UNESCO Kabul Office

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Building Skills for Brighter Futures
Young men and boys are gaining practical food processing skills alongside literacy and numeracy training, through UNESCO’s Skills Development and Literacy Programme, opening pathways to employment, stronger communities and greater resilience.

With support from the World Bank Group and UNICEF Afghanistan.

#𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

From literacy to livelihoods: empowering women in Nuristan. UNESCO-supported community-based programmes are helping women and girls in hard-to-reach areas gain literacy, skills, and economic opportunities.
Stories like Habiba’s highlight how education strengthens families, livelihoods, and community resilience.
Read her full story in the United Nations Afghanistan Results Report 2025 (“From literacy to livelihoods in Nuristan” p. 20) https://tinyurl.com/UNESC-Story

From learning new skills to building new futures—women and girls in Bamiyan are turning opportunity into independence.

Through UNESCO’s Skills Development and Literacy Programme, supported by the World Bank Group and UNICEF Afghanistan, learners are gaining practical tailoring and embroidery skills while strengthening their literacy and numeracy.
After six months of training, many are now preparing to start their own small businesses, transforming skills into livelihoods and confidence into action.

As one learner shared:
“This programme has given me the confidence to face the world and stand on my own feet.”

What if investing in journalism was one of the most effective ways to prevent conflict?

In today’s interconnected world, information is at the core of how societies function. The way it is produced, shared and accessed shapes understanding, trust and decision-making.

When information systems weaken:
Trust collapses.
Rumours spread.
And conflict follows.

Independent journalism, reliable information and informed citizens are among the most powerful tools to prevent crises — and far less costly than responding to them.

Just 15 days of global military spending would cover an entire year of investment needed to support public-interest journalism worldwide.

Journalism continues, often under challenging conditions.

Supporting it goes beyond the media sector; it is a collective responsibility.

Journalism shapes peace.

Freedom of expression has declined globally by 10% since 2012.

This steady trend reflects a growing challenge for access to information and the conditions that enable open, informed societies.

When freedom of expression weakens, so does the ability to share, seek and receive reliable information.

Protecting it means safeguarding the flow of information that supports understanding, accountability and dialogue.

Peace begins with truth.

Access to reliable, verified information is not optional. It is fundamental to building peaceful, just and resilient societies.

Yet today, this foundation is under strain. Freedom of expression has declined by 10% globally since 2012. Self-censorship for journalists has surged by 63%, as they increasingly avoid reporting on corruption, human rights and environmental issues. At the same time, impunity for crimes against journalists remains at 85%.

When information is manipulated, it fuels division and weakens trust. When it is free and truthful, it strengthens accountability, dialogue and human rights.

On World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO calls for renewed commitment to protect freedom of expression and support journalism as a pillar of peace.

Journalism shapes peace.

Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens a new chapter—not only for innovation, but also for strengthening the bond between radio and its listeners.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/UNESCO-Afghanistan