Afghanistan
In Afghanistan our work supports humanitarian efforts, better health and media training for local journalists.
- Our office: Kabul
- Our areas of focus: Humanitarian aid and crisis response, health, media development
- Our partners: UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office,European Union
About our work
We are proud to have been working in Afghanistan for over a decade - our projects and programmes now address health and humanitarian issues while supporting local broadcasters.
In the current humanitarian crisis, we are continuing to deliver health-focused radio programmes in Dari and Pashto on BBC Afghan services and on community radio stations. With many hospitals and health clinics closed, we are bringing important health information and advice to listeners by connecting them with doctors and mental health experts, whilst also generally encouraging people to visit the remaining clinics.
Alongside developing our own content, BBC Media Action is committed to supporting Afghan journalists to meet the needs of their audiences.
We use BBC Media Action’s established “Lifeline” approach to train and mentor journalists and humanitarians to work together more effectively to ensure communities are provided with accurate and actionable information and to make informed decisions during the current humanitarian crisis. This aims to ensure local journalists provide information and stories designed for people affected, rather than simply about them. This approach has strengthened skills and practices at both individual and organisational levels.
Research is central to our approach and BBC Media Action has a team of local researchers based across Afghanistan. At the start of any initiative, we undertake formative research to ensure that we understand the people's knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as how they access information. With this research, we are continuing our work with the humanitarian community, sharing audience insights to help aid agencies better understand local needs to deliver a more effective response.
Previously, we have worked to address the deadly threat of explosive ordnance, which kills nearly 1,400 people a year - almost half of them children, and frequently young boys, who may accidentally pick up explosive ordnance while hunting for scrap metal or working in fields.
Latest news from Afghanistan
Our insight and impact
Use our research library
Understanding how to increase uptake of WASH, nutrition and maternal and child health services
This briefing summarises qualitative research with mothers, families, and key influencers in Afghanistan. The study sought to identify Afghans' information needs, the barriers and enablers to accessing services and adopting practices, and the key issues for communication to address.
What Matters? Afghanistan Speaks!
This quarterly bulletin shares research-based insights on humanitarian issues experienced by people in Afghanistan, allowing aid agencies to adapt quickly as needs change.
Media consumption in Afghanistan
This report summarizes research that aimed to better understand Afghans' access to and preference for different media content and platforms, their trust in media, how people use and share mis- and disinformation and ways to counter these.
Using mass media to help keep people safe from explosive ordnance in Afghanistan
This summary takes a look at the findings from a panel study we conducted in 10 most EO affected provinces in Afghanistan, to evaluate the impact of our programme.
How research informed our work to stop COVID-19 in Afghanistan
As COVID-19 reached Afghanistan, our in-depth research informed the production of creative media to encourage preventative behaviours and slow the virus's spread - including public service announcements and short fictional dramas.
How media programming is supporting polio eradication
This research briefing outlines how media can engage parents, caregivers and community influencers with issues about polio vaccination.
Policy briefing: The media of Afghanistan - the challenges of transition
An analysis of the challenges facing Afghanistan's media as international military forces prepare to withdraw in 2014.
Strengthening accountability through media in Afghanistan: final evaluation
This report looks at the work BBC Media Action undertook as part of a five-year, DFID-funded programme to improve accountability in Afghanistan.
Past projects and resources
Open Jirga
The TV and radio debate programme aimed to enable dialogue between Afghans and their leaders
Future-proofing Afghanistan's media
BBC Media Action helped raise editorial standards and strengthen the financial management of five radio stations in Afghanistan.
Ghamai: Supporting child health in Afghanistan
BBC Media Action harnessed the power of national and local radio to help improve child health in Afghanistan.
Contributing to a stable media environment in Afghanistan
In March 2013, BBC Media Action and Internews facilitated a media conference in Kabul which aimed to encourage an inclusive and lasting dialogue among Afghan media leaders and representatives.
Afghanistan's parliament media pool
In 2012, a state-of-the-art media centre opened at the Afghan parliament which allowed journalists immediate and full access to report on the activities of the lower house, the Wolesi Jirga. The media pool helped bring Afghan MPs closer to the citizens they serve.
New Home, New Life
In August 2012, after 18 years as part of the BBC, the makers of the much loved Afghan radio drama New Home, New Life celebrated their independence.
Afghanistan's Woman's Hour: providing support and advice
Between 2005-2010, the weekly radio show acted as a platform for women's voices to be heard.
