Poverty Eradication in Afghanistan, its Challenges and Strategies Forward

On October 16, 2019, Faculty of Economics at Kateb University held a seminar on ‘Poverty Eradication in Afghanistan, its Challenges and Strategies Forward’ to commemorate ‘World Poverty Eradication Day’.

Prof. Mohammadi, Head of the Department of Economics, examined the status of poverty in the world referring to the status of people living in extreme poverty in different countries, and their total percentage in the world.

Following the introductory session, Mr. Nabi Soroush, Director General of Policy and RBM at Ministry of Economy, provided description about the Afghanistan Economy and Poverty. He added that the existing challenges that cause increase in poverty include insecurity and instability, rapid increase in population, lack of long-term strategic plans, rapid decline in global aid, low participation of women in economic activities, insecurity in Afghanistan, and the return of refugees and displaced persons. He also pointed out that the IRoA is working on solutions towards these problems which are included but not limited to:

1. Transition and connection of Afghanistan to different countries
2. Working on Sustainable Development Goals as a strategic plan and its integration with the national programs
3. Focus on agricultural development and small businesses,
4. Covenant of Citizens Program
5. Women’s empowerment
6. Productive Afghanistan adaptation and import substitution

In relation to experimental economics, Prof. Mohammad Mehdi Shafaei presented two examples of practical work that explained economic inequality at different stages of human life. Further referring to the ‘Multi Dimentional Poverty Index’, published by the Central Statistics Organizaton, he insisted that the main reasons behind poverty in Afghanistan are Rapid Increase in Populations and Lack of Capacity and Empowerment Opportunities for workforce in Afghanistan.

Following on, Professor Mohammad Davood Mohammadi, mentioned Nobel Prize winners “Mr. Abjeet Banerjee and Ms. Esther Dufflow” highlighted the practical implications of their laboratory economics work and present practical ways to fight poverty based on work of Nobel Prize Winners.

Towards the end of the seminar, Professor Davood Mohammadi, highlighted the implications of the experimental economics work and discussed how the work of the Nobel Prize Winners, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo provided practical ways to fight poverty.

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