Afghanistan — Publications

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

April 2024

Most of the world’s displaced people live in cities, yet there is little evidence on how to build lasting partnerships with city governments to support urban displaced communities.

Our co-founder Nassim Majidi along with Samer Saliba, Helen Elizabeth Yu authored this policy brief for The Protracted Displacement in an Urban World (PDUW) project. Exploring participatory planning and decision-making processes, bringing together city governments and representatives of displaced communities in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Jordan and Kenya. Four cities benefitted from increased dialogue on the needs of displaced people. Yet, it remains difficult to translate this awareness into sustained city-led coordination without filling city resourcing gaps.

This briefing presents the key lessons learned from the project to inform city-led, multi-stakeholder responses to urban displacement.

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Samuel HallApril 16, 2024Afghanistan, displaced persons, WELLBEING, livelihoods, ethiopia, jordan, kenya, IIED, Policy Brief

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

February 2024

The Protracted Displacement in an Urban World project in Afghanistan aimed to understand the lives of displaced individuals in camp-like and urban settings. Initial data collection occurred before the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, with a follow-up one year afterwards to assess changes in livelihoods and wellbeing. The project, centred in Jalalabad city and Barikab settlement, evaluated five wellbeing dimensions. Key findings highlighted a significant economic downturn post-regime change, leading to increased hours worked for both men and women, more child labour, yet decreasing household incomes. Economic strain impacted health access, food security, and psychosocial wellbeing, notably worsening for women and urban displaced populations. The project calls for immediate humanitarian aid and targeted economic assistance, and emphasises the importance of gender inclusivity, community participation and a Humanitarian-Development Nexus approach for sustainable solutions.

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Samuel HallFebruary 26, 2024Afghanistan, displaced persons, WELLBEING, livelihoods

IIED: Displaced people in Afghanistan’s cities need support

February 2024

There are over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan, along with a large number of returnees: half a million Afghans were forcibly returned from Pakistan between October and December 2023 alone. Forced evictions have also impacted IDPs in informal settlements across Afghan cities.

The pressures to return call for new approaches to durable solutions. In this context, stakeholders must invest in urban planning for cities to become spaces of inclusion.

In 2021 and 2022, we conducted two rounds of research in Kabul and Jalalabad, which revealed an economic collapse that is forcing displaced men, women and children to work longer hours to survive. This takes a toll on social relations. and bodily and mental wellbeing, reflecting a loss of hope for the future. In light of these findings, urgent humanitarian aid is required, alongside continuous monitoring, to adapt to emerging needs.

Download policy brief here.

Samuel HallFebruary 13, 2024Afghanistan, internal displacement, urban displacement

MMCC: A Social Circus in Afghanistan - Building Courage & Growth in Afghan Children, Youth and their Communities

October 2023

This year, Samuel Hall embarked on identifying interventions to scale and sustain in Afghanistan. What are initiatives that can be sustained, in a context of limited funding and widespread need? Our team found that social circuses are the right answer to building alternative education pathways, particularly for underserved communities, and social cohesion across Afghanistan.

Founded in 2002, The Mobile Mini-Circus for Children (MMCC). MMCC and its local partner, the Afghan Educational Children’s Circus (AECC) has expanded into a countrywide education program focusing on teaching children to lead.

The MMCC is a reflection of what children in Afghanistan need today – a society that is suffering its most urgent humanitarian crisis as of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and lacking in resources for both education and entertainment. It is also a reflection of what could have been in Afghanistan for the last 20 years, and the potential of what could be in the future.

Samuel Hall’s pro-bono evaluation of Mobile Mini Circus for Children measured its impact across various areas. We found that through its activities, MMCC has created an impact by empowering and encouraging youth leadership; inclusion & integration of Displaced Communities; facilitating trust and community building and encouraging inclusive and safe spaces for young girls and women

Download Full Evaluation Here
Download Factsheets Here

Samuel HallOctober 16, 2023MMCC, Education, Social Circus, Afghanistan, education, Children

UNICEF Innocenti - As They Move: Child and Youth Experiences of Migration, Displacement and Return in Afghanistan

October 2023

What has happened to the thousands of children who fled Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul 2021, and what awaits those forced to return? At Samuel Hall, we have been documenting post-return outcomes for 14 years. This latest collaboration with UNICEF Innocenti seeks to amplify the voices of Afghan children who recount difficult journeys, hardship, and neglect as well as resilience.

Thousands of Afghan children have been forced to return to Afghanistan to a situation either similar to or worse than the one they left. One 17-year-old boy we spoke to said, “To me, coming back to Afghanistan means struggling with life and living a poor life because there are no employment opportunities and a proper governance system to support you.”

Samuel Hall led the data collection at one of the most challenging times in the country’s history - after the fall of Kabul - and a team of scholars authored the final report. Our combined efforts underscore the urgent need for child-sensitive interventions and a call to uphold the rights of Afghan child migrants, first and foremost as children who need access to safer pathways both in and out of Afghanistan. No child, no adult, should be forced to return to Afghanistan at this time. UNHCR has made clear that those who do not wish to return to Afghanistan should not be forced to return.

Download Full Report Here

Samuel HallOctober 9, 2023As They Move, Child Migration, Reintergration, Afghanistan, Migration

IOM, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, NRC: Documentation and Legal Identity in Afghanistan

August 2023

Access to legal identity is essential for Afghans to overcome mobility and protection challenges. Yet, the majority of Afghans do not possess passports or other vital civil documents like tazkiras. Since August 2021, it has become even harder to obtain identification and civil registration documents due to rising costs, office closures, staff shortages, and confusing procedures.

To assess the current civil documentation and identity management landscape in Afghanistan and provide actionable recommendations to enhance the protection of all Afghans across the country, Samuel Hall worked with the International Organization for Migration,UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and NRC and the Interagency Working Group on Legal Identity (TWG) to publish a research study that provides the latest updates on this issue of rights in Afghanistan.

The study investigated civil documentation and identity management in Afghanistan, with a focus on accessibility to essential services and the acceptance of legal documents within Afghan society. It also aimed to identify opportunities for addressing these challenges and supporting the Afghan population.

Download Executive Summary Here

Download Full Report Here

Download Research Brief here

Samuel HallAugust 14, 2023Afghanistan, Civil rights, UNICEF, civil documentation

War Child UK: Children in Distress - An Afghan Child Focused Needs Assessment

July 2023

Samuel Hall in collaboration with War Child Afghanistan conducted a needs assessment in Herat, Ghor and Badghis to contribute towards closing the knowledge gaps on the situation of children’s rights and well-being in western Afghanistan. The study brings to light, new evidence – including from children – on the challenges they face in previously inaccessible districts.

The findings show that children need informed and trained advocates to access support and overcome negative coping mechanisms. It is also important for households to address risks and bad choices while also creating safe spaces for children. The research underlined the potential for informal forms of support within the household. Home-centred models of support hold a potential for broader reach benefiting at risk children. It further suggests the need for safer home environments to facilitate these.

We suggest integrating child protection services into existing health and other programming, with a focus on child-friendly PSS work. There is an urgent need to influence local decision makers and build their understanding of children’s rights and also revive the Child Protection Action Network (CPAN).

Download Research Brief Here

Samuel HallJuly 28, 2023Afghanistan, children, CPAN, Child rights

ADSP: Research and Learning Partnership for Trends Analyses Related to Afghan Displacement (2022 - 2023)

April 2023

Despite the reduction in conflict after August 2021, many drivers of displacement in Afghanistan persist or have been exacerbated, leading to Afghans moving in search of protection or remaining in protracted displacement. At the same time, discussions led by the De facto Authorities (DfA) on durable solutions continue to centre on returns.

ADSP in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council and with the support of Samuel Hall have produced a brief that seeks to highlight prospects for local integration in Kandahar, one of the urban areas in Afghanistan that remains a hope for protection for many displaced.

Samuel Hall in partnership with ADSP have also produced an Expert Commentary Series that seeks to analyse under-explored elements of protracted displacement on the Afghanistan displacement axis.

Local integration has long been championed as one of three possible durable solutions to displacement. However, despite a concerted push for increased recognition of, and support for local integration, it is frequently overlooked by governments and policy makers, who favour return as the preferred solution.

Download Full Brief: Local Integration for IDPs in Kandahar? Insights from the field

Download Full Brief: Local Integration? Insights from the field, and from a local NGO working on improving the resilience of displacement affected communities

Download Expert Commentary #1: Afghan refugees in Pakistan – Protracted displacement or protracted settlement

Download Expert Commentary #2: Rethinking Durable Solutions in Peri-Urban Areas in Pakistan

Samuel HallApril 27, 2023Afghanistan, Danish Refugee, local integration

ILO: A Road to Decent Jobs for All Afghans

April 2023

Samuel Hall conducted a final independent evaluation to promote accountability and learning within ILO’s teams which undertook the programmatic interventions for R2DJ4ALL. The evaluation aimed to understand why and to what extent intended and unintended results were achieved and analysed the implications of the results. A critical approach was adopted to conduct the evaluation as previous learnings from R2J were also factored into the design and methodology of the evaluation.

According to Samuel Hall’s findings, R2DJ4ALL is considered relatively successful in coherence and market systems development, creating safe employment opportunities and effectively reaching gender objectives. The project was effective in achieving its objectives with positive changes in income and working conditions. However, its efficiency needs significant improvement due to issues with fund allocation. There is a need to provide more support to traditional and non-traditional businesses with innovative and technological approaches and initiate deeper collaboration with different stakeholders to achieve systemic changes and sustainability of the enterprises.

Download Executive Summary Here

Samuel HallApril 18, 2023Afghanistan, women, ILO, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES

IOM: Unpacking the Realities of Displacement Affected Communities in Afghanistan Since August 2021

November 2022

Samuel Hall was commissioned by IOM Afghanistan with support from EU Partnerships to produce research briefs on the impact of climate change, mental health, infrastructure, and urban migration on displacement-affected communities in Afghanistan.

Our research briefs highlight recommendations on how reintegration programming can better accommodate sustainable solutions to climate change and infrastructure incorporating people’s mental health needs.

Download Synthesis Brief here

Download Research Brief - Urban Migration

Download Research Brief - Mental Health

Download Research Brief - Climate Change

Download Research Brief - Infrastructure

Samuel HallNovember 28, 2022Afghanistan, climate change, mental health, infrastructure, urban migration

MIGNEX: Migration & Development Dynamics in Shahrake Jabrael, Afghanistan

September 2022

Samuel Hall interviewed youth in Shahrake Jabrael, Afghanistan as part of our research with MIGNEX [Aligning Migration Management and the Migration–Development Nexus]; a collaborative research effort to tackle the challenges of global migration with a long-term vision for better outcomes.

This case study brief co-authored by Samuel Hall team explores 'Migration & Development Dynamics in Shahrake Jabrael, Afghanistan’ where education and women’s civic engagement were a source of pride but with limited state and international support there stands an imminent risk to lives ahead of the fall of Kabul. Due to the long standing discrimination and poverty, many hoped to leave.

Read here

Samuel HallOctober 19, 2022Afghanistan, Migration, Global Migration

MIGNEX: Migration-relevant policies in Afghanistan

August 2022

Samuel Hall was subcontracted by MIGNEX to deliver this report based on data collected in 2020-21 and provides a snapshot of migration policies before the fall of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA).

This review of migration-related policies in Afghanistan refers to a period before the change in political power in mid-2021. Therefore, the review explores the progress made up until August 2021 on migration and development in Afghanistan, and it is not intended to reflect the current conditions of the country. The purpose of the review is to provide an overview of the key migration policies in Afghanistan and its interaction with development and development policies – a marker of the progress made up until the change of government authorities in August 2021.

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Samuel HallAugust 15, 2022MIGNEX, Afghanistan, policy, South Asia

HALO Trust - Mine Action in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover: Imperatives in 2021 and Beyond

November 2021

The HALO Trust commissioned Samuel Hall to conduct empirical research on mine action in Afghanistan in June 2021, two months before the Taliban takeover of the country. The research involved primary data collection in two rural villages, in order to explore changes at the community level that occurred subsequent to HALO Trust landmine clearance. Samuel Hall had also conducted four prior studies and evaluations on mine action in Afghanistan from 2019-2021. This combined research informed the development of a policy brief, which explores the following areas: the changed political context but enduring humanitarian needs in Afghanistan; mine action in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover; and policy implications and recommendations regarding principled mine action support in Afghanistan and globally.

Download Policy Brief

Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) - Thirty Years of Impact

November 2021

Due to successive waves of instability and conflict from the 1980s onwards, Afghanistan was heavily contaminated by explosive ordnance (EO). Established to improve this situation, the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) commenced activities in 1988. Samuel Hall was commissioned by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to produce an evaluation taking stock of three decades of work by the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA).

It maintains a focus on impact resulting from MAPA, while also including criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability. To gather the evidence needed, a mixed-methods methodology was employed, combining different sources of quantitative and qualitative data to gain an extensive understanding of mine action results over time. Data collection took place in 24 communities across eight provinces, representing the different regions of Afghanistan.

Download Executive Summary
Download Report
Watch Video

ILO – Road to Jobs: Bringing decent work to rural households in the Northern Provinces of Afghanistan

January 2021

The International Labour Organization (ILO) carried out the Road to Jobs (R2J) project 2015-2020 with the aim to create more and better jobs in two provinces of Northern Afghanistan: Balkh and Samangan. ILO reports that more than 60,000 people have recorded positive changes in their working conditions and/or income and approximately 120,000 beneficiaries from disadvantaged groups have been reached. Around USD 14 million have been generated over five years for poor-income earners and targeted MSMEs.

Samuel Hall was commissioned to conduct the final independent evaluation of R2J and assess its outcomes on market systems and local communities, using a mixed-methods approach and the OECD-DAC criteria to examine the project’s relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability in a holistic manner.

Download Summary

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DELMI – Those who were sent back: Return and reintegration of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan and Iraq

October 2021

This 2019/2020 study was commissioned by the Swedish Migration Studies Delegation (DELMI), with fieldwork by Samuel Hall. Results are based on 100 interviews with migrants who have returned voluntarily and involuntarily to Afghanistan and Iraq. Respondents answered questions about their lives before arrival to Sweden, the asylum and return process. The study sought to actively embed local researchers and civil society organisations in the research design, to create a deeper evidence-base for advocacy and aid nuanced understanding of the challenges of return decision-making, reintegration and post-return monitoring.

Download Policy Brief

Download Report

HALO Trust – Impact Assessments of Abandoned Improvised Mines (AIM) & Anti-Vehicle Mines (AVM) in Afghanistan

April 2021

Abandoned Improvised Mines (AIM) have caused over half of all landmine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the last 5 years, killing thousands . Anti-Vehicle Mines (AVM) comprise over half of the remaining suspected and confirmed hazardous areas in the country. The HALO Trust is the major clearance organisation for both types of landmines. The impact assessments were based on primary research directly with communities affected by AVM and AIM and their subsequent survey and clearance.

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HALO Trust – An Independent Evaluation of the HALO Trust 2016-2020 Mine Action Programmes Funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

February 2021

Between 2016 and 2020, the HALO Trust conducted mine action across eight projects: Afghanistan, Colombia, Kosovo, the West Bank (Palestinian Territories), Somalia, Somaliland, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. With over 16m USD in funding from the Dutch MFA, HALO conducted landmine/ERW clearance, explosive ordnance risk education (EORE), and victim assistance (VA), in order to prevent injuries and death, return land to local communities and increase people's resilience. This independent evaluation assessed the performance of the global programme along OECD-DAC criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact and sustainability. It found the programme largely succeeded along these criteria.

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HelpAge – COVID-19, Displacement & Older People in Afghanistan

January 2021

Samuel Hall and HelpAge International add a short country report brief focused on the impact of COVID-19 on Afghanistan’s elderly population to a multi-partner series sponsored by UNFPA and coordinated by HelpAge International. Samuel Hall’s contribution is independent and entirely self-funded. The overall objective of this series is to broadly monitor, document, analyse and share how the situation of older people in Asia changes in 2020 as a result of COVID-19, in order to inform programmatic responses and policy advice, post-pandemic. The methodology is geared towards collecting and analysing a wide range of secondary evidence from multiple sources, including academic, UN and INGO studies; government documents and data; key informant interviews; summaries of field data; and media reports.

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Street Child – Building Alternatives: Supporting Afghan Women & Children in Conflict with the Law

December 2020

This report generates evidence regarding the effectiveness of AtDs, rehabilitation, and reintegration measures, intended for stakeholders currently in a position to implement AtDs, as well as the broader sector working with children and women in conflict with the law. The Children in Crisis (CiC) project titled Support to Afghan Women and Children in Conflict with the Law: Diversion, Rehabilitation and Reintegration is a series of programmatic interventions that began in December 2017 and will conclude in 2020. It seeks to address the major structural barriers to the implementation of the Alternatives to Detention (AtD) and Alternatives to Incarceration (AtI) measures added to the Afghan Penal Code, and the growing evidence base for positive outcomes in reintegration, rehabilitation and recidivism that are connected to successful implementation of such alternatives in other contexts, for children specifically and for adults more broadly. Specifically, the goal of the work is to enable vulnerable children and women in contact and conflict with the law to avoid detention, reduce reoffending through rehabilitation, and reintegrate into their families and communities. This research falls under and addresses the third objective of the project, "Objective 3: Developing an evidence base to influence and advocate for future justice sector reform for women and juveniles."

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