Showing posts with label NGOs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NGOs. Show all posts

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Economic, Development, and NGO News




NGO Meeting in Kabul.  A meeting was held presided by the Afghan government with representatives from Non-Governmental Organizations that work in Afghanistan. The conference was held to evaluate NGOs work in Afghanistan in terms of helping with economic development and poverty alleviation. President Ghani said that NGOs have not always implemented projects in an effective manner. He is stressing more interaction and cooperation with the Afghan government. Read more in "Ghani Says NGOs Will Have to Report to Govt", Tolo News, March 12, 2018. See also "Abdullah Wraps up Two-Day NGO Conference in Kabul", Tolo News, March 13, 2018.

Nimruz Water Project. The residentes of Nimruz have high hopes about the dramatic differences a major dam project will have on life in the semi-arid province. Safiullah Amiri writes "Hopes Overflow for Afghan Water Project", Institute for War and Peace Reporting, March 18, 2018.

Pipeline Hopes. The TAPI project was first proposed in 1995 in an attempt to get Central Asian energy to markets in South Asia. However, once the Taliban took power the venture was dropped. Since 2001, with the demise of the Taliban regime, efforts have been made to revive the project. Hopefully the TAPI project will bring increased prosperity to Afghanistan, improve Afghan's confidence in its government, and play a part in reducing insecurity. "A Pipeline for Landlocked Afghanistan: Can It Help Deliver Peace?", The Asia Foundation, March 14, 2018.


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

AREU - A to Z Guide to Assistance in Afghanistan 2015

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has published "The A to Z Guide to Assistance in Afghanistan 2015". This is a unique resource which aims to enhance the understanding of the actors, structures and government processes related to aid and reconstruction efforts in the country. The guide provides an extensive glossary of assistance terms, and overview of Afghanistan's system of government, key primary documents, political overview of all of the 34 provinces, and an extensive contacts directory that includes government agencies, NGOs, and international agencies.

www.areu.org.af/ . . . AtoZGuide2015.pdf

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Afghanistan NGO Security Incidents - 2014

The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) provides analysis & advise for humanitarians. The organization is dedicated to supporting the safety of humanitarian aid workers who often risk their lives in the service of the world's most vulnerable people. INSO provides data on NGO security incidents. Below is a chart depicting security incidents in Afghanistan involving NGOs during 2014. The data reflects incidents, fatalities, injuries and abductions. (source INSO website).


Sunday, March 1, 2015

FY 2015 Funding for NGO Programs (Refugees)

The U.S. Department of State has announced an opportunity for funding of NGO programs benefiting Afghan returnees and IDPs in Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The announcement, made on February 10, 2015, includes specific instructions for NGOs on how to apply for the State Department funding.

Friday, January 24, 2014

INSO View of Security in Afghanistan Post-2014

The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) offers support, analysis and advice for humanitarians working in Afghanistan. The INSO has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002 (formerly known as ANSO). It relies on funding from donors to operate. Some of these donors include ECHO, SDC, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over 300 NGOs operating in Afghanistan have membership in INSO. The INSO view of security in Afghanistan is not optimistic. Read what it says on its website about Afghanistan.
"As the NATO combat mission nears its end, the leadership, manpower and organisation of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) remains capable of conducting aggressive combat operations across the country. Despite their growth, government armed forces have so far been unable to fill the security gap left by the departing NATO soldiers and are increasingly targeted in Taliban operations along with Government civilians. Peace talks have stalled in the absence of any credible incentives or commitments on either side. After 2014, it seems likely that Afghanistan will once again enter a period of protracted conflict in which the dominant paradigm of 'NATO vs Taliban' will be replaced by multiple overlapping conflicts between and within Afghan groups".
Source of quote above found at below link:
www.ngosafety.org/#!programs/cee5

Thursday, January 23, 2014

German NGOs Look to Future in Afghanistan

German Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that conduct humanitarian service work in Afghanistan are pondering what the future will look like in Afghanistan after the elections in April 2014 and the withdrawal of ISAF combat troops post-2014. For a long time many of the NGOs have advocated a separation between the activities of the military and those governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in the economic development and assisting governance. The NGOs complain that they are at risk of attack by insurgents if they work with or in conjunction with the NATO forces. In addition, there is usually a philosophical difference in approach to resolving conflicts and engaging in conflict that separates the two camps.

There are a few complicating factors that weigh in on the situation. One is that the Taliban have a poor record of observing the norm of not attacking civilians and unarmed non-combatants (see the news on the most recent bombing of a Kabul restaurant). This has, in many cases, forced NGOs to seek the protection of the military to get around the country to do their work. In addition, many NGOs are financed as "implementation partners" of the military and other government entities - so there are ties there as well. The military has also provided a unifying function in the establishment of Civil Military Operations Coordination Centers (CMOCCs) and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) at the provincial level. Thus the military has gotten deeply involved in development and governance efforts. Many would argue that the military should conduct these development and governance activities as they are two key lines of effort of counterinsurgency.

Read more on this topic in "German NGOs assess role in post-NATO Afghanistan", EurActiv, January 20, 2014.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance (AREU)


The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has released the 11th Edition (2013) of the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance. Contained within the publication is a glossary of assistance terms, extensive listing of assistance organizations, an overview of the Afghanistan system of government, and information about the provinces and districts of Afghanistan. If you are in the business of security, governance, development, counterinsurgency, or Security Force Assistance (SFA) this book will be invaluable to you.

 You can order hard copies of the 2013 edition or download the 2012 edition off the AREU website. The hardcopies cost about $20 USD or Afs 1000 with limited editions available. The electronic copy (2012) can be downloaded for free.
 
www.areu.org.af

 

Friday, December 31, 2010

Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR)



"The Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR) was created in August 1988, in response to the demand from the many aid agencies and their international donors for a coordinated approach to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.Originally,the organization was based in Peshawar, Pakistan, where it focused mainly on coordinating NGOs' humanitarian response. Since it moved to Afghanistan, ACBAR provides the framework within which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Afghan Government, the UN and bilateral donors can exchange information, share expertise and establish guidelines for a more coordinated, efficient and effective use of resources for aid to the Afghan people. Its activities have focused heavily on information to its members and the aid community in general, coordination of activities at the national and regional levels, and advocacy on issues affecting the work of its members in Afghanistan."
ACBAR is a coordinating organization for many of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in Afghanistan.  It's website offers a wealth of information for NGOs to include job announcements, publications, training, advocacy, and more.  Visit their link at http://www.acbar.org/.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Aid Groups Say Situation in Afghanistan is Worse

Non-government organizations (NGOs) who dispense aid and services throughout Afghanistan state that the security situation on the ground in Afghanistan is getting worse.  Read more in "Afghanistan security worsening, say aid groups and analysts on the ground", The Age, December 30, 2010.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

An Assessment of Humanitarian Needs in Afghanistan

ReliefWeb has posted an assessment of humanitarian needs of the Afghan populace on their website.  The extensive review of the aid situation in Afghanistan is explored with recommendations on how to meet some of the humanitarian needs.  See "Afghanistan: In a Time of Conflict", ReliefWeb, December 1, 2010.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Aid Groups Negotiating with Taliban in Afghanistan

Aid groups working in Afghanistan are communicating with the Taliban in an effort to gain safe passage for its workers.  The independent NGOs are trying to put distance between their organizations and the coalition forces. 
"KABUL—Independent aid groups operating in Afghanistan are increasingly distancing themselves from the U.S.-led coalition and trying to forge safe-passage agreements with insurgents, betting that a show of neutrality will protect their work amid an intensifying war. The Taliban are reciprocating with a more moderate approach to some aid workers, while continuing attacks on those seen as affiliated with the coalition. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban's supreme leader, recently issued formal instructions to help nongovernment organizations that register with them, Taliban officials say."
Read more in "Aid groups seek safety pacts with Taliban", The Wall Street Journal, November 22, 2010.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Afghan Aid Groups May Depart Due to Security Firm Decision by Karzai

President Karzai has determined that foreign private security firms must depart Afghanistan.  Unfortunately this will affect the amount of aid that is administered in Afghanistan as the international aid groups are hesitant to depend upon Afghan security forces.  Read more in "Afghan Aid Groups Plan to Leave Over Karzai Decree", The Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2010.