Additional Context: This information was included in Refugee International's report, “‘No One Cares About Us Any More’: How U.S. Aid Cuts Have Intensified the Crisis for Women and Girls in Afghanistan.” The report draws on a combination of interviews with Afghan women, aid workers, and representatives of humanitarian organizations, alongside secondary data from U.N. agencies and the World Bank.

According to Refugees International, under Taliban restrictions, Afghan girls are barred from formal education beyond sixth grade. The report states the loss of these alternative programs raises broader protection concerns, including increased vulnerability to exploitation, early marriage, and entrenched poverty, stalling the structural opportunities and rights of women in the country.

Devex Researcher Note: While it is difficult to establish exactly how much U.S. money went to funding these education initiatives, a $40 million agreement between USAID and UNICEF, signed in 2022 with the stated goal of supporting "Afghan children, particularly adolescent girls, to realize their right to education," has since been terminated. A GlobalSecurity.org report also identifies a $4.94 million award promoting post-secondary female education and leadership, and a $79.25 million award promoting equitable, safe, and sustained access to education for girls, both among the USAID awards terminated as of April 2025.

Source: Refugees International