The Afghanistan Strategic Learning Initiative was set up to leverage the knowledge and experience of experts working on Afghanistan and aid issues.
A cross-think tank project, the initiative was convened with the support of the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) and the donor, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, in partnership with the Center for Global Development (CGD), Chatham House, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), ODI, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-Development Assistance Committee.
Activities
Between December 2021 and February 2022, ASLI held four workshops, bringing together over 150 senior leaders, decision makers, experts, researchers and practitioners to discuss the future of foreign aid in Afghanistan.
The Chatham House workshop explored four potential scenarios for Afghanistan’s political, economic and security trajectory over the next 18–24 months: Afghanistan Scenarios: Challenges and Ways Forward for Engagement in 2022–23.
The IDS workshop explored need and vulnerability, tying the drivers of these conditions to the scenarios: Needs and Vulnerability in Afghanistan.
The CGD workshop assessed options for future aid instruments and mechanisms to address the financial crisis in Afghanistan: Crafting the International Response in Afghanistan: Options to Enable Financial Flows and Promote 'Beyond-humanitarian' Aid.
The ODI workshop focused on options for collective action: Recalibrating Relations with Afghanistan: Collective Action by International Actors.
In May 2022, UKHIH published a final synopsis paper: Confronting New Realities: Actions and Priorities for the International Community in Afghanistan.
About the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub
The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub is an independent entity hosted within Elrha and fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.