Governance in Afghanistan is characterized by “hybrid political order,” in which state and non-state actors coexist and interact with each other. Neither state nor non-state actors are capable of filling existing governance gaps on their own. This paper argues that while the state has the responsibility to provide governance functions, and this role should be supported, institution building is a time-consuming process, and efforts by non-state traditional institutions to play governance roles should also be supported. The paper examines the utility of traditional institutions, such as the jirga, as a means to engage a broader population. The paper also analyzes how reforming the interface among the state, traditional institutions and the Afghan people may improve governance conditions. The paper then provides analysis on some initiatives occurred to this end in Afghanistan, such as the National Solidarity Programme and hybrid justice system. These initiatives indicated some progress on improving popular participation as well as people’s perception of state legitimacy. Especially notable were improvements observed with regards to women’s participation and service delivery at the community level. This indicates the potential positive impact of this approach on human security through supporting the capacity of the people and communities, including the most vulnerable, to identify and resolve issues on their own. At the same time, the efforts also have shown limitations and challenges. In order for future efforts to be effective, initial focus should be in areas where existing governance networks show a modicum of representativeness, local legitimacy, and accountability framework. Keywords: Hybrid political order, non-state actors, dispute resolution, protection and empowerment, legitimacy