Executive Summary:

On 16 August, 2021 the Taliban announced that they had gained control of Afghanistan. The takeover resulted in heated public debate about the twodecade war, the humanitarian implications of the withdrawal, and the future of women and civil society in Afghanistan.

The role of the Afghan diaspora is now in flux; diaspora organizations have been called on by the media to comment on the political and human rights situation, while simultaneously navigating the personal and professional effects of the new political reality. In light of the evolving situation in Afghanistan, DEMAC and DRC’s Diaspora Program commissioned a real-time review (RTR) to capture the evolution of diaspora engagement in the immediate aftermath of the Taliban gaining control over Afghanistan. The purpose of the RTR is three-fold: (1) to assess what actions the Afghan diaspora organizations have been engaging in in terms of advocacy, coalition building, and direct engagement; (2) to assess changes in diaspora dynamics since the Taliban takeover and the nature of these changes; and, (3) to record how any relevant changes in dynamics have resulted in tangible outcomes and actions.

To capture Afghan Diaspora Organization (ADO) engagement in the current political crisis, the RTR consisted of two main approaches to data collection. First, online media monitoring was conducted from 15 August 2021 to 31 September 2021 of 60 ADOs from Europe (26), North America (21), Afghanistan’s neighboring countries (9), Australia (5), and one global organization. It consisted of a daily review of online diaspora statements, events, and fundraising pages through 100 social media accounts. To provide additional context, key informant interviews were also conducted with representatives of ten ADOs, as well as DRC Diaspora Program staff.