Ehtesab App

Ehtesab was born from crisis. In May 2018, following an explosion, a critical gap in real-time information for citizens became evident. This led to the creation of the Ehtesab App, a citizen-centered platform designed to keep Afghans informed during emergencies.

The app was co-founded by NETLINKS, Afghanistan’s leading technology company, and was designed by Josh Worth, with the first concept developed in 2018. As the primary technical force behind Ehtesab, NETLINKS built and operated the platform, ensuring its functionality and security.

Though the app ceased operations in 2024, Ehtesab remains a testament to the power of civic technology in crisis regions - born from necessity, driven by citizen engagement, and realized through local innovation.

‘Information As Aid’

At Ehtesab, our journey began with a question: How could we create a platform that felt welcoming to users while gradually finding its place within the urban fabric of Afghanistan?

We approached this problem through thoughtful, strategic design—prioritizing simplicity and accessibility. The goal was never to transform everything at once but to provide a practical, user-friendly tool that responded to community needs.

We grounded the concept through SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

International Rescue Committee 'Information as Aid' Toolkit