UCA's Afghanistan Research Initiative - ARI

Afghanistan Research Digest
Afghanistan Research Digest is a biweekly series highlighting five peer-reviewed scholarship on Afghanistan:

1. Disli, M., Jalaly, S., & Weill, L. (2026). Do Women Make Better Borrowers and Loan Officers? Evidence From Afghanistan. Economics of Transition and Institutional Change.
Uses microfinance data to test whether borrower and loan officer gender are associated with loan performance in Afghanistan.

2. Ayaz, B., Hall, L. M. G., Muntaner, C., Martimianakis, M. A. T., et al. (2026). Gender Equity in Afghanistan Human Resources for Health 2002-2020: Midwives Versus Female Nurses and Physicians. SSM - Health Systems.
Examines gender disparities within Afghanistan’s health workforce by comparing the trajectories of midwives, nurses, and physicians.

3. Aboul-Enein, B. H., & Achilov, D. (2026). A scoping review of gender-based violence interventions conducted in Afghanistan. International Journal for Equity in Health.
Reviews the limited evidence base on gender-based violence interventions in Afghanistan and assesses their contribution to health and gender equity.

4. Daas, Y., Soubeiga, A. K., & Ogawa, K. (2026). Does family size increase children's probability of dropping out of school? Evidence from Afghan households. Children and Youth Services Review.
Analyses whether larger household size increases school dropout risk among children in Afghanistan.

5. Anwari, P., Abbas, K., Singh, N. S., Mounier-Jack, S., et al. (2026). Vaccine decision-making in Afghanistan: stakeholder analysis and evidence synthesis of policies and processes during 2010-2021.
Maps how vaccine policy decisions were made in Afghanistan before 2021 through stakeholder analysis and policy evidence synthesis.

ARI Supported Publications
Minimalist economic management, deferred revenue regime and aid dependency: Explaining contradictory post-war statebuilding aims
Global Policy, 2024

Authors: Kambaiz Rafi

Key insights & policy relevance

◾️ Statebuilding relied on an unsustainable fiscal model
Afghanistan pursued a centralised state structure while depending on weak domestic revenue sources, creating long-term fiscal fragility.

◾️ Aid dependency undermined institutional development
Heavy reliance on external assistance channelled through non-state actors weakened the growth of domestic bureaucratic capacity.

◾️ Economic policy choices shaped long-term dependency
Sequenced policy decisions between 2002 and 2021 entrenched reliance on aid rather than enabling autonomous state financing.

◾️ Future interventions must align governance and revenue realities
Sustainable statebuilding requires fiscal strategies that match institutional capacity and reduce structural dependence on external aid.

Afghanistan Research Digest
Afghanistan Research Digest is a biweekly series highlighting five peer-reviewed scholarship on Afghanistan:

1. Ahmed, Z. S., & Bettani, S. A. (2026). Navigating Power Rivalry: Small South Asian States in China–India Competition.
Analyses Afghanistan’s positioning within broader China–India strategic rivalry and regional balancing dynamics.

2. Hamedi, M. A., & Wilma, H. D. (2026). The Lifeline of War: Pakistan's Logistical Role in Supporting US Military Operations in Afghanistan (2001–2021). European Journal of Humanistic Studies and Social Sciences.
Examines Pakistan’s logistical and strategic support role in sustaining US military operations in Afghanistan.

3. Barik, S., & Das, S. (2026). The Impact of Public Educational Expenditure on Economic Growth in South Asian Countries. International Journal of Educational Reform.
Analyses the relationship between education spending and economic growth across South Asia, including Afghanistan.

4. Hussain, I. (2026). Everyone knew what was happening: The paradoxes of state secrecy and its making. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture.
Explores state secrecy and public knowledge through reflection on UK war crimes investigations related to Afghanistan.

5. Ghosh, S. (2026). Balochistan's Secessionist Struggle and Quest for New Geopolitical Consequences in South Asia.
Examines regional geopolitical dynamics surrounding Balochistan, including Afghanistan’s strategic relevance.

ARI Supported Publications
Afghan University Graduates’ Perspectives on the Relevance of Higher Education
Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 2024

Authors: Ahmad Walid Barlas, Sayed Mohammad Monir Ansari, Mohammad Aamer Mohammadi

Key insights & policy relevance

◾️ Higher education outcomes do not align with labour market realities
Many graduates report unmet expectations, highlighting a disconnect between academic training and employment opportunities.

◾️ Gender disparities shape post-graduation outcomes
Female graduates face significantly lower employment rates, particularly in agriculture and economics, despite comparable qualifications.

◾️ Skills and networks drive employability
Practical experience, foreign language skills, and professional connections strongly influence graduates’ chances of securing work.

◾️ Targeted support for female entrepreneurship is critical
Expanding home-based and small-business support programs for women can improve economic inclusion and resilience amid restricted labour markets.

Afghanistan Research Digest
Afghanistan Research Digest is a biweekly series highlighting five peer-reviewed scholarship on Afghanistan:

1. Newman, N. J., Akbar, Z., Moazzam, M., & Tahmasebi, S. (2026). Bread, Work, Freedom! The Urgent Call for Action and Accountability in Afghanistan. UC Law SF International Law Journal.
Examines legal pathways for holding the Taliban accountable for gender-based repression under international law.

2. Qayobi, F. (2026). Investigating the Factors Affecting Mental Health of Public School Teachers in Afghanistan: A Case Study of Andkhoy District. ARMADA: Jurnal Penelitian Multidisiplin.
Investigates determinants of mental health among Afghan public school teachers in Andkhoy District.

3. Joshi, M., & Sullivan, G. (2026). Where are the international allies of Afghan women? Australian Journal of International Affairs.
Argues that renewed commitment to women, peace, and security frameworks is necessary to support Afghan women internationally.

4. Farooq, S., Newsom, V. A., & Lengel, L. M. (2026). Diasporic social media activism as discursive resistance: Afghan women contest the Taliban's strategic narratives. Online Media and Global Communication.
Shows how Afghan women in diaspora use social media activism to challenge Taliban narratives and mobilise transnational advocacy.

5. Abdaly, D. Z. H. (2026). Refugees in India: A Historical Perspective on State Responses, Legal Frameworks, and Humanitarian Practices.
Examines India’s historical legal and policy responses to Afghan refugee movements since 1979.

ARI Supported Publications
Post-War Transformation of Mosques in Herat Old City After World War II
Sustainability (MDPI), 2024

Authors: Ghulam Mohammad Asim, Abdul Saboor Haidari, Asadullah Hanif, Taha Aawar, Frishta Akbari, Hariwa Wahiz, Fareshta Suroush, Mozhgan Shahbazi

Key insights & policy relevance

◾️ Historic religious heritage has undergone extensive transformation
A large share of Herat’s traditional mosques have been altered since the 1950s, reflecting sustained pressure on historic urban fabric.

◾️ Modernisation has reshaped the city unevenly
New mosque construction and major transformations are concentrated in specific quarters, creating spatial imbalances in heritage preservation.

◾️ Traditional structures face long-term preservation risks
Only a minority of traditional mosques remain intact, raising concerns about the loss of architectural and cultural continuity.

◾️ Urban and heritage policy must balance use and conservation
Protecting historic religious sites requires planning frameworks that manage transformation while safeguarding cultural identity in living cities.