Drugs and (Dis)order Database of Development Aid in Borderlands in Afghanistan, 2002-2018

Database of development aid interventions and investments for Nangarhar, Nimroz and Badakshan provinces for period 2002-2018. Data have been compiled from existing paper reports, digital reports and digital databases obtained from donor agencies, ministries, local authorities and NGOs. The purpose of compiling the database was to gather evidence on whether or not interventions and developments influence the drugs economy. There is a belief that tackling drugs and promoting development are mutually reinforcing, assuming that development will generate viable alternative livelihood options for those engaged in drug economies. Official and NGO strategies thus follow the assumption that if lack of development fosters illicit activities such as drug crops, this can be alleviated by economic development interventions and state-building projects. Aim was to record all development organizations active in the borderland areas and record the scope, scale, location and monitory investment of programmes, projects and interventions they fund ‒ not just drug control interventions but also mainstream development interventions in general ‒ for the period 2002 to 2018.

Drugs & (dis)order is a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project generating new evidence on how to transform illicit drug economies into peace economies in Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar. By 2030, more than 50% of the world’s poor will live in fragile and conflict-affected states. And many of today’s armed conflicts are fuelled by illicit drug economies in borderland regions. Trillions of dollars have been spent on the War on Drugs, but securitised approaches have failed. In fact, they often increase state fragility and adversely affect the health and livelihoods of communities and households. In light of these failures, there’s increasing recognition that drug policies need to be more pro-poor and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But the evidence base for this policy reform is patchy, politicised and contested. Drugs & (dis)order is helping to generate pro-poor policy solutions to transform illicit economies into peace economies. To do this we will: (1) Generate a robust evidence base on illicit drug economies and their effects on armed conflict, public health and livelihoods. (2) Identify new approaches and policy solutions to build more inclusive development and sustainable livelihoods in drugs affected contexts. (3) Build a global network of researchers and institutions in Afghanistan, Colombia, Myanmar and the UK to continue this work.

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