This document provides an overview of science and technology in Afghanistan. It discusses Afghanistan's basic statistics such as population size, literacy rates, and education enrollment. It then describes the historical development of S&T institutions in Afghanistan such as universities and research institutes. It notes that decades of war severely damaged S&T infrastructure and depleted human resources. Currently, the government is working to rebuild by expanding education, establishing new universities and technical institutes, and conducting research. However, Afghanistan still faces challenges like weak coordination between S&T institutions and a lack of technical staff. The document outlines future directions such as dedicating funding to S&T and establishing international partnerships to continue developing Afghanistan's S&T capabilities.

1. Science & Technology Profile of Afghanistan
Mohammad Bayer Darmel
Associate professor
Nangarhar University,
Afghanistan

2. • Afghanistan, landlocked multiethnic country located in the
heart of south-central Asia. (8) Afghanistan officially the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan as per constitutional law.2
• It has a population of around 30 million inhabiting an area of
approximately 652,000 km2 (252,000 sq mi), making it the
42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world.
• It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and the east, Iran in the
west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north,
and China in the far northeast.( 9)
• Economic growth in 2013 is estimated at 3.6%, down sharply
from strong growth of 14.4% in 2012.
• Since 2002, school enrollment has increased from 1 million to
8.6 million; girls’ enrollment increased from 191,000 to more
than 3.6 million.
I. Basic statistics

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• The unemployment rate is estimated at 38%.
• Afghanistan's labor force is estimated at 15 million, with an
estimated 80% of the labor force engaged in agriculture.
• 57% of all Afghans are at the age under eighteen years.
• Literacy rate is 42% (Male) and 13 % (Female).
• The Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) is on a very low level. Only
20.5 percent of Afghan children attend primary school.
• Estimated 6 million students are now in schools.

4. Overview of STI policies and
Institutional framework.
• The first scientific body established during the kingdom of
Ghazi Amanullah khan in 1922
• Kabul University was the first university establishes in
Afghanistan in 1930 and Nangarhar was the second one
established during 1962, and Kabul Polytechnic University in
1967
• Based on requirement research institutes in the field of
science and technology were established for covring goals:
– Public Awareness on S&T
– Application of technology in the field
– Innovation in Industry and Technological Innovation
• where they played vital rule in the development of the
country.

5. Effects of war on STI
Since the invasion of Russian in 1979, Afghanistan has been facing
critical situation. three decades in war and conflict which
devastated all parts of development. resulting in loss of the
trained scientific personnel or due to their departure, &
destruction of the infrastructure.

6. Current Situation of Afghanistan in S & T
( Post war situation)
The country has begun reconstruction and development.
It will take some time until the country becomes self-sufficient.
The building of basic infrastructure such as roads, schools,
hospitals etc. has started.
Significant efforts are made for the expansion of education at all
levels
The present situation offers an opportunity to integrate and
develop science and technology in the education system.
The government geared-up establishment of Universities and
technical institutes on government and private level

7. Current situation continue
Higher Education institutes
More than 30 Universities where 20 are Government about 30 are Private
About 100 Intitutes of hiher education about 10 are government and 80 are
private
Afghanistan Academy of Sciences reconstruction and developed which aims
• conducting and leading scientific research in Afghanistan
• Enhanced scientific awareness and cultural enrichment.
• Ensuring regular communication with academies of sciences and
scientific/research entities abroad
• Technical and moral assistance for Afghan scientific-research projects
Exchanging experience and enhancing the professional skills and capacity
of Academy staff.
The knowledge and area of skill is getting more specified recently University
of agriculture technology is established in Kandahar

8. Some other Research Institutes
The Department of Geology and Mineral Survey within the
Ministry of Mines
and Industries conducts geological and mineralogical research,
mapping,
prospecting and exploration.
The Institute of Public Health conducts public health training
and research
and study of indigenous diseases, has a Government reference
laboratory, and compiles statistical data.
In the same time some international partners centers works
for development of science and technology. ( Korean
Vocational center for Afghanistan etc.

9. S and T Policy and Institutional Framework
Objectives: application for construction and development, capacity building
in
human resources, capability for research and innovation, science and
technology in general education and popularisation of science
Strategies: education and training, research and development and
international cooperation
National mechanism for promotion and development of science and
technology: National Council for Science and Technology

10. Science and Technology Policy for Afghanistan:
Strategies
2 - Research and Development
 Research in universities
 Research in institutes and national
laboratories
 Research in Academy of Sciences
 Research in ministries and agencies
 Research in the private sector
1 - Education and Training
 Science and technology education
 Popularisation of science
 Promotion of scientific talent
 Teacher education
 Training of technicians
 Training of engineers and
specialists
3 - International Cooperation
 Training of Afghan faculty and specialists
 Updating and developing science and technology programs
 Joint training and research projects
 Participation in international meetings

11. Science and Technology Policy for Afghanistan:
National Mechanism and Infrastructure
1. National Council for science and technology
2. National Institutes and Laboratories
3. National Documentation and Information Centre
4. National Foundation for Research and Development
5. Associations of Science and Technology Professionals

12. National Council for Science and
Technology
Chairman
Secretariat
Scientific
Committees
Council
Members
Vice-
Chairman
Science and
Society
Consulting
Services
Research and
Development
Research
Funding
International
Relations
National
Research
Center
National Laboratories
Documentation
Universities Academy
of Sciences
Ministries
and Agencies Private Sector

13. Afghanistan Atomic Energy High Commission
(AAEHC)
• The AAEHC was formed in 2009 as non-profit governmental organization
with a mandate of providing Atomic Energy services for peaceful purposes
in Afghanistan.
• The AAEHC in this stage works hard to further strengthen the relations
with international organizations and countries – the High Commission
struggles to actively take part in international conferences related to
Atomic Energy and represent Afghanistan in better ways.
• AAEHC pursue specific programs like training of the experts, providing
short-term and long-term educational opportunities for experts to further
improve their expertise in international nuclear centers, and development
of Country Program Framework (CPF).

14. IV. Key Achievements
• 10 % population have access to electricity
• 55% of children are in schools
• 5000 Km National high ways have been rehabilitated
• First ever railway line (70 Km) established
• 18% population have access to Internet
• 60% population have access to Mobile and Telephonic facility.
• 200 radio and TV broadcaster are working in the country
• 23 airports with paved run way
• Discovery of mines (worth of 3 trillion USD)
• Preparation is in the last stage for Putting of orbit satellite for
improvement of television and internet.

15. V. Main Challenges in S and T
Development
1) Gape between policies and achievement
2) Luck of founds and coordination between donors
3) The policies and development are not based on needs
4) Review and recompose mandate of public funded S&T
institutions.
5) Weak Linkage of public S&T Institutions with one another, and to
create pro-active relationships with the private sector.
6) Lack of Coordination between public and private enterprise.
7) Lack of Professional and Technical staff

16. VI. Programs to address weakness
• Launch of civilian Technical Assistance Program (CTAP). It is Government
of Afghanistan's Program for providing international Technical Assistance
to the Ministries, Commissions, Independent Directorates and other
Agencies of the Afghan Government.
• In order to improve the quality of teaching of science and technology
throughout the country, A National Center for Science and Technology
Education (NCSTE), with mini satellites in every province is under
development which will be used to develop and produce science
experiment guide and support teachers for teaching and setting up
science and math labs
• 1.2 billion USD spent on staff capacity development

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• Large scale investment by China and some other countries in mines
extraction and also capacity development of the technical staff in the field
of mines.
• Afghanistan government has signed regional cooperation protocols with
different countries for agriculture production and technology
enhancement.
• Thousands of Afghan students and staff members are provided
scholarships for study in Bachelor, Master and Ph.D (to some extent)
across the world through sponsorship provided by different government
and organizations.

18. IIV. Future Directions
1) Strong and realistic S&T policy establishment in order to provide a catalyst
role for the country’s long term development and the strategic links to
deepen commercial industrial and entrepreneurial developmental
activities.
2) In order to encourage a positive S&T culture and environment in
Afghanistan for research, government continues to devote a high
proportion of the national budget to education and research, training and
S&T related sectors
3) Facilitate enterprise research and capacity reform to enable them to
acquire, develop, adopt and incorporate ICT and to apply and disseminate
science and technology, especially to SMEs and indigenous enterprise.
4) Establishment of strong relationship with different countries and
organization such as OIC, SAARC, etc for S &T development.

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For establishment of a National System of Innovation , the following are
necessary steps to be taken.
At National Level
• Policy Formulation and Resource Allocation
• Specialized Advisory Functions
• Regulatory Policy
With other International Partners
• Financing of Innovation-related Activities
• Performance of Research, Development and Innovation;
• The Creation of Linkages and Knowledge Flows
• Human Resource Development and Capacity Building; and
• The Provision of Technical Services and Infrastructure.

20. Thanks for your attention