Engaging women in the humanitarian response in Afghanistan: Perspectives from people with low literacy levels

Between August and September 2023, Ground Truth Solutions and Salma Consulting spoke with almost 2,000 people across every province of Afghanistan to understand their views on the aid they need or receive. The quantitative interviews and qualitative consultations sought to explore how people view humanitarian assistance, how they would like to participate in decisions around aid provision, and how they cope when aid is unavailable. We surveyed women (46%) and men (54%) in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas, the majority of whom (66%) self-identified as having difficulties reading or writing. Of those with literacy challenges, over half (35%) were women. People with lower literacy levels are more likely to need aid but find accessing it more difficult. In this bulletin, we share their perceptions of the humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.