Will we let the Afghan Reform-Process Down? – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

The author warns that a hasty reduction in international civilian aid to Afghanistan could undermine a decade of progress in education, health, and media. While security transitions and political leadership changes dominate the agenda, the author emphasizes that the 'economic transition' is critical. The document highlights that achievements in school enrollment and health are fragile due to poor quality and lack of maintenance funds. It further notes that while a media revolution and a growing civil society provide a platform for reform, these are vulnerable to conservative forces and a lack of resources. The author concludes that predictable aid is necessary to consolidate these gains and prevent reform-minded groups from being marginalized by warlords and powerbrokers.

• There is a significant risk that international civilian assistance to Afghanistan will fall below the 16 billion dollars committed at the 2012 Tokyo Conference due to competing global conflicts, corruption, and the influence of warlords.
• Progress in education and health is fragile; while school enrollment is high (8-9 million children, over 30% girls), quality is poor, and some donor-built hospitals in Kabul remain unused because they are too expensive to operate or poorly constructed.
• Afghanistan has undergone a media revolution with nearly 60% TV access and 2 million internet users, but this freedom of expression remains threatened by conservative forces and limited rural access.
• The author suggests that expanding the use of fiber-optic cables and solar energy could extend TV and internet access from cities into the countryside.
• A reduction in aid would intensify the conflict between immediate security needs and long-term development, potentially marginalizing reform-oriented politicians in favor of old warlords and powerbrokers.

APA

Peace Research Institute Oslo (n.d.). Will we let the Afghan Reform-Process Down? – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). https://www.prio.org/publications/6974

Chicago

Peace Research Institute Oslo. Will we let the Afghan Reform-Process Down? – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). n.d. https://www.prio.org/publications/6974.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Peace Research Institute Oslo |title=Will we let the Afghan Reform-Process Down? – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) |url=https://www.prio.org/publications/6974 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{peaceresearchinstituteoslondwill, author = {{Peace Research Institute Oslo}}, title = {{Will we let the Afghan Reform-Process Down? – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)}}, publisher = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://www.prio.org/publications/6974}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }