Since 2003 the Heinrich Böll Stiftung is actively involved in post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan. While carrying out own activities, like workshops, seminars, research and publications, we support local partner organizations for long and short term projects. Our primary objective is promoting democratic involvement and socio political activism while following four fundamental political values: ecology, gender democracy, solidarity and non violence.

The main goal of our work in Afghanistan is the support of democratization through promotion of a gender sensitive legal framework and citizenship agency. Moreover we want to contribute towards domestic and regional stability and security and to a sustainable development process through people’s participation.

Since the fall of the Taliban regime, international and national expectations of the democratization project in post conflict Afghanistan have been high. And, while advancements have been made, the slow progress of development outside the provincial capitals and the deteriorating security situation all over the country still remain major impeding factors to social, economic and political development. Six years after the fall of the Taliban regime, it is again time to rethink approaches and possibly re define what democratization could entail for a socio political context like Afghanistan.

The Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Afghanistan unlike many other international organisations, still holds a position as neutral actor and enabler of socio political debate amongst Afghans. And also in future, Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Afghanistan will continue to provide the space for exchange of different actors about issues that have been defined by the people themselves. For the coming years it will be necessary to continue the support for greater participation of women and especially of the young generation of Afghans on all levels of society and to provide them with the possibilities of creating a new future for Afghanistan.