An article in today’s New York Times lamented upon some of the more sobering realities concerning successful aid programs – or the lack thereof – for women in Afghanistan.  The analysis reviews how too often domestic or international aid agencies employ expensive, short-term fixes to solve more complex, long-term problems.  “Hindered by what development agencies acknowledge has been poor planning, insufficient appreciation of the environment’s myriad complexities and an aid mentality focused on quick cash infusions rather than longer-term investment, many economic programs for women in Afghanistan have struggled to find their footing.” A lack of follow-through is also cited as one of the largest weaknesses surrounding these programs in their early, fragile stages.

WCI has worked in Afghanistan to develop quality, community-driven and sustainable programs for women since 2005.  The volatile security situation, lack of internal funding, lack of capacity and the ubiquitous narco-economy in Afghanistan ensures that the challenge of maintaining and sustaining these programs is a difficult one.  However, through programs that focus on skills-building, gender-conscious leadership and strategic planning to incorporate the complexity of the Afghan environment, WCI and its in-country partners maintain its presence and hope for change in Afghanistan.  To read more about WCI’s programs, click here.