Fawzia Ehsani

Research

Title of Research:

 The Key Obstacles to Capacity Development Programmes in Post-Conflict Countries: The Case of Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Sector Between 2001 and 2021.

Brief overview of research topic:

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the collapse of airport operations revealed significant gaps in the country’s ability to manage its own airspace and air services independently. As a landlocked nation, Afghanistan relies heavily on-air transport not only for economic development and regional connectivity, but also as a critical logistical route during the two decades of international military engagement. With up to 130,000 NATO troops stationed in the country at the height of operations, air transport played a central role in the movement of personnel and equipment. Additionally, airports served as strategic hubs for counterterrorism missions and international assistance programs.

Despite years of international involvement, Afghanistan remained dependent on foreign contractors for airspace management. From the early years until 2014, NATO contracted airspace services, after which the Afghan government continued to rely on a contractor—this time funded from its own resources. The continued reliance on external actors raises important questions about the design and implementation of capacity development efforts in the aviation sector.

This research examines how factors such as security, state legitimacy, and institutional reconstruction influenced capacity development in Afghanistan’s civil aviation sector between 2001 and 2021. Drawing on interviews, official documents, and project evaluations, the study aims to understand the structural limitations and contextual challenges that shaped the trajectory of local ownership and operational independence in this critical sector.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Master in Public Administration a Public Policy at the University of York.

PhD student in Politics