Publication

This paper examines how the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has sought to deliver effective development results amid ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. Key findings include: 1) the demands on USAID in Afghanistan have pushed it well outside its traditional boundaries of delivering development aid; 2) short-term stabilization programs and long-term development programs in areas with active ongoing conflict have had a limited enduring impact, while targeted humanitarian assistance has had more of an effect; 3) a key lesson learned is that, as much as possible in a war zone situation, proven development principles—such as local systems, sustainability, evidence-based design and implementation, strong monitoring and evaluation, and country ownership—need to be maintained, and more.