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Alcis
@alcis.org
96 followers 350 following 43 posts
Improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable people through world class Geographic Information Services.
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Alcis @alcis.org · Feb 3
We’re thrilled to announce our place on #GeoAwesome’s Top 100 #Geospatial Companies list for 2025, our fourth year in a row!

From award winning #StoryMaps, to supporting disaster response initiatives, 2024 was a year of impact. 🌍

Our latest blog: www.alcis.org/post/2025-top-100
alcis.org
The view from space can tell us a lot about life on the ground. Our latest analysis shows how drought, migration, and lost income are pushing many Afghan farmers to the edge — and why clear, data-driven insight is essential for shaping the right responses.

www.alcis.org/post/afghani...
Afghanistan’s Fragile Fields: A Growth in Poppy in the midst of Drought and Livelihood Decline
Over the past seven years, Alcis has been tracking the changing nature of Afghanistan’s agriculture and rural economies, with a focus on opium poppy cultivation. Each year, using satellite imagery, we...
www.alcis.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
alcis.org
📡 Research by @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social & @alcis.org featured by @BBC used #satelliteimagery & #geospatial analysis to reveal how solar-powered irrigation reshaped Afghanistan’s Helmand Valley — transforming livelihoods & straining groundwater.

🔗 BBC’s newsletter: www.bbc.com/newsletters/...
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
alcis.org
WION (World Is One News) have made a video of the key points of the research by @davidmansfield.bsky.social & @alcis.org so we don't have to!

🔗Our reports here: lnkd.in/eSj-Jij8 lnkd.in/eHjq3RH5.

#OpiumEconomy #Pakistan #Afghanistan #DrugPolicy #GeospatialAnalysis

www.wionews.com/videos/pakis...
Pakistan Becomes Opium Capital Of The World With Afghan Expertise
#Gravitas With the help of Afghan farmers, Pakistan is overtaking Afghanistan and emerging as the leading hub of global opium production.  This finding comes after the Taliban’s strict ban on poppy cu...
www.wionews.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
alcis.org
Do take 4 minutes to watch this...this is important insights to developments in this area of Pakistan & Afghanistan
September 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
alcis.org
Read now - not behind a paywall (for now)

@financialtimes.com report based on reporting by
mansfieldintinc.bsky.social & alcis.org

#OpiumEconomy #Pakistan #Afghanistan #DrugPolicy
on.ft.com/47JdlGu
Pakistan battles resurgent opium trade
[FREE TO READ] Authorities are intensifying crackdown after Taliban ban pushes drug trade into neighbouring country
on.ft.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
alcis.org
Don't miss this...
September 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
@financialtimes.com builds on @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social & @alcis.org reporting & not behind a paywall – read while you can! Covered by 10 other media outlets including: @thetelegraph.bsky.social & @dailyexpressnews.bsky.social

#OpiumEconomy #Pakistan #Afghanistan #DrugPolicy
on.ft.com/47JdlGu
Pakistan battles resurgent opium trade
[FREE TO READ] Authorities are intensifying crackdown after Taliban ban pushes drug trade into neighbouring country
on.ft.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
More opium poppy cultivation in Pakistan than Afghanistan this year?

A remarkable development if true!

More here:
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...
July 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Alcis
mansfieldintinc.bsky.social
Poppy cultivation figures from @alcis.org for 2025 covering 6 provinces that were responsible for 80% of cultivation in 2022. Shows increase but not as dramatic as rumoured. Highlights the importance of genuinely mixed methods for generating robust evidence base for policy making
July 3, 2025 at 7:31 AM
alcis.org
We have been here before...

Do you recall the US Military’s Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) strike in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, April 2017? Immediate reporting of the strike's impact was considerably overblown & challenged by @alcis.org at the time, as here:

medium.com/alcis-storie...
Trump says Iran's nuclear plans put back 'decades' by US strikes after report suggests impact limited - live updates
The US president is attending a Nato summit after a leaked report suggested US strikes set back Iran only
www.bbc.com
June 25, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
Patterns of poppy cultivation varied across Helmand province this year.

@mansfieldintinc.bsky.social explains in this article (www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...) that in accessible areas, poppy fields remained small & isolated. In remote areas, poppy fields were visible from the road & more contiguous.
June 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
Satellite imagery indicate that poppy cultivation will increase in Afghanistan in 2025, but will likely remain at historically low levels.

@mansfieldintinc.bsky.social's latest blog: www.alcis.org/post/opiate-... explains that some poppy cultivation in Badakhshan has moved to rainfed areas.
June 19, 2025 at 12:32 PM
alcis.org
Satellite imagery indicates that poppy cultivation will increase in Afghanistan in 2025, but it will likely remain at historically low levels.

More here in @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social's blog:
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...).
June 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
Update on the Taliban's drug ban from @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social, looking at factors for continued opiate supplies; inventories in southwest Afghanistan, cultivation in Badakhshan, improved processing techniques, & increases in poppy cultivation in Pakistan in 2025.
www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...
Opiate supplies continue despite the Taliban drugs ban
While many argue that a shift into synthetic opioids downstream in Europe is a function of a shortage of opium in Afghanistan caused by the Taliban drugs ban, opium prices in Afghanistan have been fal...
www.alcis.org
June 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
alcis.org
An important and timely update from @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social on the significant ongoing impacts of the Taliban's drugs ban across Afghanistan & the region. You won't find this level and quality of analysis anywhere else.

www.alcis.org/post/opiate-...
Opiate supplies continue despite the Taliban drugs ban
While many argue that a shift into synthetic opioids downstream in Europe is a function of a shortage of opium in Afghanistan caused by the Taliban drugs ban, opium prices in Afghanistan have been fal...
www.alcis.org
June 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
alcis.org
Don't miss this!

Understanding Conflict Through Satellite Imagery

Great article by @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social in @lawfaremedia.org that sets out how satellite imagery is now an essential dataset for better understanding the reasons for conflict and identifying policy options.
mansfieldintinc.bsky.social mansfieldintinc.bsky.social @mansfieldintinc.bsky.social · Jun 15
1/4 Blog @lawfaremedia.org with @alcis.org funded by @XCEPT It focuses on the transformative effects of solar power: how it has supported Afghan farmers cope with climate change but ultimately how its expansion now threatens the livelihoods of 3.65 million people www.lawfaremedia.org/article/unde...
June 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Alcis
richardbrittan.bsky.social
A great synthesis report by David Mansfield, with analysis and products by @alcis.org that brings together the impacts of the Taliban's drugs ban over the last three years.

www.euda.europa.eu/publications...
Understanding the impact of the Taliban drug ban: situational analysis of Afghanistan to inform EU policymakers | www.euda.europa.eu
www.euda.europa.eu
May 27, 2025 at 11:34 AM
alcis.org
Two policy briefs covering water issues in southwest Afghanistan & flows into Iran from Dave Mansfield & @alcis.org & the potential for further conflicts in the future:

Digging an ever-deeper hole: www.xcept-research.org/publication/...

Missing the target: www.xcept-research.org/publication/...
April 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
alcis.org
A policy brief - for the time poor!

This policy brief by David Mansfield & @alcis.org contains considerations & implications resulting from violent clashes between Iranian and Afghan border forces in May 2023.

www.xcept-research.org/publication/...
Missing the target: Examining the causes of the conflict on the Afghanistan-Iran border in May 2023 - XCEPT
This policy brief shares key findings and implications for policy from an XCEPT study on the escalation in violence along the Afghanistan-Iran border on 27 May 2023. The study addresses the misconcept...
www.xcept-research.org
April 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
alcis.org
Out now on XCEPT Research website, this new report by David Mansfield & @alcis.org funded by FCDO.

It explores the cross-border violence that erupted between Afghanistan and Iran in May 2023 and contains data and analysis you will not find elsewhere.

www.xcept-research.org/publication/...
Missing the target: Examining the causes of the conflict on the Afghanistan-Iran border in May 2023 - XCEPT
Violent clashes between Iranian and Afghan border forces broke out on 27 May 2023 and lasted for more than a week. The fighting led to multiple deaths and injuries among both Iranian and Afghan border...
www.xcept-research.org
April 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
alcis.org
Today’s #WorldWaterDay2025 theme is #GlacierPreservation

@alcis.org's storymap explores how communities in the Tropical Andes are at increasing risk from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) that can destroy communities, infrastructure & ecosystems downstream.
storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6b23...
Frozen to Flooded
Exploring the Threats of Glacier Retreat and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Cordillera Blanca, Tropical Andes
storymaps.arcgis.com
March 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
alcis.org
Exciting news! Our StoryMap, After the Shocks, is a finalist in the Esri #ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition! 🎉

Our #StoryMap highlights the 2023 Afghanistan earthquakes and their impact on minority communities.

Read our latest blog for the full picture: www.alcis.org/post/storymap-success
#GIS #Geo
February 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
alcis.org
It's brilliant to see how others are using the power of #GIS for sustainability initiatives like @mappedout.bsky.social!

Do check out the success story linked below!

Want to know how we're using GIS for Good? Check out our page here: www.alcis.org/humanitarian...
#humanitarian #ArcGIS #Esri
February 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
alcis.org
With the Esri #ArcGIS StoryMap finalists being announced tomorrow, we’re reflecting on our previous entry, which was recognised in the UN WDF #StoryMap competition.

We entered #Esri's StoryMap competition with our latest StoryMap: After the Shocks.

Take a read: storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a160...
February 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Alcis
blindboyboatclub.bsky.social
Gorgeous interactive story map about Limericks wetlands. I love when stuff like this is commissioned storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/363b...
Limerick's Wetland Wealth
A story map introducing Limerick's wetlands and why we should value these wild places
storymaps.arcgis.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM