USAID Information: USAID Country Page FY 2009 Congressional Budget Justification Mission Web Site Stories From Afghanistan Selected USAID Reports External Links: U.S. State Department CIA World Factbook United Nations Development Programme World Bank Group Embassy of Afghanistan Department of Commerce: Rebuilding Afghanistan
	04/04: Roads Improve Journey from Kabul to Kandahar 05/04: Flat Stanley Visits Afghanistan 07/04: Rehabilitation of Irrigation Systems in Afghanistan 08/04: Serving Millions with Critical Medicine Delivery 09/04: Broadcasting for Better Health in Afghanistan 12/04: Providing Women the Tools to Earn a Living
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Afghanistan General Activity Update

January 19 - February 15, 2006 · Issue 109

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan Senior Health Advisor Jim Griffin (left) and Social Sector Reform Director Jim Sarn (right) display the Mir Masjidi awards. The Health Program Specialist, Dr. Faiz, stands in the middle. “Mr. James E. Sarn and Mr. James L. Griffin have played a major role in the reconstruction efforts in the health sector, construction of health clinics, and provision of health services in thirteen provinces of the country. They have also developed human capacities in the Ministry of Public Health.” -- Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan USAID Health Staff Honored by Mir Masjidi Khan Award On February 18th, Mohammad Zahir Shah, the former King of Afghanistan, bestowed one of the highest civilian awards to USAID’s Social Sector Reform Director Dr. Jim Sarn and his colleague, Senior Health Advisor Jim Griffin. The Afghan Ministry of Public Health nominated Griffin and Sarn for the Mir Masjidi Khan award for their dedication and outstanding performance. “Jim Sarn and Jim Griffin are true professionals and this award recognizes the long hours of work and tireless efforts they have put into the USAID/Afghanistan health program,” commented Mission Director Alonzo Fulgham. “Working for two years far from their families, their work has provided basic health care services, increased maternal and neonatal care, and improved lives for thousands of Afghan families.”

Extending Partnerships and Boosting Skills

USAID and other government agencies met with the Afghan Government for a Strategic Partnership Conference on March 20-21 in Washington, D.C. Officials discussed security, prosperity and governance to improve the effectiveness of aid.

Improving Afghan capabilities and management systems will create an environment for development to succeed over the long term. USAID programs build the skills of Afghan counterparts working in health, agriculture, commerce, and other ministries. These projects enhance administrative and procurement processes to increase accountability and promote good governance. Programs also focus on policy-making and program capacity.

To supplement these ongoing activities, USAID is launching the new Afghans Building Capacity (ABC) program. ABC will support Afghan institutions such as ministries and local governments, businesses, non- governmental organizations, and universities as they strengthen their core capabilities. It will link U.S., Afghan, and regional universities into networks to enhance Afghan institutions. ABC will provide merit scholarships for study in the U.S., Afghanistan, and other countries.

Strengthening Civil Society

Participants gather to discuss ways to strengthen civil society at recent roundtables hosted by USAID. Mr. Rasheed (above), Dr. Fatah Mamnoon and Shakiba Hashimi(below) address participants.

USAID and an implementing partner have been coordinating roundtable discussions nationwide for Afghans to share ideas about rebuilding their societies. The roundtables have connected representatives from local government, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, media, tribal leaders, district shurarepresentatives, and youth organizations.

In Kabul last January, Ms. Shakiba Hashimi from the National Assembly and Dr. Fatah Mamnoon from USAID led a session where attendees discussed constraints on civil society and recommendedways to overcome obstacles. Many described illiteracy as a majorbarrier. Participants also expressed the need to strengthen civil society to live a free, peaceful life. At an earlier roundtable in Nangarhar province, Afghans described tolerance, rule of law, and respecting citizens’ rights as important values to be developed.

Ideas from these roundtables are being compiled into a report and translated into local languages for dissemination across the country.

“Civil society is about development. Everyone is part of civil society. The capacity of elders and ulemas should be increased and they should form mobile groups to go to the far off districts and promote civil society as they have the respect of the community. Train them to be the messengers.”
--Haji Abdul Rasheed, Kandahar Ulamas’ Council member