Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government<i></i>whether civil society will be able directly to participate and influence the negotiations that will take place at the Afghanistan Development Conference to be co-hosted by the United Kingdom in November<i>.</i>

Civil society has a critical contribution to make in the lead up to, during and after the conference. The format of the conference can only be decided once a new Afghan Government is in place. However as a co-host, the UK is planning to facilitate opportunities for civil society to influence and shape the discussions and outcomes of the conference, both before and during the event itself. As part of this we will be encouraging engagement by both male and female representatives of Afghan civil society.