Introduction
This CMI-PRIO initiative is set up to offer concrete recommendations on how to pursue the dialogue with the Afghan Taliban, focusing on the education, in particular the question of female access. The initiative will map the Afghan Taliban structure to identify sources of influence, examine the leaderships motivations in adopting restrictive policies (both in general and on education in particular), and map the space for constructive dialogue on education. Cognizant of the changes that has followed in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power, and its attempts to build a functioning governance structure, this initiative will focus on the present, yet draw comparisons to the past, in particular the last period (1996-2001) under its reign. This is a joint CMI-PRIO initiative, based on close collaboration between the two institutes, but organizationally and financially set up as two separate projects. The two institutes will collaborate closely on data collection and on outputs (i.e. roundtables, briefings, memos and concluding report), with a clear division of thematic and organizational responsibilities. CMI will take the responsibility for the analysis of potential dialogue approaches towards the Taliban de facto authorities and for contracting and supervising Afghanistan based researchers, while PRIO take the responsibility for the in-depth study of the Afghan education sector and for organizing workshops and seminars.
