Policymakers and practitioners have often engaged in a top-down approach in the design of programs to counter violent extremism in Afghanistan. This top-down approach relies heavily on the insights of religious leaders, elders, politicians, and other elites while failing to incorporate the insights of those most affected by violence—the shopkeepers, students, farmers, and other ordinary people. In this Peace Brief, Eliza Urwin and Belquis Ahmadi discuss how the Everyday Peace Indicators framework can help practitioners understand how ordinary Afghans assess peace and security and identify factors that lead to violent extremism.