Lessons Learnt from Humanitarian Negotiations with the Taliban, 1996-2001

This review finds that humanitarian actors responded in a variety of ways to Taliban actions limiting principled aid in the country

Abstract

This rapid literature review finds that humanitarian actors responded in a variety of ways to Taliban actions limiting principled aid in the country during the period of their rule (1996-2001). The report is focused on the findings around humanitarian negotiation and the strategy of humanitarian actors in response to Taliban policies limiting women바카라 사이트™s ability to work for humanitarian organisations or access services. The findings are not intended to imply parallels with the current situation in Afghanistan. Evidence is in the form of a number of evaluations, academic articles and lessons learned papers on negotiating with the Taliban. It discusses the methods of negotiating with the Taliban (e.g. co-ordination, working with the leadership or rank-and-file), the content of negotiations and particularly the question of reaching agreement on women바카라 사이트™s rights, as well as humanitarian actors바카라 사이트™ negotiating capacity. There is less discussion on the negotiation of specific programmes (e.g. anti-gender-based violence programmes). Due to the different goals and principles of humanitarian actors, as well as different ideas of feasibility, conclusions on the effectiveness of negotiating tactics vary. Strategies therefore cannot be judged as 바카라 사이트˜successful바카라 사이트™ without reference to a conception of what is most important in humanitarian programming, and the constraints of the situation. The review highlights lessons on good negotiating practices. The main issue being negotiated was the clash between the Taliban바카라 사이트™s restrictions on women and humanitarian actors바카라 사이트™ aim of providing aid to all, including women, according to need. Various strategies were used to persuade the Taliban to consent to principled aid. This review considers aid agency negotiating strategy and tactics, as well as the underlying interests and constraints that may make negotiations more or less successful.

This report was prepared for the UK 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트™s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its partners in support of pro-poor programmes

Citation

Kelly, L. (2021). Lessons Learnt from Humanitarian Negotiations with the Taliban, 1996-2001. K4D Helpdesk Report 1044. Institute of Development Studies, DOI: 10.19088/K4D.2021.119

Updates to this page

Published 24 November 2021