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Dialogue of Afghanistan Civil Society and Contemporary Political Forces

afghanistan civil and democratic forces network

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The momentum generated during this conference led to a subsequent gathering in Antalya, where over 80 participants from diverse backgrounds actively contributed to the objectives of these conferences, primarily aimed at nurturing a robust network among civil society leaders, professionals, and advocates of democracy within the diaspora.

Representatives of 30 different CSOs gathered in Geneva and approved the establishment of the Framework for CSOs network including a Leadership Board and a Secretariat.

Open Discussion – Civil and Democratic Forces in Exile, Cambridge 2025

Open Discussion – Civil and Democratic Forces in Exile, Cambridge 2025

This conference, held on Saturday 20 September 2025 at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, will focus on practical steps toward positive change in Afghanistan.

Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak

On behalf of all members of the Afghan Civil & Democratic Forces Network (ACDFN), we extend our warmest wishes to our fellow Afghans across the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-ul-Adha reminds us of the values of sacrifice, devotion, and commitment to human dignity and collective good.

Antalya Summit & Afghanistan’s Transition by Ahmad Tamim Azimi

Antalya Summit & Afghanistan’s Transition by Ahmad Tamim Azimi

The summit aimed to strengthen civil society organizations and independent media to rebuild Afghanistan and presented practical proposals.

Read the full article on 8am.media →
Nabila Musleh: UN’s Mosaic Plan Fails; Must Be Challenged

Nabila Musleh: UN’s Mosaic Plan Fails; Must Be Challenged

Nabila Musleh, former financial and administrative deputy of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, said the UN’s Mosaic plan is incompatible with Afghanistan’s realities and serves Taliban interests.

Read more on Deeyar.tv →
Dr. Andisha Nasir's Opening Remarks

Dr. Andisha Nasir's Opening Remarks

Dr. Andisha Nasir in opening remarks presented an image of the current state of affairs for civil and democratic forces, highlighting the multiple challenges and the opportunities for these actors to gather, form, and shape the narrative around restoration of popular legitimacy in Afghanistan.

Taliban’s demands in the Mosaic plan are clear, but from the UN they are ambiguous

Taliban’s demands in the Mosaic plan are clear, but from the UN they are ambiguous

Former Afghan Economy Minister Mustafa Mastoor explained that while the Taliban’s demands in the Mosaic plan are explicit, the UN’s requests remain vague.

Read full article on 8am.media →
Criticism of UN’s Mosaic Plan Transparency

Criticism of UN’s Mosaic Plan Transparency

The United Nations has not broadly shared the Mosaic plan with Afghan civil society and activists. Some UN representatives believe many of the exiled Afghan actors are not significant enough to be involved in Afghanistan-related discussions.

Dr. Aliye Yilmaz's Remarks

Dr. Aliye Yilmaz's Remarks

Dr. Aliye Yilmaz welcomed the participants and in her remarks asserted that the conference today will present an opportunity for open dialogue.

Our Mandate

Our Mandate
Our Mission

Our Mission

Our mission is to achieve sustainable peace and the re-establishment of the rule of law, civic values, and human rights in Afghanistan. The Forum operates based on inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and respect for diversity. It upholds the values of human rights, social justice, and equality among all citizens of Afghanistan.

2025 Action Plan

A structured roadmap to strengthen Afghanistan's civil society through advocacy, dialogue, and global collaboration.

Strategy & Antalya Prep

Strategy & Antalya Prep

  • Develop Antalya conference agenda
  • Engage stakeholders & invite speakers
  • Create inclusive dialogue protocols
Platform Coordination

Platform Coordination

  • Align with Vienna, Istanbul, and Women Forum
  • Create communication channels
  • Harmonize initiatives to avoid duplication
Regional Advocacy

Regional Advocacy

  • Host regional campaigns & events
  • Build coalitions across Europe
  • Engage media & policy influencers
Global Engagement

Global Engagement

  • Participate in UN forums & side-events
  • Advocate for human & women’s rights
  • Build member capacity through training

Civil Society Panel & Networking at Antalya Conference 2025

The Afghanistan Civil and Democratic Forces Network (ACDFN) is committed to working individually and collectively on implementing the conference's recommendations — including organizing dialogues, facilitating interactions among participants, and providing secretarial and convening support to the network and expert groups to feed into a national dialogue on the future of Afghanistan.

Antalya Conference 2023

During the 2023 Antalya Conference, a consensus emerged on the crucial role of civil society in Afghanistan's future. It emphasized broadening networks and scheduling future CSO meetings as part of continuous engagement.

Recommendations

  • Strengthen cohesion among democratic forces to enhance visibility and impact.
  • Involve representatives of the rural population in discussions and dialogues.
  • Articulate clear and actionable plans.
  • Strive for assuring sustainability, shifting to Afghan leadership and from projects to volunteerism.
  • Create and strengthen networks and platforms of collaboration and joint work.
  • ACDFN continues holding dialogue conferences, engaging the contemporary civil and democratic forces.

The Afghanistan Civil and Democratic Forces Network, formed through national dialogue conferences, was introduced as a collaborative platform. Participants shared ideas for development, aiming for ongoing cooperation and practical action. Membership is open to all civil society organizations.

Network Participants

Governance Structure

The General Assembly

The General Assembly will be the highest decision-making body of the Forum at which members of the leadership are elected for a one-year term. The Forum will bring together individuals and representatives of civil society organisations from both inside and outside Afghanistan. It will be a leading civil society event that provides networking and experience-sharing opportunities. The meeting will be a platform to discuss challenges, ideas, and partnerships. It also approves the Forum's by-laws, resolutions, and statutes.

The Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is the representative body of the Forum with a mandate from civil society inside and outside Afghanistan. It consists of members elected by the Forum's General Assembly for a one-year term and meets four times per year. It guides the Forum's strategy and activities. Meeting minutes are public and recorded by the Secretariat. Council members act voluntarily.

The first General Assembly was held in Geneva, organized by the Centre for Dialogue and Progress, where the first leadership council and Secretariat were appointed.

Advisory Board

The advisory board will include prominent leaders from government, international civil society, academia, and the private sector. They will offer strategic guidance to the leadership council to steer the Forum toward its goals.

Secretariat

The Secretariat is an executive body reporting to the Leadership Council. It supports the Forum's activities, ensures coordination, and improves visibility and international partnerships. It acts as the hub of communication and strategy within the Forum. It works closely with governments and international organizations.

There will also be Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) organized around priorities defined by the General Assembly and the Leadership Council.

Governance Diagram
Network Community

Member Organizations

VIEW DIRECTORY
England

Centre for Afghanistan Policy Studies (CAPS)

An independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank and diaspora network working to connect Afghanistan with knowledge and expertise. It empowers civil society through networking, collaboration, and capacity building to support democracy, rule of law, and sustainable development, helping build a more inclusive and equitable future.

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England

Mosiac Global Foundation

A foundation working to build partnerships that promote peace and cooperation across Central Asia. It advances unity through equality and diversity by delivering education, empowering communities, and advocating for inclusive systems grounded in human rights, pluralism, and shared prosperity—so people of all genders, ethnicities, languages, and faiths can shape their own futures in safety and dignity

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Sweden

Afghanistan Brain Bridge (AF-Bridge)

Afghanistan Brain Bridge (AF-Bridge) is a research-driven initiative uniting scholars and researchers to tackle Afghanistan’s key challenges through intellectual growth and research. It focuses on women’s rights, girls’ education and well-being, and broader priorities including health, poverty, human rights, security, and regional connectivity.

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Switzerland

Action for Development (AfD)

Supports local communities in Afghanistan through grassroots programmes and partnerships to expand nutrition, healthcare, and education. Founded in Geneva in 2011 by Afghan health and development professionals, AfD focuses on midwifery capacity building, education for street children and children with disabilities, and affordable care through its Comprehensive Health Center. Women’s health and empowerment are central to its work, with a commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality, especially in rural areas.

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Switzerland

Bibisafran

Bibi Safran is a mission-driven initiative that empowers Afghan women entrepreneurs by connecting their premium saffron to the global market. The saffron is cultivated and harvested by Afghan women, and sales proceeds provide vital financial support to help sustain their families through poverty, fear, and uncertainty. Through this work, Bibi Safran aims to foster independence and hope while supporting Afghan communities through sustainable saffron production.

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England

Tomorrow's Hope

A TV series produced in London by Trio Productions, creating a platform for discussion and awareness on Afghanistan’s social and cultural issues, while promoting support for vulnerable communities and greater tolerance. Produced independently by an experienced team, it is not affiliated with any political, religious, or party institution and is developed through voluntary contributions to protect its direction. The programme is designed for education and awareness-raising, without pursuing political or religious goals.

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To explore the complete directory of our network members and learn about their impact, please visit the full members page. View All Members

Join the Movement

Become a Part of the Movement

The ACDFN brings together organizations and activists to strengthen sustainable peace, civic engagement, and the institutionalization of democracy in Afghanistan. By joining, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate on local and international projects, making your voice heard in support of human rights, gender equality, and civil development.

Join the Network

Latest News

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Feb 27, 2026

Impacts of Afghan Civil Struggles and International Policy Towards Afghanistan

Afghanistan under the illegitimate rule of the Taliban faces multiple crises. The people of Afghanistan, Afghan civil forces, and anti-Taliban movements, despite restrictions, are engaged in a broad and comprehensive struggle against the Taliban regime. We discussed the impacts of these struggles and the necessity of reviewing narratives after four years of the illegitimate rule of the Taliban with Ambassador Dr. Andisha.

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Feb 20, 2026

Analysis of Media and Journalists' Status After the Return of the Taliban

In this series of discussions, Mansoor Hussain Ayobi, in collaboration with CDP-G and ACDFN, discusses the state of media inside and outside Afghanistan and the impact of these media activities with Mr. Hamid Obaidi.

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Feb 12, 2026

A New Accountability Mechanism for Afghanistan (IIM-A): Competencies and Limitation

The UN is establishing the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan (IIM-A) to collect and analyze evidence of war crimes. This body prepares case files to facilitate criminal proceedings in national or international courts. Its mandate has no temporal limits, covering past, present, and future crimes. This report was produced by AAN and translated by CDP-G.

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Feb 3, 2026

Interview with Nigara Mirdad; Afghan Women's Struggle and Their Role in Overcoming the Current Crisis

In this program, we are joined by Ms. Nigara Mirdad, a former diplomat and women's rights activist, to analyze the position of women's struggles and the potential of these movements in changing the future trajectory of Afghanistan.

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