Shaping Urban Futures: Challenges to Governing and Managing Afghan Cities

Against a background discussion of widespread urban vulnerability in Afghanistan, this paper explores the critical challenges for urban governance and urban management. The analysis draws on research conducted in three Afghan cities—Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif—as well as on interviews with informants from Afghan ministries, municipalities, international development agencies and local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) involved in urban programmes and projects.