AI Safety Awareness and Capacity Building in Afghanistan

Raising $50,000active

Training Afghan youth, professionals, and policymakers on AI safety and existential risk through workshops, educational materials, and policy dialogue ensuring Afghanistan is prepared for the global AI future.

Project Details

Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, yet there is almost no awareness or discussion about AI safety and existential risks. If AI develops without oversight, it could harm fragile communities like ours. But if we are prepared, we can ensure Afghanistan is part of the global conversation.

This project will introduce AI safety awareness to Afghanistan for the first time. We will train 50 university students and young professionals across Kabul, Herat, and Balkh through three 3-day workshops. We will create educational materials in Dari and Pashto brochures, videos, and resources that explain AI risks in simple terms. We will also organize two policy roundtables with government officials and academics to start a national dialogue on AI safety.

We will also select and mentor 10 young Afghans as youth ambassadors. They will receive deeper training and support to continue awareness work after the project ends. Our goal is to build a small but committed group of people who understand AI risks and can advocate for safety measures in Afghanistan.

At the end of the project, we will have:

3 workshops with 50 participants trained
10 youth ambassadors equipped with AI safety knowledge
2 policy roundtables conducted with government and academia
Educational materials (Dari/Pashto) produced and distributed

FRDO has 30 years of experience implementing projects across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. We have a team of 85 staff and strong partnerships with UN agencies. While we are new to AI safety, we know how to run projects, manage funds, and deliver results in challenging environments.

Theory of Impact

Right now, Afghanistan is completely absent from global conversations about AI safety. There are no university courses, no policy discussions, no public awareness and no local experts who understand AI risks. This is a problem because AI will not only affect wealthy countries. It will affect fragile states like Afghanistan too. And if the world is going to manage AI safely, every country including Afghanistan needs people who understand the risks and can advocate for responsible governance.

Our project takes a first step toward filling that gap. We will introduce AI safety concepts to 50 university students and young professionals people who will become future leaders in government, education, business, and civil society. We will train 10 youth ambassadors who can continue this work for years. We will start conversations with policymakers and academics.

Why does this reduce x-risk? AI governance is global. If only a few countries are prepared to manage AI safely, the risk of catastrophic failure increases. Afghanistan may seem small, but its stability matters regionally and globally. By building awareness and local capacity now, we are creating a future where Afghan voices can participate in AI safety discussions and where Afghan institutions are not completely vulnerable to AI related disruptions.

People

Nisar Ahmad Khan

Team Member

Grants Received

Add grant

ACTED MSME Market Access Project

from ACTED / European Union

$30,000

UNDP NGOs/CSOs Capacity Support Project

from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

$50,000

IOSHE Integrated Primary Health Care Project

from International Organization for Support of Health and Education (IOSHE)

$850,000

Funding Asks

grantmaking.ai Launch Round

Applied

Minimum

$50,000

Ideal

$100,000

How the money will be spent

The requested funds will be allocated to deliver a structured, high-impact AI safety awareness program in Afghanistan. The budget is designed to be both realistic and scalable, with two clearly defined tiers:

Minimum Funding $50,000:
This covers the essential components needed to launch the project across three provinces Kabul, Herat, Balkh. It includes:

· Three 3‑day workshops for 50 university students and young professionals

· Development and translation of educational materials into Dari and Pashto

· Two policy roundtables with government officials and academic institutions

· Training and mentorship for 10 youth ambassadors

· Project management, monitoring, and reporting

This funding level ensures we can deliver a complete, measurable project with clear outputs and accountability.

Ideal Funding $100,000:
This allows us to realize the full vision of the project scaling impact, building sustainability, and creating a foundation for long‑term AI safety awareness in Afghanistan. It expands the project to five provinces, reaching over 100 participants. It enhances educational materials with professional videos, animations, and a dedicated website. It trains 20 youth ambassadors, adds a train‑the‑trainer module, and establishes an alumni network. It also includes a regional AI safety dialogue with neighboring countries and a formal policy brief for Afghan policymakers in Dari and English.

A detailed breakdown of both budget scenarios is available in the attached spreadsheet. We have ensured that every cost is justified, reasonable, and directly linked to project activities. FRDO_AI_Safety_Budget

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.