Planning for Inclusive Urban Solutions in Afghanistan – From the Protracted Displacement in an Urban World Consortium

May 2024

Afghanistan hosts over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and over 17 million returnees, with half a million Afghan nationals repatriated from Pakistan in late 2023 alone. This reality calls for new investments in inclusive urban solutions.

Our research in Afghanistan through the Protracted Displacement in an Urban World (PDUW) project led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)  from 2020 to 2023 focuses on long-term displacement experiences in urban areas and settlements - with the aim to build a robust evidence base to engage in a conversation with local actors and advocate for inclusive urban solutions through participatory forum planning processes.

This two-pager outlines the specifics of the research conducted in Afghanistan spanning from 2020 to 2024. The project comprised 889 initial surveys that informed 5 participatory forums engaging diverse stakeholders. The findings, based on three interrelated themes; wellbeing, livelihoods (with a particular focus on women), and urban city planning, provide invaluable insights into the overlooked dynamics of protracted displacement.

For a deeper understanding of the project's outcomes, please refer to the 2-pager and the attached outputs.

• Research Brief: Afghanistan's unfolding crisis; Wellbeing and livelihoods of displaced people before and after the regime change

• Read Policy Brief - Displaced people in Afghanistan’s cities need support

• Read Policy Brief - Inclusive urban solutions: city actors engaging with displaced communities

• Read City Note - Jalalabad Participatory Forums