Today, we witness a large number of faculty being trained outside the country in multiple disciplines. There is marked increase in the number of higher education institutions but public and private that led to higher number of enrollment of girls and boys in higher education institutions across the country. infrastructure for most of the higher education institutions were either refurbished or newly built. Reference labs including science labs, computer labs and other support services were part of the reform agenda during the almost two decades. Meanwhile equipment and other machinery were purchased and distributed across universities of higher education in the country to support teaching and learning activities. faculty members were trained and exposed to contemporary teaching and learning methodologies.

Despite great achievements over the years, institutions and structural deficiencies still affect the higher education industry in the country. While the MOHE has set out a strategic plan for the next 10 years, the plan is not a reflection of the country’s ground realities. Curriculums are not meeting the growing marked demand for new skills and competencies from the graduates. Most of the higher education institutions still lack strategic vision to guide reform and development efforts towards more responsive institutions of higher education. While several faculties were trained outside the country through scholarship programs, the training was not in line with the needs of the departments or relevant faculties.

Afghanistan saw marked reduction in flow of aid money post collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021.  This lack of funding flow to the country has daunting impact on the country’s economy and local population leading to economic downturn, halt or disruption of social services and poor socioeconomic status of the Afghan population. The situation is compounded by persistent drought, protracted conflict, loss of employment and opportunities for livelihood, pushing many families into poverty.

On the other hand, a change in population dynamics across the country including growing number of IDPs and returnees will challenge the humanitarian actors to respond more effective to the crisis in the country. Overall, the conditions are not favorable for the Afghan population. UN agencies and humanitarian actors express deep concern over deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in the country. Lately, aid agencies and humanitarian actors reported that over 28 million Afghans live in dire conditions and are in grave need for humanitarian assistance.

Concurrently, a change in funding modality including disbursement mechanism has challenged most of the humanitarian actors to adapt with donor requirements. Given engagement of new actors to manage development and humanitarian funds with different mandates and compliance measures would require NGOs to adapt to these new guidelines. Couple with this is the way project are designed and managed. Additionally, engagement of multitude of stakeholders with varying expectations makes the operating environment more complex.

Meanwhile, capacity of staff including knowledge of the humanitarian situation and competency to respond to complex emergencies is tested. While Afghanistan saw an unprecedented rise in the number of educated Afghans during the past twenty years, the country doesn’t have an established cadre of trained professionals in conflict and humanitarian emergencies to deal with the situation. Further, the challenge to deal with the requirements of new funding modality and skills to lead operationalization of humanitarian response are factors that would determine pace and success of humanitarian response in the country.

In summary, institutional deficiencies, lack of capacity at different levels, outdated management practices including poorly structured curriculums and inadequately prepared graduates characterizes the higher education industry in Afghanistan. Building on past gains, the higher education industry and consultancy firms would require a new thinking and vision that is aligned with advancements in technology, regional connectivity and most importantly Afghanistan’s realities. The market in today’s Afghanistan demand.

ELCS is acutely aware of the current market situation in Afghanistan and is committed to delivering services that align with the evolving needs of our clients. In response to the significant changes since August 2021, we have tailored our consultancy services to address the critical capacity development requirements of NGOs and INGOs operating in this challenging environment. By conducting thorough political, security, and needs assessments, we ensure our interventions are both relevant and effective. Our focus on building trust through local partnerships, providing tailored training, and implementing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks ensures that our support is sustainable and impactful. ELCS remains dedicated to empowering organizations with the skills and resources necessary to thrive and make a meaningful difference in Afghanistan.