The Asia Foundation today released Afghanistan
in 2013: A Survey of the Afghan People. In July, local pollsters
interviewed a nationally representative sample of 9,260 Afghan men and
women face-to-face in all 34 provinces. Afghans cite insecurity (30%),
corruption (26%), and unemployment (25%) as the three biggest problems
facing Afghanistan as a country. Afghans identified unemployment (27%),
electricity (24%), and roads (19%) as the biggest problems locally. More
than half of Afghans polled say that the outcome of the 2014 election
will make a positive difference in their lives, but 81% are concerned
about election day security. The 2013 survey is the Foundations ninth
annual survey of Afghan citizens in all 34 provinces and is the
longest-running poll in the country. Since 2004, over 55,000 Afghans
have been interviewed. The findings were released today in Kabul,
Afghanistan and Canberra, Australia.
Afghanistan is approaching major security and political transitions in
2014 the April presidential election and the December deadline to
withdraw international armed forces. Against this backdrop, the survey
provides empirical data and illuminates citizen views on critical issues
in Afghanistan: the elections, security, political participation, the
economy and employment, and womens rights.
Despite a turbulent year, Afghans are resilient and remain optimistic,
said Abdullah
Ahmadzai, The Asia Foundations deputy country representative in
Afghanistan. While the survey reveals a strong sense of unease and
fear, Afghans are hopeful about the outcome of the upcoming election and
the governments reconciliation efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.
Key findings from the 2013 survey include:
·
*Afghans continue to worry about insecurity, corruption, and
unemployment.*
Afghans cite insecurity (30%), corruption
(26%), and unemployment (25%) as the three biggest problems facing
Afghanistan as a country. Overall, a majority of Afghans (59% in 2013,
up from 48% in 2012) report fearing for their safety or security, with
the West region reporting the most fear.
·
*Afghans are hopeful for the 2014 election, but cite security as a
concern.*
More than half (56%) say that the outcome of the
2014 election will make a positive difference in their lives. Most
Afghans (81%) say that security conditions are a factor in their
decision to travel to polling stations to vote on election day.
·
*Afghans confidence in a range of institutions and organizations is
at an eight-year low*.
Public confidence in parliament
suffered the sharpest decline (15%). At the same time, Afghans
satisfaction with the performance of different levels of sub-national
governance also declined markedly.
·
*Afghans continue to say the country is moving in the right
direction.*
Fifty-seven percent, an increase from 2012 (52%),
report Afghanistan is moving in the right direction. Overall optimism
is the highest in the Central/Hazarajat, South West, and South East
regions.
·
*Afghans have a high level of public awareness of the governments
attempts at reconciliation with armed opposition groups (AOGs).*
Seventy-four
percent recognize the governments attempts at reconciliation AOGs,
while 63% say that these efforts can help stabilize the country. One
third (35%) say they have sympathy for the AOGs, an increase from 30%
in 2012 and 29% in 2011. When asked why Afghans might disagree with
the goals of the AOGs, the main reason cited is that they kill
innocent civilians.
·
*Afghans continue to support and have high levels of confidence in
the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.*
Ninety-one
percent report that ANA is improving security, while 86% say the ANP
also is improving security. At the same time, 76% say that ANP will
continue to need foreign assistance.This years survey also reveals changing perceptions towards the women
and girls of Afghanistan, said Palwasha
L. Kakar, The Asia Foundations Womens Empowerment and Development
director in Afghanistan. Despite the tremendous gains in the past
decade, Afghan women face significant security, political, and economic
challenges. Afghans report that illiteracy and a lack of job
opportunities are the most pressing problems facing Afghan women today.
Download the survey report and interact on the Visualizing Afghanistan
platform at www.asiafoundation.org/ag2013poll.
View a photo
slideshow of the 2013 polling. Engage with us on Twitter @Asia_Foundation
and #AfghanSurvey.
*ABOUT THE SURVEY*
Afghanistan
in 2013: A Survey of the Afghan People
is The Asia
Foundations ninth annual public opinion survey in Afghanistan. Expert
survey teams were deployed from July 17 and July 25, 2013 to gather the
opinions and perspectives of a nationally representative sample of 9,260
Afghan men and women. 962 male and female enumerators conducted
face-to-face interviews across all 34 provinces of the country, often
under challenging conditions. Respondents were 18 years of age or older,
including 14% from urban households and 86% from rural households. The
2013 total margin of error is +/- 2.25% and the sampling error
is +/-1.10% both at 95% confidence levels. The 2013 survey is a product
of The Asia Foundation, with support provided by Australian
Aid/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the United Kingdom
Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development
(FCO/DFID), and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID).
*ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN AFGHANISTAN*
The
Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development
organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and
developing Asia. The Asia Foundation began operating in Afghanistan in
1954 and re-opened its Kabul office in 2002. Since then, the Foundation
has assisted Afghan efforts to rebuild the country and accelerate
development. Our programs focus on governance, law, and civil society,
including support for the development of a new constitution and national
voter registration, civic education, womens empowerment and education.
*Spokespeople available in Afghanistan, Australia, and U.S.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20131204006662/en/ Reported by Business Wire India 6 hours ago.
in 2013: A Survey of the Afghan People. In July, local pollsters
interviewed a nationally representative sample of 9,260 Afghan men and
women face-to-face in all 34 provinces. Afghans cite insecurity (30%),
corruption (26%), and unemployment (25%) as the three biggest problems
facing Afghanistan as a country. Afghans identified unemployment (27%),
electricity (24%), and roads (19%) as the biggest problems locally. More
than half of Afghans polled say that the outcome of the 2014 election
will make a positive difference in their lives, but 81% are concerned
about election day security. The 2013 survey is the Foundations ninth
annual survey of Afghan citizens in all 34 provinces and is the
longest-running poll in the country. Since 2004, over 55,000 Afghans
have been interviewed. The findings were released today in Kabul,
Afghanistan and Canberra, Australia.
Afghanistan is approaching major security and political transitions in
2014 the April presidential election and the December deadline to
withdraw international armed forces. Against this backdrop, the survey
provides empirical data and illuminates citizen views on critical issues
in Afghanistan: the elections, security, political participation, the
economy and employment, and womens rights.
Despite a turbulent year, Afghans are resilient and remain optimistic,
said Abdullah
Ahmadzai, The Asia Foundations deputy country representative in
Afghanistan. While the survey reveals a strong sense of unease and
fear, Afghans are hopeful about the outcome of the upcoming election and
the governments reconciliation efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.
Key findings from the 2013 survey include:
·
*Afghans continue to worry about insecurity, corruption, and
unemployment.*
Afghans cite insecurity (30%), corruption
(26%), and unemployment (25%) as the three biggest problems facing
Afghanistan as a country. Overall, a majority of Afghans (59% in 2013,
up from 48% in 2012) report fearing for their safety or security, with
the West region reporting the most fear.
·
*Afghans are hopeful for the 2014 election, but cite security as a
concern.*
More than half (56%) say that the outcome of the
2014 election will make a positive difference in their lives. Most
Afghans (81%) say that security conditions are a factor in their
decision to travel to polling stations to vote on election day.
·
*Afghans confidence in a range of institutions and organizations is
at an eight-year low*.
Public confidence in parliament
suffered the sharpest decline (15%). At the same time, Afghans
satisfaction with the performance of different levels of sub-national
governance also declined markedly.
·
*Afghans continue to say the country is moving in the right
direction.*
Fifty-seven percent, an increase from 2012 (52%),
report Afghanistan is moving in the right direction. Overall optimism
is the highest in the Central/Hazarajat, South West, and South East
regions.
·
*Afghans have a high level of public awareness of the governments
attempts at reconciliation with armed opposition groups (AOGs).*
Seventy-four
percent recognize the governments attempts at reconciliation AOGs,
while 63% say that these efforts can help stabilize the country. One
third (35%) say they have sympathy for the AOGs, an increase from 30%
in 2012 and 29% in 2011. When asked why Afghans might disagree with
the goals of the AOGs, the main reason cited is that they kill
innocent civilians.
·
*Afghans continue to support and have high levels of confidence in
the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.*
Ninety-one
percent report that ANA is improving security, while 86% say the ANP
also is improving security. At the same time, 76% say that ANP will
continue to need foreign assistance.This years survey also reveals changing perceptions towards the women
and girls of Afghanistan, said Palwasha
L. Kakar, The Asia Foundations Womens Empowerment and Development
director in Afghanistan. Despite the tremendous gains in the past
decade, Afghan women face significant security, political, and economic
challenges. Afghans report that illiteracy and a lack of job
opportunities are the most pressing problems facing Afghan women today.
Download the survey report and interact on the Visualizing Afghanistan
platform at www.asiafoundation.org/ag2013poll.
View a photo
slideshow of the 2013 polling. Engage with us on Twitter @Asia_Foundation
and #AfghanSurvey.
*ABOUT THE SURVEY*
Afghanistan
in 2013: A Survey of the Afghan People
is The Asia
Foundations ninth annual public opinion survey in Afghanistan. Expert
survey teams were deployed from July 17 and July 25, 2013 to gather the
opinions and perspectives of a nationally representative sample of 9,260
Afghan men and women. 962 male and female enumerators conducted
face-to-face interviews across all 34 provinces of the country, often
under challenging conditions. Respondents were 18 years of age or older,
including 14% from urban households and 86% from rural households. The
2013 total margin of error is +/- 2.25% and the sampling error
is +/-1.10% both at 95% confidence levels. The 2013 survey is a product
of The Asia Foundation, with support provided by Australian
Aid/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the United Kingdom
Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development
(FCO/DFID), and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID).
*ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN AFGHANISTAN*
The
Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development
organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and
developing Asia. The Asia Foundation began operating in Afghanistan in
1954 and re-opened its Kabul office in 2002. Since then, the Foundation
has assisted Afghan efforts to rebuild the country and accelerate
development. Our programs focus on governance, law, and civil society,
including support for the development of a new constitution and national
voter registration, civic education, womens empowerment and education.
*Spokespeople available in Afghanistan, Australia, and U.S.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20131204006662/en/ Reported by Business Wire India 6 hours ago.