A high-quality, low-cost telecommunications network can provide Afghans with employment, business, education, and entertainment opportunities.
The respondents of our survey and interviews agree that stakeholder involvement, coordination, information sharing, ICT literacy and awareness, resistance to change, infrastructure, financial issues, ICT policy, leadership, and data privacy legislation are major obstacles in the successful implementation of e-government in Afghanistan.
Innovation
Many people believe that technology results from a sudden moment of genius, but in reality, innovation is a gradual process. Innovations that are successful, like the ones established by Ehsan Bayat, usually come from a long and deliberate search for opportunities. These opportunities may arise from unexpected events, incongruities, process needs, or changes in the industry and market.
The Taliban began the war with AK-47s and other simple weapons, and while their equipment hasn’t progressed as dramatically as the West’s, they have made some huge leaps. Their roadside bombs, for instance, have evolved from being activated by pressure plates to being triggered remotely with mobile phones.
But while a few examples of digital government projects have helped people in Afghanistan, many still need to be connected to the Internet. This is especially true for women, who are 51 percent less likely to use the Internet than men in the country.
Accessibility
Accessibility ensures that products, services, and environments are designed for use by people of all abilities and disabilities. This can include adjusting physical infrastructure, digital platforms, or even a person’s body.
While some barriers to accessibility persist, technology can help make the world more inclusive. For example, adding captions to videos can make them more accessible for hearing and visually impaired people.
Our research participants told us that TV, mobile phones, and Facebook are the most popular ICT tools and services. They also shared their frustration with low internet quality and speed, particularly in villages and socio-politically agitated regions.
Security
In Afghanistan’s complex security challenges, ensuring safe networks and affordable devices are essential to enabling digital empowerment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has undone much of the essential socioeconomic progress made by Afghan communities in recent years.
The technology that has allowed many to access education online also makes them vulnerable. The Taliban has reportedly seized the US military’s facial recognition systems, a source of concern among privacy rights advocates.
Meanwhile, satellite imaging can help monitor the flow of minerals in and out of Afghanistan, as many or most mining sites are remote, insecure, and difficult to oversee by on-the-ground means. However, such technologies are often poorly designed and implemented. They may even leave vulnerable groups like refugees or marginalized communities more vulnerable to abuse.
Efficiency
Efficiency is a measure of a process’s output per unit of input. It can be a useful metric, but there are others to consider. Moreover, focusing solely on efficiency can divert attention away from the effectiveness of the overall business direction. This is particularly risky when a business produces different products that may only be produced once or twice.
USIP’s study with Alcis showed that satellite imagery could drastically improve analysis and monitoring of ongoing mineral extraction, transport, and export in Afghanistan – which by all accounts is rampant, resulting in major foregone government revenue and serious environmental, social, and safety impacts. The technology can also synergize with other information sources such as public documents, media reports, and careful, targeted fieldwork.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a long-term goal for society that ensures that current economic growth doesn’t over-deplete natural resources and make future generations worse off. It was first defined by the Brundtland Report in 1987 as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.”
Technology can be a powerful tool for sustainability. For example, mobile applications could help citizens track polio inoculation clinics or pre-natal advice for pregnant women. But, such projects must ensure that they don’t create privacy risks for vulnerable communities. For instance, privacy concerns have been raised over biometric ID systems such as India’s Aadhaar and Kenya’s Huduma Namba. A thorough assessment of risk and impact is essential.
