Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit IMPORTANT NOTE: The information presented in this guide relies on the voluntary contributions of ministries and agencies of the Afghan government, embassies, development agencies, and other organisations representing donor countries, national and international NGOs, and other institutions. While AREU makes a sincere effort to provide the most accurate and current information possible with each edition produced, details evolve and change continuously. Users of this guide are encouraged to submit updates, additions, corrections and suggestions to [email protected]. © 2014 Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Permission can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by calling +93 (0) 799 608 548. Provincial Profiles (maps and data):Word Bank and Central Statistics Organization Photos: Sameer Hamgam Cover photograph: An Afghan man making pottery in Istalif. Tab photographs: Provincial Profile:Mandawi Bazar, Kabul Nov 2013. A to Z : An Afghan man making Rubab (music insturment), Kabul Dec 2013. Government: A shop of pottery dishes, Kabul Dec 2013. Mar 2012. Contacts: A child polishing shoes, Kabul Dec 2013. Documents: Cement factory, Kabul Dec 2013. Index, Pottery dishes in which grapes are kept in winter called “kangina”, Kabul Dec 2013. Contact Information: 3rd street on the left from Charahi Haji Yacoub toward Charahi Shaheed House No. 144, first gate on the right Shahr-i-Naw, Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: +93 (0) 799 608 548 Email: [email protected] Website: www.areu.org.af The AREU library is located at the AREU office in Kabul and is open: Sunday to Thursday: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (8 a.m. - 2 p.m. during Ramazan) ii AREU The A to Z Guide to Assistance in Afghanistan Table of Contents: About the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit .................................................................................iv The AREU Library ........................................................................................................................................... iv About the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance ...................................................................................... iv AREU Publications 2013 ................................................................................................................................ v Provincial Profiles ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Central Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................................3 Northeast Afghanistan ....................................................................................................................................7 East Afghanistan .............................................................................................................................................9 North Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................................ 11 South Afghanistan ........................................................................................................................................14 Southwest Afghanistan .................................................................................................................................17 Southeast Afghanistan ................................................................................................................................ 19 A to Z Contents: ..............................................................................................................................................24 Government Initiatives and Programmes ...................................................................................................24 Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society .................................................................................. 49 Afghan-International Initiatives and Programmes ..................................................................................... 69 The Government of Afghanistan ....................................................................................................................82 Background .................................................................................................................................................. 82 The Executive ............................................................................................................................................... 83 The Legislative ............................................................................................................................................. 83 The Judiciary..................................................................................................................................................87 The Public Sector ......................................................................................................................................... 90 Pay and Grading ........................................................................................................................................... 92 Elections ....................................................................................................................................................... 93 Contacts ......................................................................................................................................................... 96 Documents ....................................................................................................................................................200 Laws in Afghanistan ................................................................................................................................... 200 NGO Legislation and Code of Conduct ..................................................................................................... 230 Code of Conduct for NGOs engaged in Humanitarian Action, Reconstruction, and Development in Afghanistan (2005) ................................................................................................................................... 231 Index ............................................................................................................................................................................242 The A to Z Guide to Assistance in Afghanistan iii Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit About the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research institute based in Kabul. AREU’s mission is to inform and influence policy and practice through conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research and actively disseminating the results, and to promote a culture of research and learning. To achieve its mission, AREU engages with policymakers, civil society, researchers, and students to promote their use of AREU’s research and its library, to strengthen their research capacity, and to create opportunities for analysis, reflection, and debate. AREU conducts research on a wide variety of topics and produces dozens of research publications each year, ranging from policy-focused briefing papers to comprehensive issues and synthesis reports. Many are translated into Dari and Pashto. AREU was established in 2002 by the assistance community working in Afghanistan and has a board of directors with representation from donors, the United Nations and other multilateral agencies, and non-governmental organisations. The AREU Library Established in 2003, the AREU Library supports the research activities of AREU and provides public service to approximately 15,500 titles held about Afghanistan. The library also has over 63 gigabytes of accumulated softcopy publications on Afghanistan. The focus of the collection is contemporary materials produced inside Afghanistan and materials in Dari and Pashto, with an emphasis on long- term research value. The library also aims to make available research produced overseas about the country and the region. Materials of all types (books, journal articles, maps, posters, CDs, DVDs, databases and more) are available for use inside the library. Photocopying facilities are available and the entire collection is listed online (see the “Library” page of AREU’s website at www.areu.org.af). The library also has over 63 gigabytes of accumulated softcopy publications on Afghanistan, all of which are indexed and listed in the library database and made available for research use (where copyright laws permit). About the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance Updated each year, the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance aims to enhance general understanding of the array of actors, structures, and government processes related to aid and reconstruction efforts in the country. The Guide provides: a wide-ranging glossary of assistance terms and actors, an overview of Afghanistan’s system of government, political provincial briefs, key primary documents, and an extensive contacts directory that includes government agencies, NGOs, donors, and international actors. Where