A Publication of United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan Issue No. 9,10/08 Afghanistan April 2008 Celebrated Afghan Musician Farhad Darya is UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador

elebrated musi- succeeded in giving a of the best role-models INSIDE THIS ISSUE: cian, artist and new shape to the tradi- to the present genera- human rights tional structure, compo- tion of Afghans, Darya 2 C activist Farhad Darya sition and voice in Af- has used his songs and 700 Staff of Lower House Connected to Computerized has been appointed the ghan music. Yet his his personality to intro- Payroll System UNDP National Goodwill work and contributions duce Afghanistan to the Ambassador for Af- make him more than world not as a country ghanistan. This was an- only a great musician. of conflict and despera- 3 nounced by the UNDP He is a human rights tion but a country of Over 6,000 Community

Representatives Link to Sub-National Consultations

5,6 Helping Job Seekers—Photo Essay 7 CISCO Academies Open New Opportunities for Youth in Afghanistan 9,10 International Women’s Day 2008

Farhad Darya at the Launch Ceremony with Bo Asplund, UNDP Resident Representative and Deputy Special Representative of Secretary General in Afghanistan © UNDP Photo

Resident Representative activist and has been hope and inspiration. in Afghanistan, Bo As- involved in various na- We very much look for- plund, in Kabul. tional and international ward to working with projects and activities Darya to promote the Farhad Darya is one of promoting rights of un- messages of peace and the most influential Af- der privileged groups. development all across ghan musicians since the country.” the mid 80s, and has Addressing newsper- been a pioneer of crea- sons, the UNDP Resident Darya has written and tivity, love and change Representative in Af- sung a remarkable array in Afghan contemporary ghanistan said, “UNDP is of songs in all major music. He is one of few honoured to have Darya Afghan artists who have as part of its family. One (Continued to Page 2) UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008 (from Page 1)

Afghan and other lan- promotion of rights of His call to the public to academia, interna- guages. He has always the underprivileged. join this campaign tional community and strived to bridge the appealed to many Af- the wider public. hearts. His music re- In November 2007 ghans. Darya called Speaking on the occa- flects the freedom and Darya joined the upon men to join the sion, Darya said: “I am unity of Afghanistan. UNDP’s campaign for campaign as change privileged to be a part He has won numerous the Elimination of Vio- makers and critical of UNDP’s journey on prestigious awards for lence Against Women partners in the efforts serving the mankind. his work in music and to promote greater to end violence We will work together Human Rights across awareness and en- against women. His to secure rights of the the globe. gage the public, par- presence in the cam- disadvantaged and to He received the Na- ticularly students and paign met with signifi- expand opportunities tional Human Rights youth and encourage cant response from for a better future for Award 2006 in Kabul them to take active the government, the all Afghans.” for his activism for the part in the campaign. student community, 700 Staff of Lower House Connected to Computerized Payroll System

even hundred human rights depart- system, making pay- progressively. staff members ments. ments through bank S and civil servants and the introduction In fact when the pay- of the Secretariat of the The UNDP-SEAL pro- of electronic atten- roll and banking sys- Wolesi Jirga or the ject supported a study dance systems have tem is extended to the Lower House of Afghan to identify various been identified as the entire Parliament, the Parliament have been measures and pro- first most important facility would serve connected to the com- grams that could help steps towards this over 3000 employees puterized payroll and build the financial ad- journey to an efficient and members. Future banking systems In ministrative capacity corporate system. initiatives of the March 2008. of the secretariat. Fol- In the current phase, UNDP/SEAL project include introducing Ensuring independ- electronic attendance ence, effectiveness and Future initiatives of the UNDP/ systems, budget and accountability of the expenditure manage- Parliament depends on SEAL project include introduc- ment systems and as- the well developed ing electronic attendance sys- set management sys- Corporate Manage- tems, initiatives aimed ment Systems. This tems, budget and expenditure to further strengthen includes human asset management systems efforts towards an effi- management systems, cient Parliament. physical assets man- agement systems The procurement sys- along with best prac- lowing this study, over the computerized pay- tem and the banking tices in the Financial 13 major recommen- roll has been intro- system are just the Management systems. dations were identi- duced only for the beginning steps of the With these objectives fied that could im- staff members and journey in building a in mind, the Wolesi prove the financial civil servants of the strong accountable, Jirga has started build- administrative sys- Wolesi Jirga. The facil- transparent and effi- ing its capacity in the tems. Out of these, the ity is to be extended cient financial and ad- areas of finance, introduction of a com- to the Members of the ministration system. administration and puterized payroll House,

Page 2 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008

Afghanistan National Development Strategy Over 6,000 Community Representatives Link to Sub-National Consultations

ationwide, Women’s Affairs, ment, donors, NGOs propriate accommo- over 6,000 which was for a female and communities dation and transporta- N community participation rate of 30 could all use the re- tion. representatives have per cent. sources available for In four provinces – participated in the The purpose of the development in the preparatory process as SNC-PDP process was most effective way. Kandahar, Zabul, part of the sub- threefold: to give Gov- Nooristan and Hel- Throughout the pre- national consultations ernment ministries the mand – separate ven- paratory phases, an (SNC) for the Afghani- opportunity to talk ues for men and unprecedented effort stan National Develop- with communities to women were organ- was undertaken to try ment Strategy (ANDS). ensure that their to get female commu- ised at the request of The number of partici- strategies designed to nity participants into the local communities. pants varied from meet the ANDS devel- However, province to province, the female with Nooristan having partici- the lowest number of pants in total participants and Baghlan having the Zabul and highest, followed by Kandahar Bamyan and Wardak requested with 255 each. In per- to sit with centage terms, the the men average participation during the rate of the preparatory opening workshops was 38 per and closing cent female and 62% ceremonies male. (and this

request The workshops were conducted in all 34 was ac- provinces involving opment objectives cepted). In the workshop process community represen- were also responding all other provinces, and to ensure that tatives (rural and ur- to the needs and pri- women and men sat there was a female ban residents, Kuchi orities of ordinary peo- together and partici- voice in the discus- and other vulnerable ple; to encourage pated equally in the sions/deliberations. In groups), as well as rep- communities to par- logistical terms, efforts consultations. resentatives of the ticipate in planning for to mobilise greater Government, donor the development of female participation Cultural constraints community, UN agen- their province; and, to necessitated consid- are an ongoing chal- cies, NGOs and civil produce a Provincial eration of the specific lenge to involving society. While the goal Development Plan needs and circum- women in any consul- of equal participation (PDP) which identified stances of female par- tation process. Each by men and women the most important ticipants, including consultation and plan- was not achieved, the development needs the presence of Mah- ning process pre- consultations ex- and top priority pro- rams and the require- sented a unique ceeded the target set jects for their province ment to provide ap- by the Ministry of so that the Govern- (Continued to Page 4)

Page 3 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008 (from Page 3) challenge with regard consultations, saying for discussion of de- been doing through to women’s participa- they did not want velopment strategies the DDA and DDP tion. For instance, women to participate, between community processes country- male participants in but then demanded representatives and wide. many provinces tried that places reserved for the Government. to use cultural resis- women be filled by The challenge now is tance and adherence men from their dis- The SNC-PDP work- to sustain that mo- to tradition as a way tricts. shops also enhanced mentum, especially to manipulate their participatory decision- with regard to the par- own district’s repre- The SNC-PDP work- making processes, ticipation of women. sentation in shops were a platform which NABDP has

UNDP-Supported Poverty Assessment Calls For Redoubling Efforts for Better Access To Basic Services

he Final Report of the Afghanistan Pilot Participatory Poverty Assessment (APPPA) to be re- leased on 21st April is expected to outline the assets of and access to services for the poor. T The report will present a comprehensive overview of the drivers, maintainers and interrupt- ers of poverty from various field sites in Afghanistan.

Access to clean drinking water, access to quality education, access to quality healthcare, improved long-term employment opportunities and increased presence of suitable roads are some of the pri- ority interventions that form a part of the poverty assessment under the APPPA report.

The report will draw attention to the need for the Government to focus strongly on disaster mitiga- tion, with particular reference to flood control measures. Broad (social) protection programming, to counter the effects of shocks, trends and seasonality, is also called for.

It is reliably learnt that the report emphasizes the need for quality local health services as a major priority for the poor. Serious attention is required to promote maternal health services, regulate pharmaceuticals and facilitate the professionalisation of healthcare workers. Public health services must be increasingly user-friendly and the minimization of hidden expenditures in so-called free health services must be actioned.

Another primary need expressed by the poor is access to quality local schooling. Access to schools for young girls must be encouraged. Sex disaggregated schooling is necessary. The illegal sale of distributed school goods by school teachers must be countered and the quality of school teachers must be increased, the report is understood to have recommended.

Increased access to education and health services for women is dependent upon addressing issues relating to the limitation of women’s mobility and countering associated negative traditional per- ceptions of female behaviour.

Calling for steps to augment installation and maintenance of clean water sources for all dimensions of community, the findings reveal that access to clean drinking water to be on top of the agenda of the poor. Other development priorities identified in all APPPA field-sites as the essential priorities required to meet the urgent needs of the participants of the APPPA include improvements in a range of areas including security and rule of law, infrastructure including road infrastructure, im- provements in employment opportunities, irrigation and water storage facilities and natural disaster mitigation infrastructure and response mechanisms.

Page 4 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008 Helping Job Seekers—Photo Essay

The unemployment rate in Afghanistan is estimated around 35 percent. UNDP collaborates with ILO to bridge the Afghan job- seekers with various employers

The Employment Service Center (ESC) helps the ordi- nary jobseekers to get con- nected with possible employers

Registration of male jobseekers is at a

higher level compared to females

(Continued to Page 6)

Page 5 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008 (from Page 5) Helping Job Seekers—Photo Essay

Good command in English is now required by most organizations. The ESC also provide free English training courses for the jobseekers

Most female jobseekers want to be involved in service works, espe- cially education and health

Now it is no more uncom- mon to see women work- ing alongside with the males in workplaces

By: Agustinus Wibowo

Page 6 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008 CISCO Academies Open New Opportunities for Youth in Afghanistan

lose to 2000 Technology’s highest number of equally shared as an youth across (MoC&IT) Telecommu- female CISCO Acad- important and uncom- C Afghanistan nications Training emy graduates in the promising goal by the have benefited from Center, Kabul Educa- region and measures Government of Af- the Cisco Networking tion University, and are being sought to ghanistan. Academy Program Khost, Mazar-e-Sharif, improve females' par- (CNAP). The pro- Herat and Nangarhar ticipation to the target The initial CNAP cur- gramme, launched in provinces. of 50 per cent female riculum contained 2002 at Kabul Univer- enrolment. CCNA 1 -4 and IT Es- sity’s Faculty of Com- From a pilot group of Assisting the female sentials 1 & 2. The cur- puter Science is sup- 17 students, there are population in gaining riculum has however

Women at one of the CISCO Academies getting trained in networking applications © UNDP Photo ported by UNDP Af- now more than 900 equal rights and op- changed and now has ghanistan and Cisco students enrolled at portunities during the CCNA Explorer and Systems. In 2004 USAID the various academies reconstruction of Af- CCNA Discovery. The joined this initiative to ITE Essentials, both expand the pro- More than 900 students enrolled at the 1&2 have also been gramme to other part various academies in the country with improved upon so as of the country. CNAP more than 900 having already graduated to meet the ever- has grown to include in the field of IT changing IT demands. one Regional Academy Wireless Network and based at Kabul Univer- in the country with ghanistan has been a Network Security cur- sity and seven Local more than 900 having major objective of riculums are part of Academies hosted at already graduated in UNDP and the interna- the new curriculum at the Ministry of the fields of IT and tional community. Kabul Regional Acad- Women’s Affairs, the networking. Of these This aim is clearly re- emy while CCNP will Ministry of Communi- 35 per cent are fe- flected in the ICT pol- be on the menu start- cation and Information males. This is the icy document and is ing with June 2008.

Page 7 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008

Afghan Women in Information Technology Initiative

Helping Women Gain IT Edge U N he goal of the Afghan Women in Information Technology Initiative (AWIT) is toH promote Afghan women’s participation in Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs)C skills training T and IT career paths and to empower Afghan women through the use of ICTs.R Back in May 2006 the project established a well equipped IT center with 30 computers networked and, connected to the Internet at the Kabul university women’s dorm. The AWIT Initiative supports IT skills training as an em- powerment tool for women by encouraging women to learn basic and advanced ICTK skills as a way to enhance their employment opportunities. By engaging the support of industry partners,a academic lead- ers, community and government officials, alumni and current students, the initiativeb also seeks to en- able educational institutions in Afghanistan to make available the benefits of newu technologies to women. In order to promote the participation of women in the field of IT the CISCO Networkingl Academy project has taken some initiative by awarding Women scholarship and tuition discount.

One of the beneficiaries of this gender initiative is Ms Ghezal Thoki. Ghezal, who hails from Kabul City is the first born of 4 siblings. Born in 1988, she went through Primary and High School and is now a 3rd year student at Kabul University offering English as her Major in the Faculty of Literature. Ghezal heard of CISCO through a friend who happened to have been a student at the only-females CISCO Academy at the Ministry of Women Affairs. "This was a dream about to come true, since computers had mesmerized me right from my childhood. I was very excited and to make matters in- teresting, my friend also told me that the classes were free and in the afternoons. That was enough to make me join the academy. My parents were also suppor- tive," says Ghezal.

She belongs to the first batch of graduates from the MoWA Cisco Academy. She was invited to join the CCNA and IT Essentials Instructors' Training Course at Kabul Regional Academy. Ghezal is now one of the trainers at MoWA Academy and is helping other women, some of whom are old enough to be her mother, to learn IT and Networking skills.

Because of her job as a trainer, Ghezal is able to meet most of her personal, economic, social and basic needs as well as render support to her family. CNAP has enabled her to gain experience in IT skills and her confidence as a knowledge facilitator, greatly improved. Ghezal hinges her success and personal achievement to God, but also to her understanding of the English language which is the medium of exchange. She cites lack of English language skills, both spoken and written, as the most serious challenge to the students understanding and utilizing learnt IT/Network skills. Says Ghezal, "I want to thank the UNDP, USAID and other donors for supporting us, especially women, and enabling us to acquire the necessary IT/Networking skills through the CISCO program. I appeal to the donors to continue supporting the program and to all females to use this chance to better themselves."

Page 8 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008

International Women’s Day 2008 First Ever Solidarity Concert for Afghan Women by UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Farhad Darya

oted musician The concert, held at walks of life, from ordi- diplomats to police and UNDP the Loya Jirga tent in nary house wives to constables, from jour- N National nalists to grassroots Goodwill Ambassador activists. led a solidarity concert The event was opened for women to promote by the Minister of In- women’s cause on 8 formation and Culture March to mark the In- and a message of con- ternational Women’s gratulations and ap- Day. The concert was preciations was con- the result of a collabo- veyed by the Minister ration between the for Women’s Affairs. Ministry of Information During the concert-

(Top) Farhad Darya performs at the concert (center) A cross section of the audience and (below) Minister of Women’s Affairs, Husn Banoo Ghazanfar, addressing the audience © UNDP Photo and Culture (MoIC) and Kabul, Darya delivered mes- the Gender Equality was at- sages of women’s project of UNDP, with tended by rights, peace and financial support of the over 2200 equality. UK Department for In- women The concert sent a ternational Develop- and powerful message ment (DFID) and the around that Afghanistan is not Netherlands Embassy 500 men a country of destruc- in Kabul. Throughout from di- tion and desperation the concert Darya con- verse walks of life. It parliamentarians, from but a country of hope, veyed messages of brought together Af- ministers to office development, peace peace and empower- ghan women from all cleaners, from and inspiration. ment. Page 9 UNDP-Afghanistan NEWSLETTER April 2008

Joint UN Observance at Bagh-e-Zanana The Gender Equality, Youth and Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) projects of UNDP par- ticipated in the UN agencies’ co- celebration of the In- ternational Women’s Day held on 7th March at Bagh-e-Zanana (women’s park in Ka- bul). This event was attended by a large number of women and girls. Two Deputy Min- isters for MoWA and Youth were among the government dignitar- ies present who ordi- nary women had an Visitors at the UNDP Stall at the Exhibit © UNDP Photo opportunity to listen to close. The Gender Equality project presented UNDP’s work for women and see from very and gender equality on the occasion. Advocacy materials on women gen- der and development were distributed among the participants. More on the International Women’s Day 2008 On the occasion of the Ershad-ul-Naswan. Kabul and in the prov- was convened on Sat- International Women’s MoWA also produced inces. The Gender urday 8th March 2008, Day, the Ministry of other awareness- Equality Project sup- at Amani High School. Womens Affairs raising and advocacy ported MoWA in the Opened by HE Presi- (MoWA) produced the materials such as bill- production of materi- dent Hamid Karzai, the event was at- tended by dig- Opened by HE nitaries from President Hamid the govern- ment ministries Karzai, the event and other state was attended by institutions, dignitaries from parliamentari- the government ans and mem- bers of the dip- ministries and lomatic corps, other state insti- UN agencies tutions and civil society organisations. boards, banners, fly- als and convening dif- Christopher Alexan- special International ers, posters and leaf- ferent events in the der, DSRSG, UNAMA, Women’s Day edition lets. commemoration of represented the UN of Mirman and These materials were International Women’s family at this impor- disseminated both in Day. The main event tant event.

Page 10 UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

Overview of UNDP in Afghanistan

NDP has been present in Afghanistan since 1956, providing development assistance to the country and helping build the capacity of national institutions. During the Taliban regime, UNDP continued to provide U assistance to communities throughout the country from its relocated offices in Islamabad. During that decade, UNDP delivered US$200 million of assistance to Afghanistan. In early 2002, UNDP inaugurated its new of- fice in Kabul.

The human development challenge for Afghanistan is enormous. According to Afghanistan’s National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2004, the Human Development Index ranks Afghanistan at 173 out of 178 countries worldwide and its MDG indicators place it below the majority of Sub-Saharan African countries. The depth of pov- erty in Afghanistan is reflected consistently in all human development indicators, revealing a mosaic of a nation in need of sustained assistance. Not surprisingly, therefore, Afghanistan has been identified as a global priority for addressing the Millennium Development Goals.

UNDP operates within the framework of the integrated United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) and within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). In December 2005, UNDP signed a three-year Country Programme Action Plan with the Government of Afghanistan focusing on three development areas: state-building, democracy and civil society empowerment and sustainable livelihoods. UNDP new Country Programme focuses on capacity development, national ownership and policy dialogue. UNDP aims to enhance gov- ernment institutional capacity to deliver public services in an equitable and sustainable manner and to create an enabling environment for legitimate livelihoods.

The expected results are pursued in line with the Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) objec- tives and benchmarks. In particular, UNDP supports the Government in achieving a number of development bench- marks in the field of security and the rule of law, administrative reform, transparency and accountability, local gov- ernance, political processes (elections and parliament), civil society empowerment, gender equality, human rights, environment and rural energy, the reintegration of former combatants into society, the implementation of the na- tional counter-narcotics strategy, as well as rural development planning and private sector development.

All UNDP activities are undertaken in close collaboration with the Government of Afghanistan, sister UN agencies and other development stakeholders.

UNDP has built strategic partnerships with a number of government institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry for Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Ministry of Interior, the Civil Service Commission, the Inde- pendent Election Commission, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. UNDP’s top ten donor partners in Afghanistan are the US, the EC, Japan, CIDA, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Norway and the World Bank.

UNDP is thankful for the support and confidence lent by its national and international development partners.

United Nations Development Programme, Shah Mahmood Ghazi Watt, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0) 20 212 4000 or +93 (0) 20 212 4076 For more information on any of these stories, or to make contributions, please contact: Kumar Tiku, Head of Communications, at [email protected], or Fezeh Hosseini, Public Information Officer, at [email protected]

www.undp.org.af