forced Returnees

POLICY BRIEF

In 2023, tensions peaked between Afghanistan and Pakistan over the expulsion of Afghan nationals. Forced returns led to an influx of families crossing borders, straining resources. This brief examines the institutional response, challenges, and recommendations for international support.

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Working Conditions of Local Civil Society in Afghanistan

E-Paper

This policy brief aims to shed light on the realities, opportunities, and challenges that local civil society face, with an eye towards guiding future international engagement.

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The Main Drivers of Water Shortage in Daikundi Province

Report

The purpose of this study is to identify the main drivers of water shortage in Daikundi Province of Afghanistan.

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Through a different lens

E-Paper

Activists and amateur women filmmakers have played a pivotal role in capturing the realities of life under the Taliban rule. They have utilised social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter to obtain an unfiltered perspective of Afghanistan. This E-Paper explores the insights that can be gained from these films in our efforts to understand the current crisis that women in Afghanistan face.

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Videos

The short film "The Sharp Edge of Peace", supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, accompanies and portrays Fatima Gailani, Fawzia Koofi, Habiba Sarabi, and Sharifa Zurmati, the only female members of the Afghan government delegation to the intra-Afghan peace negotiations in Doha, which began in September 2020.

Palwasha Hassan is Executive Director at the Afghan Women’s Educational Center, working for women’s rights and women empowerment. She was interviewed by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in the context of the project "No Women - No Peace: 20th Anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security"