US ends funding for key Afghan women's university

The United States has decided to stop providing financial support to the American University of Afghanistan, a move that threatens the stability of one of the few remaining institutions where Afghan women can pursue higher education. This decision removes a significant source of funding that had long sustained the university's operations.

The university serves approximately 1,000 students, with about three-quarters being women. Since the Taliban took control of the campus, many students, including a political science major identified only as Laila, continue their studies through an online program. These classes are conducted in secrecy, with students using aliases and keeping their cameras off to protect their identities. Laila described her experience by noting that she recognizes her classmates only by their voices.

Laila, who is in her mid-twenties, has faced significant obstacles in her academic journey. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, she was near the end of her degree at a different university in Kabul. A subsequent ban on women's education in December 2022 left her degree incomplete, leading her to accept a scholarship at the American University of Afghanistan. She noted that not every woman had such an opportunity to restart their education.

Daily life for these students is marked by anxiety and fear of discovery. Some peers have reported receiving threatening calls and messages, while Laila worries that authorities might find university emails on her phone. She said that officials have searched her home multiple times, leaving her constantly concerned that she could be the next target of scrutiny.

The university was established in 2006 with initial commitments from the United States, including millions of dollars announced by former first lady Laura Bush. The goal was to train future leaders, with a particular focus on women. Patrick Fine, the former Afghanistan mission director at USAID, recalled that some within the agency viewed the project as risky. However, the Bush administration saw it as a way to stabilize the young democracy and build goodwill for the interim government.

In recent years, the financial management of the university drew attention from Washington. US inspectors began an investigation into the university's finances in 2016. By 2018, they reported that poor accounting practices made it difficult to track exactly how the aid money was spent. John Sopko, a former federal inspector who oversaw the probe, expressed surprise that funding had continued despite these findings.

This year, the State Department cited a history of repeated lack of accountability for millions of taxpayer dollars as the reason for ending the funding. Fine pushed back against this explanation, calling it smear tactics. He acknowledged that earlier audits found the university struggled with USAID's strict rules but stated that they did not find major fraud. He described the university as a worthy investment because it remains one of the few organizations reaching Afghan women.

While the United States is not the sole donor, it has historically provided nearly 90% of the university's funding, according to a 2018 US report. The State Department noted that the university is free to find other funders and partners, meaning the end of American money does not automatically end its operations. However, the loss of a $25 million grant leaves the institution's future uncertain.

For students like Laila, the news has been devastating. She said she has lost her motivation and hope, and she has barely left her room since learning of the cut. She had expected to graduate years ago and begin a master's degree abroad. Now, she wonders if she will ever complete her studies, possibly not for another five to ten years.