In 2021 KUNO started a series of in-depth learning sessions on the topic of 20 years of Dutch involvement in Afghanistan, with a focus on humanitarian aid and development cooperation. Seven perspectives - NGOs, defense, police, Afghan diaspora, parliament, diplomacy, and media- were combined to formulate collective lessons for the future.
The publication
Read the full publication here.
About the publication
From 2001 to 2021, the Netherlands was actively involved in Afghanistan, with Dutch humanitarian, political, military, and development organisations operating in the country. Dutch political goals were highly ambitious: not only would the Netherlands bring stability and security, it would also help build Afghan society. However, on many occasions this did not translate into realistic goals and expectations. While the Dutch engagement in Afghanistan saw some good practices and positive impacts, there was much room for improvement.
Key lessons learned included:
- Individuals and institutions should consciously step out of the wishful-thinking system;
- Cooperation and the establishment of mutual understanding should be encouraged in a structural and institutional manner;
- While getting to know other parties involved is valuable, it is important to maintain non-discriminatory action and neutrality;
- Local context and population should play a more significant role in future mission contributions, and cultural awareness needs to be translated into activities and initiatives.
In addition, the publication contains information about areas for improvement and specific recommendations for different actors.
Authors
- Peter Heintze, former coordinator of KUNO and current team leader of Safety of Journalists at Free Press Unlimited.
- Jorrit Kamminga, former associate Fellow at Clingendael Institute and current senior consultant in global in global policy at Raincloud Defense.