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United Nations Development Programme The Development Advocate 1 May 2013 EEmpoweredmpowered lives.lives. RResilientesilient nations.nations. AFGHANISTAN EDITION Inside the micro hydroelectric power plant in Kata Qala village. (Joel van Houdt/UNDP) MICRO HYDROELECTRIC POWER LIGHTING UP THE HOMES AND LIVES OF THOUSANDS BY MUJIB MASHAL of micro hydroelectric power plants. that is powering 2,163 households, Borghaso, Bamyan Province — Afghanistan has one of the benefiting more than 15,000 people. WELCOME lowest per capita rates of electricity These plants are not only bringing Eleven-year-old Mohamed Nasim, consumption in the world. In 2007 tangible improvements to the lives who is in sixth grade, wakes up at only seven percent of the population of the people who now depend on 5:30 every morning to take computer had access to electricity, according to them for access to electricity, they lessons in a makeshift classroom here Government data. Since then, that are creating jobs for locals, improving in Borghaso village, Bamyan Province, figure has risen to about 30 percent, relationships with the Government northwest of Kabul. He draws a house thanks to an increase in imported of Afghanistan and providing in Microsoft Paint, colors it, and types electricity and the construction of environmentally-friendly, and thus his name in the corner as his young micro hydroelectric and solar panel sustainable, sources of energy. And teacher watches over his shoulders. stations. But imported electricity, in a country where many people The back of Mohamed’s hands are which provides more than half of depend on kerosene oil, wood and Mr. Ajay Chhibber meets H.E. Vice-President Mr. Khalili. (UNDP Afghanistan/Sayeed Farhad Zalmai) dried and cracked by the cold weather. the country’s power, does not reach cow dung for heat and lighting, they Outside, just in the distance, farmers Bamyan province. offer a clean and healthy alternative, Dear Readers, tend to their wheat, trying to bring in As a result, the United Nations eliminating indoor smoke. According It is with great pleasure that I introduce this edition of the Afghan the harvest in preparation for the harsh Development Programme (UNDP) to the World Health Organization, Development Advocate. Our mission with the Advocate is to provide winter ahead. The mountain peaks in has funded the construction of 18 every year nearly two million people you with a look at Afghanistan through an unusual point of view: that the distance already gleam with snow. micro hydroelectic power plants in around the world die prematurely of Afghan men and women who are spearheading positive change, Mohamed is one of 46 people— Bamyan province, with a budget of from illness attributable to indoor air confronting the odds and defying conventional wisdom. UNDP is privi- 28 children and 18 adults—benefiting US$997,000 generously provided pollution from household solid fuel use. leged to be part of that transformational process. from this computer class. The freshly in part by the Governments of Take the power plant in Borghaso. All the stories of our projects there, some bigger in scope than others, built room was donated by a local Denmark, Japan, The Netherlands, The local shura—a traditional assembly have at their core the common aspirations of a people yearning to make elder, but what makes such initiatives Norway and the European Union. of tribal elders and religious scholars— their country a better place. Their dreams and hopes dovetail with UNDP’s core values and mandate in the areas of poverty reduction; democratic possible here in Bamyan province, The plants are currently generating a took eight months to build it, at a total governance; crisis prevention and recovery; and environment and where there is no power grid, is the use cumulative 196 kilowatts of electricity cost of $62,064. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 sustainable development. It has become clear that the Afghan people are eager to learn and explore, and take on new challenges. Support from across the world—from governments, aid organizations and corpora- GOVERNMENT TURNS NEW Environ- tions—has been vital in that effort. And it is making a difference, as we TO Merit-BASED MENTAL COUNCILS demonstrate in the pages of the Afghan Development Advocate. RECRUITMENT CHANGING THE FACE So please do take the time to read their stories, and listen to what they OF DEVELOPMENT say. We hope you enjoy reading this special edition, and please feel free IN PROVINCIAL to share any suggestions, feedback or ideas. COMMUNITIES Sincerely, LOCAL DEMOCRACY PAGE 7 AND DEVELOPMENT Ajay Chhibber GO Hand-in-hand Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator of UNDP PAGE 4 PAGE 6 and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific AFGHANISTAN EDITION The Development Advocate 1 methods and broaden democratic continues to be a challenge. EDITORIAL participation in preparation for the In a country where 46 percent of upcoming 2014 presidential election, the population is 14 or under, youth building on lessons learned from past employment and participation in the elections. We are also strengthening economy, civil society and gover- governing bodies at the provincial nance is key. Influenced by mass MANAGING and municipal levels. upheavals led mainly by disaffected After more than 30 years of youth in the Middle East, UNDP real- conflict, Afghanistan continues to izes Afghan youth can just as easily THE TRANSITION face enormous development chal- and quickly engineer similar social lenges, many of them related to the turmoil. Trapped by their frustration advancement of women. The country and lack of opportunities, these youth cannot substantively improve its can also be targeted for recruitment IN AFGHANISTAN human development indices— by insurgent groups. Given such a BY REBECA GRYNSPAN, ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, UNDP among the world’s lowest—without scenario, UNDP has been under- significant progress in women’s rights. scoring the need for supporting the This is why UNDP will ensure a strong Government to develop strategies As the international forces prepare the months and years ahead, UNDP thanks to a UNDP-supported network emphasis on gender in all of its devel- targeting younger Afghans. With for their announced military draw- will work closely with the Ministry of of micro hydropower plants. opment programmes. For example, as UNDP support, the Ministry of Youth down date of 2014 in Afghanistan, Interior to streamline LOTFA’s opera- Based on these experiences and part of LOFTA, UNDP not only helped Affairs has started to engage private the United Nations system and other tional effectiveness and transparency responding to the country’s own to recruit and train 1,500 female sector partners to provide vocational global organizations working there so it continues to be seen as a bulwark stated needs, UNDP will increas- police officers, but also has started and professional training for poor can expect to play a stepped up role in against any possible challenge to the ingly focus on three key areas of a widespread media and outreach youth. In all, over the past few years working with the Afghan Government country’s stability and well-being. development: shoring up democratic campaign aimed at convincing the some 200,000 younger Afghans have to help manage the transition and Besides LOTFA, UNDP operates governance, including elections; population that Afghan women have either been enroled in professional beyond. After more than 50 years of development projects—alongside elevating the status of women; and a critical contribution in enhancing courses or received vocational and development work in Afghanistan, the Government and civil society improving employment opportuni- the security of their communities. other forms of training. the United Nations Development counterparts—across the country’s ties for young people. Even though much work remains UNDP believes that the future Programme (UNDP) has a special 34 provinces, with the aim of contrib- In terms of governance, UNDP to be done to achieve gender equality of Afghanistan, its development and critical task. Indeed, our country uting to a secure transition as national has contributed to rebuilding and in Afghanistan, women are taking and security, is in the hands of its programme there remains our largest and sub-national institutions take improving critical state institutions in an active part in decision-making at own proud people. Indeed, we look operation across all the countries we increasing responsibility for the coun- Afghanistan, including the Indepen- several levels. More than 27 percent forward to our own drawdown work in, and we are committed to try’s development agenda, manage- dent Election Commission and the of seats in the country’s Parliament date, when our large-scale pres- staying in Afghanistan for the long ment of its economy and governance Parliament. As the Independent Elec- are held by women, and an active ence is no longer needed. Until haul, with defined plans to work even of its citizens. For instance, since 2002, tion Commission steadily takes over civil society has developed in recent then, we will continue to work with more closely with the country and its with the Afghan Government, UNDP responsibility of the electoral process, years. Nevertheless, enabling women the Government and the people of people to build a stronger nation. has completed more than 2,300 rural UNDP is working to help the Commis- to affect political decisions, including Afghanistan to ensure a secure and Since 2001, an important area infrastructure projects benefiting sion to improve voter identification those related to peace negotiations, peaceful future for all. n of our engagement in Afghanistan over 14 million Afghans. These proj- has been our support to the Law ects have provided wages for approx- and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA), a imately 3.8 million working days The Afghanistan country programme remains the largest UNDP programme within the Ministry of through a cash-for-work programme.

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