Exploring Gendered Impacts of Development Programs in Post-Taliban Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
This research explores the gendered impacts of development programs in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. As the de facto government, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women's rights, particularly in education, employment, and public participation, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of development efforts. This study investigates how these programs have adapted to new constraints, the challenges faced by women in accessing resources, and the strategies employed to sustain gender-focused initiatives. Through in-depth interviews with Afghan women, stakeholders, and representatives from local and international government agencies, this research provides firsthand perspectives on the evolving nature of Afghanistan’s development sector. Additionally, it examines the resilience of women-led initiatives, the impact of donor engagement, and the influence of humanitarian aid under Taliban rule. By combining qualitative interviews with policy analysis, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and opportunities for gender-inclusive development in Afghanistan. The findings aim to inform future policies and strategies for sustaining women’s empowerment in restrictive environments.
Status
Graduate
Department
International Studies
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Campus
Athens
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Brandon Kendhammer
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Exploring Gendered Impacts of Development Programs in Post-Taliban Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities
This research explores the gendered impacts of development programs in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. As the de facto government, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women's rights, particularly in education, employment, and public participation, fundamentally reshaping the landscape of development efforts. This study investigates how these programs have adapted to new constraints, the challenges faced by women in accessing resources, and the strategies employed to sustain gender-focused initiatives. Through in-depth interviews with Afghan women, stakeholders, and representatives from local and international government agencies, this research provides firsthand perspectives on the evolving nature of Afghanistan’s development sector. Additionally, it examines the resilience of women-led initiatives, the impact of donor engagement, and the influence of humanitarian aid under Taliban rule. By combining qualitative interviews with policy analysis, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and opportunities for gender-inclusive development in Afghanistan. The findings aim to inform future policies and strategies for sustaining women’s empowerment in restrictive environments.