Afghanistan ended 2020 with significant economic and development challenges. The country’s international partners assessed the extent of these challenges at the time and pledged more than US$13 billion in November 2020 over the following four years. This amount, which is indicative of the scale of the challenges facing the country, was expected to be augmented by an increase in domestic resources derived from a revival in growth. However, not only would this have required significant domestic reforms to improve governance, promote the private sector and reduce corruption, but it is unlikely that sufficient additional revenue could have been generated by a revival in growth alone to satisfy the needs of the country, including those for reducing poverty and improving social conditions