Our work in Afghanistan focuses on health, education, governance and human rights. In partnership with the Afghan government, local broadcasters, non-governmental organisations and media professionals, we are enabling people across Afghanistan to take action to improve their lives.
We provide a range of educational programming and support materials, capacity building and policy advice to enhance public service broadcasting at the national and local level. We also deliver targeted media industry training with a particular focus on gender equality.
Context
Conflict and chronic instability have characterised Afghanistan's modern history.
Following the NATO-led offensive against the Taliban in 2001, Hamid Karzai led an interim Afghan government until 2004 when he won a five-year term as president. As the country's first directly elected leader, he faces the challenges of forging national unity, disarming regional militias and tackling drug production.
The BBC has a long-standing reputation in the country, broadcasting in Dari and Pashto. It was the only external broadcaster with a correspondent in the country throughout the Afghan civil war and during Taliban rule, and the majority of Afghans have been listening to the BBC radio drama New Home, New Life since 1994.
Facts
- Afghanistan has a population of 26 million people
- Life expectancy is 46 years for both men and women
- Principle exports are fruit and nuts, carpets and wool
- Afghanistan is the largest exporter of opium in the world
- Private media is mushrooming; while Afghanistan remains a radio culture, TV is becoming increasingly popular
- 92% of Afghans own a radio with 73% listening weekly
- 59% of the population listen to the BBC on a weekly basis
Our work
In response to the need to affect change among policy makers, media professionals and the general public, the BBC World Service Trust is leading three major initiatives in Afghanistan:
- The Afghan Education Projects initiative was established in 1994. It was set up to provide practical information to refugees and internally displaced people, as well as the vast rural population of Afghanistan. Today it is the largest single media-for-development project run by Afghans for Afghans. It continues to provide a wide range of informative and educational programming for Afghan audiences of all ages.
- Afghan Woman's Hour went on air in January 2005. The programme is designed to help Afghan women explore new ideas, find solutions to their problems and encourage them to participate more fully in rebuilding their country. Female reporters from across the country contribute to the programme with engaging interviews on social and gender issues, local recipes and folkloric songs.
- Media freedom is a new concept in Afghanistan. We are working with Radio Television Afghanistan to help it fulfil the role of public service broadcaster. It needs to cater for the diverse educational, entertainment and information needs of audiences across the country.
Partners
We are working in partnership with a wide range of NGOs, academic institutions, local and national Afghan media and the BBC Persian and Pashto service to deliver the broad portfolio of BBC World Service Trust initiatives in Afghanistan.
