The fact that almost a third of Afghans, about 7.4 million people, still rely on foreign aid will weigh heavily on delegates from 70 nations who are set to gather at a donors' conference in London.
The meeting comes two years after a similar conference in Tokyo where $16bn was pledged. However, history has taught many locals that donations may make little difference to their lives.
Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford reports from Kabul.
