The Asia Foundation Releases 2009 Afghan Public Opinion Poll

Citizens across all 34 provinces surveyed on security, reconstruction, and
governance

KABUL, Afghanistan and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
Asia Foundation today released findings from its most recent public opinion
poll in Afghanistan, covering all 34 provinces in the country. Afghanistan in
2009: A Survey of the Afghan People is the fifth poll conducted by The Asia
Foundation's office in Afghanistan; previous polls have been released in 2004,
2006, 2007, and 2008. Collectively, the five surveys establish an accurate,
long-term barometer of public opinion across Afghanistan to help assess the
mood and direction of the country. The fieldwork for the survey was conducted
during June 17-July 6, 2009, prior to the national presidential election.
In-person interviews were conducted with a multi-stage random sample of 6,406
Afghan citizens 18 years of age and older, both women and men, from different
social, economic, and ethnic communities in rural and urban areas.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090909/DC72536LOGO)

The 2009 survey can be accessed in its entirety at www.asiafoundation.org.

The survey respondents pointed to insecurity -- attacks, violence, and
terrorism -- as the biggest problem facing the country, followed closely by
unemployment, a poor economy, and corruption. Findings also indicate that 42
percent of Afghans think the country is headed in the right direction
(compared to 38% in 2008, 42% in 2007, 44% in 2006, and 64% in 2004); while 29
percent feel it is moving in the wrong direction (32% in 2008, 24% in 2007,
21% in 2006, 11% in 2004). The remaining 21 percent have mixed feelings (23%
in 2008, 25% in 2007, 29% in 2006, 8% in 2004). (It is important to note that
in 2004, the survey polled just 804 Afghans; all subsequent surveys have
polled more than 6,000 Afghans.)

The 2009 survey, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, was
designed, directed, and edited by The Asia Foundation, with all interviews
completed in person by 648 Afghan men and women employed by the Afghan Center
for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR) in Kabul. Similar surveys are
planned for 2010 and 2011. The Asia Foundation has established a reputation
for developing sophisticated empirical surveys for use across Asia in order to
pinpoint citizen concerns and needs, to gauge public support and development
progress, and to inform important policy debate.

About The Asia Foundation in Afghanistan

The Asia Foundation's Kabul office was re-established in February 2002 to
launch programs in areas vital to the political, social, economic, and
intellectual development of post-Taliban Afghanistan. Since then, the
Foundation's Kabul office has assisted Afghans in their efforts to rebuild the
country through the establishment of an interim government, the development of
a new constitution, and the provision of support to implement national voter
registration, civic education, media monitoring, and technical planning for
the 2004 Presidential and 2005 National Assembly and Provincial Council
elections. Since these elections, the Foundation has also been providing
long-term critical support to key institutions within the executive branch of
government at the central level. Other Foundation programs have focused on
creating educational and training opportunities for women and girls,
supporting development of higher education, and promoting exchanges to foster
improved international relations.

About The Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed
to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific
region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance,
law, and civil society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development;
and international relations. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience in
Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support
leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its
headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a
country and regional level. In 2008, the Foundation provided more than $87
million in program support and distributed over one million books and
educational materials valued at $41 million throughout Asia.
For more information, please visit http://www.asiafoundation.org.

Media Contact:
In San Francisco: Amy Ovalle, Email: aovalle@asiafound.org, Tel:
+1-415.743.3340
Debbie Felix, Email: dfelix@asiafound.org, Tel: +1-415-743-3318

SOURCE The Asia Foundation

Amy Ovalle (in San Francisco), +1-415-743-3340, aovalle@asiafound.org, Debbie
Felix, +1-415-743-3318, dfelix@asiafound.org, both of the Asia Foundation