Focusing on Afghanistan, this chapter traces the fragile trajectory of women’s rights, from early constitutional gains to partial advances post-2001, and their near-total reversal under the Taliban since 2021. Donor engagement brought progress in education, health, political representation, and justice, supported by vast ODA flows. Yet evaluations highlight modest and uneven impact, with many initiatives criticised as donor-driven, urban-biased, and inattentive to socio-cultural realities. The neglect of men in gender programmes further undermined acceptance. Afghanistan illustrates both the achievements and limits of international support, underscoring the vulnerability of externally fostered reforms to political collapse.