SDG Goals Status Gaps Solutions

More than 70 percent The Taliban denied Immediate help to the

of the population government staff access to Afghan people,
lacks access to safe areas devastated by flash especially those
Clean Water drinking water, floods, which killed more particularly vulnerable to
and with available than 150 people and left the Taliban, is essential.
Sanitation drinking water often houses and property And while focusing
contaminated. damaged. efforts on protecting the
lives of Afghans who are
most threatened by
recent events is of
utmost importance,
water insecurity and its
ties to conflict should not
be ignored by the
international community.
Only 35 % of Because of the takeover of A viable solution could
Afghans have access the Taliban, the most be to support
to electricity. Most talented employees in sustainable rural
Affordable rural areas in water supply have left the electrification programs,
and Clean Afghanistan, sector to work with non- focusing on solar PV and
Energy accounting for 75 % governmental NGOs or mini hydropower
of the population, are migrate to Europe and systems. Even
not connected to the North America. multipurpose use of the
grid. The power systems- power
supply is limited to generation and irrigation-
self-made solar PV is feasible, which will not
rooftop systems, only supply the people
which cannot be with electricity and
used for productive enhance local economic
use to support activities but will also
economic activities. contribute to paving the
way for a green
transition in the country.
The Afghan economy A potential reduction in To recover, the country
is expected to hover international aid due to needs to prioritize
around no-growth fiscal pressures in donor spending on human
Decent Work territory this year, countries and the capital, basic services
and amid uncertainty restrictive policies on and climate resilience
Economic after contracting by women and girls pose and address harmful
Growth 25% since August risks to Afghanistan’s gender policies.
2021 and adjusting recovery, as do concerns
to significantly lower about stability of the
demand, while the banking sector and
interim Taliban dysfunctional payments
administration’s system.
 restrictive policies on
women’s education
and work will further
lower Afghanistan’s
growth prospects.

Since April 2023, the The top business The current government
country has constraint reported by must focus on the
Industry, experienced surveyed firms was development of
Innovation, deflation, likely due dampened demand, Infrastructure through
and to improved supply, followed by uncertainty funding local workers to
Infrastructure appreciating AFN, about the future and build structures essential
and the economy still limited banking system for the country’s
adjusting to functionality. Other economy, establish a
structurally lower difficulties surveyed firms secure and efficient flow
aggregate demand. face include a less efficient of money among its
Following the August payment system, citizen, and improve its
2021 political increased cost of doing private sector through
upheaval, inflation business, poor availability encouraging businesses
surged due to supply of imported inputs, and provided by both men
disruptions and difficulty securing loans. and women equally.
shocks in commodity
prices, even amid
reduced domestic
demand.

The Taliban have Women in Afghanistan Equal rights and laws

denied women with lack the equal treatment must be passed in order
post-primary which are given to men. to give women in
Reduced education, banned Afghanistan confidence
Inequalities them from numerous to be included in
public places and engagement in public
restricted their matters and various
employment to human activities which
health care and will then result in the
primary education. In abolition of inequality.
December 2022,
women were also
banned from working
for non-governmental
organizations
(NGOs) in most
sectors. Then, in
early April 2023, the
Taliban extended the
 ban to include
Afghan women
working for the
United Nations
Mission in the
country.

References:
1. European Parliamentary Research Service. 2023, April. Women's rights in
Afghanistan: An ongoing battle. European Parliament.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/747084/EPRS_BRI(
2023)747084_EN.pdf

2. The World Bank. 2023, October 3. The World Bank in Afghanistan. World Bank.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/afghanistan/overview#1

3. The World Bank. 2023, October 3. Afghanistan’s Contracted Economy Faces

Uncertainty, Afghan Families Are Struggling. The World Bank.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/10/03/afghanistan-s-
contracted-economy-faces-uncertainty-afghan-families-are-struggling

4. New Security Beat. 2021, August 20. Water and (in-)Security in Afghanistan as
the Taliban Take Over. New Security Beat.
https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2021/08/water-in-security-afghanistan-taliban/

5. Wardak, A. 2023, July 6. Energy Transition in Afghanistan under the Taliban-

Impossible?. The Green Political Foundation.
https://afpak.boell.org/en/2023/07/06/energy-transition-afghanistan-under-taliban-
impossible