UNDP Afghanistan Newsletter Afghanistan and Human Development reports By Humayun Hamidzada, Coordinator, Centre for Policy and Human Development he Asia Pacific Human 1 July 2006 Development Report T (APHDR), launched on June 29 2006 in Kuala Lumpur, could not be unveiled at a more appropriate Since 1990, some of the time for Afghanistan. most trade-intensive The report entitled “Trade on Human countries, such as China Terms: Transforming Trade for and Singapore, have seen Human Development in Asia and the unemployment rates Pacific” examines recent develop- substantially increase. ments on trade and economic Moreover, the benefits of growth and assesses the impact on free trade have accrued human development – more specifi- framework – designed to integrate University have embarked on more to highly-paid cally, the effects on the region’s Afghanistan into the growing regional establishing the Centre for Policy skilled workers rather poorest countries and on its poorest economy through trade, transit, and Human Development at Kabul than unskilled workers, people. investment, labour exchange and University. At a critical juncture of further undermining increased reliance on regional Afghanistan’s transition to develop- human development. The report further emphasizes that resources for development. The ment, the 2004 NHDR clearly identi- neither trade nor growth can ever be Interim-Afghanistan National Devel- fied challenges for sustained ends in themselves; but means opment Strategy also identifies ac- research and analysis among Afghan towards the larger goals of cess to regional and international specialists and institutions, in order expanded human development and markets, as debated in the regional to carry out alternative policy combating poverty and deprivation. report, as a means to achieve research beyond the production of a Inside this issue: The report goes on and offers an Afghanistan’s economic growth and national report. Capitalizing on les- eight-point agenda to help countries political stability. sons learned, and housed at Af- Afghan sign language on the move 2 rise to the challenge of a demand- ghanistan’s premier institution of thanks to NPAD ing new environment for interna- Despite the importance and higher education, the centre Youth and democratic governance 2 tional trade as below: appropriateness of the regional supports long-term capacity for issues high on the agenda report, Afghanistan’s relationship to research, advocacy and teaching on People with disabilities get the 3 ► Invest for competitiveness the concept and practice of Human human development and policy chance to go into business for Development is not new. Back in research in general. themselves ► Adobt strategic trade policies 2003, UNDP and the Government of Takhar province winning in DIAG 3 Afghanistan agreed to start a The Centre for Policy and Human Main Phase ► Restore a focus on agriculture participatory process of producing Development in partnership with the country’s first ever National Kabul University is currently engaged Senior UNDP programme directors 4 ► Combat jobless growth Human Development Report in preparations for producing meet the media for a background (NHDR). The report entitled “Security Afghanistan’s second National briefing ► Prepare a new tax regime with a Human Face: Challenges and Human Development Report for Focus on learning: a silent 5 Responsibilities” came out with a 2006. revolution ► Maintain ttable and realistic message that “Poverty, unemploy- exchange-rates ment and inequality are bigger In cooperation with the ministries of From one special assistant to 6 another threats to the everyday lives of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, ► Persist with multlateralism Afghans than traditional security UNDP is co-hosting a national launch Afghan journalist attends anti- 6 threats.” (Afghanistan NHDR 2004) on Monday July 10 2006 at the corruption workshop ► Cooperate with neighbours Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. UNV highlighted: Manuela da Cruz 7 Building on the success of from East Timor Afghanistan’s first National For details on the Asia Pacific In the context of Afghanistan, the Human Development Report for Human Development Report 2006: APHDR is consistent with the Afghan 2004, th e United Nati ons www.undprcc.lk. government’s regional cooperation Development Programme and Kabul UNDP Afghanistan Newsletter Afghan sign language on the move thanks to NPAD h e fu r t h er d ev el o pm e n t o f As my oldest deaf Afghanistan’s first ever comprehen- child is 15 years sive sign language is leaping forward T with the support of UNDP’s National old and the Programme for Action on Disability and with youngest is 7 the British NGO SERVE. years old, I have In the last two weeks of June some 40 been dealing with hearing impaired people from across these types of Afghanistan came together in Kabul to start problems now for work on increasing the number of signs 15 years and I am available for them to use. used to it. I am The Afghanistan National Association of the thanking my God, Deaf has already developed 2000 signs and because on the the aim of the recent Kabul workshop was to boost the number of signs to 4000, one hand I know concentrating on the development of Abdul Ghani, the head of sign language and grammar in particular. BAHAMI (“Together”) on the other hand Estimates suggest there are some 40,000 hearing impaired people in section of the International I have been able Afghanistan, perhaps 10,000 of them are children. The seminar was attended by Rescue Committee (IRC) to teach sign people from Balkh, in Herat province. language to my K a n d a h a r , H e r a t , children. All my Nangahar, Logar, Ghazni, Takhar and Kabul. four deaf children are at a normal school and attending special classes. The reason for these types of problems is mostly supposed because of family marriages or marrying close relatives. But mainly it is not due to that. I had no relationship with my wife before and I don’t know how it happened. Other children have very friendly relations with my children. Sometimes they even become jealous because they are not www.serveafghanistan.com deaf as more attention is paid to deaf children. Youth and democratic governance issues high on the agenda he Deputy Speaker of the Wolesi play in Afghan society, UNDP is in the develop a youth strategy and to identify Jirga and the Deputy Minister of process of identifying areas of youth possible resources to support the devel- Youth have launched a joint ini- engagement in need for support, with a opment of the strategy. Ttiative with the UNDP and other agencies particular focus on the role of youth in to focus on what efforts are being taken democratic governance. We are aware Assembly member from Paktika Ms. to support the youth of Afghanistan. that a series of donors and UN agencies Garghashta, who’s 26 and the youngest are already involved in supporting youth member of the parliament will also par- In June Ms. Fawzia Koofi from the Parlia- initiatives of different natures and want ticipate in the working group along with ment and Mr. Timor Shah Achekzai, the to complement these efforts. UNDP had representatives from other organisa- Deputy Minister of Youth, chaired two supported the participation of young tions. meetings to brainstorm on the subject Afghan leaders in a leadership training The youth initiative falls within UNDP’s “Youth and democratic governance; what last year in Thailand and some ideas on initiatives are already underway and future Civil Society Empowerment project follow up on this initiative have been which envisages strengthening the ca- what are the additional areas in need of brought to our attention already,” support?” pacity of Afghan youth to become a rec- said Ms. Karen Hussmann, Programme ognized “voice” and to help them partici- “Given the large proportion that youth Officer at UNDP. pate in policy discussions and democ- represent in Afghanistan’s demography A smaller working group will now be es- ratic governance. The UNDP programme and considering the pivotal role youth tablished by the Deputy Minister of Youth will compliment current interventions to look at a number of issues including and efforts by other partners such as the establishing a working plan on how to UN-Habitat youth development project. Page 2 1 July 2006 People with disabilities get the chance to go into business for themselves he UNDP’s National Programme for district in Kabul city, each with twenty names in people with disabilities into society as other Action on Disability (NPAD) is pushing it. The twenty winners drawn will then go on to people are,” said Rudy Rodriguez, UNDP’s Sen- T forward the chances for people with team up into pairs to operate the ten kiosks ior Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Martyrs, disabilities to get into business and make a which cost about US$ 700 each. Disabled and Social Affairs. living. To ensure transparency in the selection process NPAD supports an initiative called Afghan Ability twenty disabled representatives were invited which promotes private sector participation by from the twenty districts of Kabul city to over- people with disabilities. The intent is to main- see the balloting process, which selected the stream them and get civil society to focus on lucky twenty disabled from a list of 400 people the ability aspects rather than on the disability. who were known to be the neediest. The Coca-Cola Company has now joined with NPAD and Afghan Ability by providing ten kiosks “It is a happy occasion that we are starting this from which people with disabilities can sell work of a very important project. Although it everyday items such as phone cards, biscuits, is very small, it is very important because the sweets and drinks.