Unemployment cited as the next biggest challenge in Afghanistan after insecurity

The Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) survey report reflects on some of the major issues in Afghanistan at present time.

According to the survey, insecurity is labeled as the biggest challenge in Afghanistan (34.42%) followed by unemployment (25.86%). Corruption (23.98%) and poverty (6.69%) come third and fourth approximately.

The survey was based on the interview of 1,226 respondents conducted in Kabul, Herat, Bamyan, Badghis, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Kunar, Jawzjan, Parwan, Kandahar, Balkh and Kunduz provinces. 69.82% of the respondents were male and 30.18% were female.

The majority of the respondents labeled government’s efforts towards solving the current issues as “unacceptable”, says the report.

1) Insecurity: 14.9% of the respondents who have perceived insecurity as the major issue in Afghanistan believe that the government “has not tried” to solve this issue. Also, 50.8% of the respondents in this group believe that government’s efforts in this regard were at a low and very low level.

2) Unemployment: From those respondents who perceived unemployment as the biggest issue in the country, 34.1% believe that government has not tried to solve this issue. 48.9% of the respondents in this category believe that government’s efforts in this regard were at a low and very low level.

3) Corruption: From those respondents who labeled corruption as the first major issue in Afghanistan, 33% believe that government has not tried to solve this issue. 52.7% of the respondents in this group believe that government’s efforts in this regard were at a low and very low level.

4) Poverty: From those respondents who Afghanistan, 25.6% believe that the government has not tried to solve this issue. 61% of the respondents in this category believe that government’s efforts in this regard were at a low and very low level.

The report recommends that Afghan citizens must participate in the fight against corruption and it is not the duty of the government alone. Other recommendations in the fight against graft including creating a strong political will against corruption at top political levels, serious monitoring of the performance of judiciary and police, use of religious scholars’ voice, development of a comprehensive and long-term strategy with the specific objectives in the fight against corruption, strengthening the civil society organizations and the media, and improving living condition of civil servants.