Leadership Development

*Note: Unless otherwise noted, all information regarding leadership development programming in Afghanistan is from 2019. Recent updates temporarily unavailable for safety and security reasons.

The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. (Updated 2024)

The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security  seeks to enhance U.S. national and global security by elevating and examining the effect of women’s participation to: improve peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building; strengthen conflict prevention and resolution initiatives; mitigate humanitarian emergencies; and foster democratic political transitions. GIWPS is particularly active on Afghanistan: Its Onward for Afghan Women  initiative equips Afghan women leaders with opportunities to continue their advocacy on behalf of Afghan women and girls. Working with a vast network of Afghan women leaders, Onward conducts rigorous research and engages with the U.S. government, United Nations, and other stakeholders to continue to spotlight the rights of Afghan women and girls. (Updated 2023).

The U.S. Institute of Peace  is working to increase the chances of a sustainable peace deal for Afghanistan by supporting and promoting women’s interests in peace process discussions while strengthening needed negotiating skills. Over the next year, USIP will focus on strengthening the technical knowledge and skills of women who may have the chance to participate in, or otherwise influence, peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, as well as on conducting research, identifying relevant local actors, and facilitating dialogues at the grass roots level to identify participants and messages that reflect women’s interests in a peace process outside provincial capitals. In addition, USIP engages local, regional, and national actors through face-to-face meetings, and traditional and social media engagement, highlighting the importance of women working on peace. USIP also works on addressing issues related to prosecution of cases of violence against women and advocates for amending certain provisions of the Penal Code. USIP is partnering with CSOs to identify those articles of law that are discriminatory, conflicting, and inconsistent with the constitution. (Updated 2019)