Education in Adversity

Overview & Synopsis

In 2022, the Taliban prohibited girls and women in Afghanistan from attending secondary school. Still, a range of NGOs continues to provide educational opportunities. This study examines how these organisations navigate challenges and build organisational resilience in fragile and high-risk environments. Eleven interviews with NGO representatives were conducted. The findings reveal that NGOs rely on interlinked adaptive capacities, defined as resources and the ability to mobilise them, and resilience-building strategies, understood as concrete strategic actions enabled by these capacities, to respond to external challenges and build resilience. In practical terms, this study emphasises the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being among volunteers and staff, promoting collaboration among organisations, and strengthening local grassroots efforts. It further highlights the role of local actors, especially women, in ensuring context-sensitive programme design and implementation. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of how NGOs adapt to sustain education in crisis settings.We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Vahabzadeh Foundation for financially supporting the publication of best works by young researchers of the Graduate Institute, giving a priority to those who have been awarded academic prizes for their master’s dissertations.