Photos of my recent visit of Bamyan mission

Providing technical advice to District Information Center of Yaklawan DDA

Photo near Bamyan center

Teaching to Kabul University students about Community based planning system  of Afg

An Afghan village in Satu mountain area of Punjab district

An Afghan village in Satu mountain area of Punjab district, background is very  beautiful site scene

Gift of God Destroyed by Human

Gift of God Destroyed by Human

Nahakul K.C.[1]

I visited to Bamyan for my official mission on 3^rd week of July 2012. The objectives of the mission were to observe and monitor ongoing programme activities which is implementing by National Area based Development Programme (NABDP). In this article aim is to share my personnel observation about one of the very historical place; shape of deity Budhha’s in Bamyan centre and naturally beautiful places Bande E Aamir Lake and Satu Mountains of Yaklawang and Punjab districts of Bamyan.

Before arrival to Afghanistan, Bamyan and Kandahar were my dream place to visit. I was so fascinating to know about brave Pathan “Pashtu’s” in Kandahar. Kashmiri Pakistani hijackers were hijacked an Air Bus of Air India from Kathmandu and brought to Kandahar. Due to these reasons I was keen to visit in these two places respectively. I was so interested to see the breaker of an idol or image of Buddha’s was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Buddha was born and grown up in Nepal and letter on when he had knowledge and wisdom he moved to India and letter on his ideology was spread out in all over the world. I was so eager to see myself Monuments of Buddhhas, nearby caves where more than 5000 Monks were used to stay. It can be counted as “Valley of God”.

The Monumental Buddha statues of Bamyan were until their destruction, one of the best known historic and cultural sights of Afghanistan carved from the cliff in the early 6^th and 7^th centuries AD, the date to an era when Buddhism was an dominant religion in the region and when Bamyan was in important centre of trade route between China, Europe and India and Central Asia. The Astern Buddha (38 mit. high) was craved first, in the middle of the 6^th century and the western Buddha (55 mit. high) in the early 7^th century. The statuses were once brightly decorated. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuan Zang, who visited Bamyan in about AD 630, recorded the first description of the Buddhas. He wrote that the large Buddha’s “golden hues sparkle on every side and its precious ornaments dazzle the eyes by their brightness.” The hundreds of hereby caves were used by monks and were once decorated with elaborated wall paintings. The Buddha’s were destroyed by the Taleban authority in 2001. (UNESCO)

In reality dismantle of Buddha’s monument was started from earlier Islamic kings. As per local residents it was and historical photos shows giant Buddha was leg and partial part of the face destroyed in 18^th century. The Taliban claimed that the local Hazara community are not Islam. They claimed these monuments looks like Hazara and destroyed in March 2001.

I observed along with my office colleagues and climb up to second largest Buddha. Now there are all empty monuments but it is pretty clear shape. I observed amazing architect and designing of those caves in such places like Bamyan. It was a civilization which shows great historical link up with Alexander and Genghis Khan, who were used to travel through this trade silk route. There is strong belief that, there is 300 mitre sleeping Buddha’s monuments is lying down. Dr. Tarzi renounced archaeologist start to renovate and explore sleeping monument. I hope this will be found out in near future. Right now this renovations works is stopped. More than three decades war of the Afghanistan, it destroyed fascinating history and culture of the country.

I observed virgin lake called Band E Aamir, which I did not know before coming to Afghanistan. This is located around 120 KM west of Bamyan centre and having good connectivity to reach to lake. The Islamic Republic of Government of Afghanistan in year 2009 declared first National Park. It was glad to know that this park was technically supported by Nepali forester Mr. Uday Raj Sharma. There are beautiful seven lakes, which are located north to west. The natural spring water makes everyone to fulfil their thrust. Government is providing basic facilities for boating in the lake site. The blue and crystal clear water you can see up to deep of the lake. It’s “God Gifted” places. Local communities are managing motel and resorts with basic facilities. If you are beginners of writing your poems or novel, you will please to think or write something. There is beautiful and wonder palace called ‘Dragon valley’ where you can observe about the sulphur water is coming from the cave of stones in the small peak of mountains. Local people have beliefs that, it came from the mouth of Dragon. There could be study site for zoologist students. When I visited these three places, I feel the Bamyan is “Gift of God destroyed by Human”.

I visited rural site of the province Yakalawang, Punjab and Waras districts. There is huge pasture land and thin and scattered settlement which is hard to provide basic facilities to the rural people. It seems some hope is reaching to their villages. Now schools are opening, girls and boys are going to school. Pave roads are operating Dubai and Pakistani sold second hand vehicles. MRRD is supporting to culverts, bridges, drinking water supply and more importantly micro hydro power projects. In Bamyan there is very encouraging active participation of women were observed in the local institutions like; District Development Assemblies (DDAs) and Community Development Councils (CDCs).

Bamyan is one of the highest potential for domestic and international tourism. The proposed national highway may open more opportunities to the local people for promotion tourism and development but main question is Peace and stability. Peace which Buddha advocates in his whole life and his millions of followers are following nowadays as well, it required to Afghan people as well. Only Peaceful Afghanistan can move for further betterment of its citizens.

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[1] .  Nahakul KC is development worker, and working for Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development  (MRRD/UNDP) of Afghanistan since November 2009 and this article is written based on his personnel observation of Bamyan visit from 17^th to 22^nd July 2012.

DDAs’ Development Role at Sub-national Governance Level in Afghanistan

DDAs’ Development Role at Sub-national Governance Level in Afghanistan:
Nahakul K.C.
Background
National Area-Based Development Programme (NABDP) commenced as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2002.NABDP contributes towards an enabling environment in rural areas to provide equitable development and good governance through community empowerment at the district level.

District Development Assemblies (DDAs) are district level Shuras, which are democratically elected, represented by Community Development Councils (CDCs), which are mainly focused on planning, implementation and monitoring of rural development activities as local governance institutions at the district level, these local development institutions play an important role to minimize gap between the communities and provinces.

Moreover, the DDA is envisaged to play a crucial role in establishing linkages vertically with provincial authorities and horizontally with various line departments of GoA, private sectors and NGOs to promote local governance, assisting the government for stabilization of peace, thereby offering a multiplier effect of donor funding. In this nexus, it is very much important to analyse both the advantages and limitations of DDAs and the proposed alternative District Councils and to identify areas of collaboration and needs to advocate about the positive parts of the DDA and District Councils which could ultimately result in merger as a single entity

Institutional mechanism
The programme has its major strategies decentralized to the provinces. One of the first successful models was ‘Kandahar Model’, with more physical, financial and administrative decentralization to the provinces. Decentralization of operations to the identified provinces will increase the efficiency significantly. Keeping the geo-political conditions and local context in the scenario, MRRD’s NABDP acknowledges the need for national presence. A package of integrated and inter-linked projects will be delivered to communities identified by the resource allocation criteria that comprise level of poverty, investment per capita, and local physical and institutional potential. With this, NABDP will significantly grow in size. This warrants that a robust accountability and transparency system is in place for both operations and programme management of NABDP.
The MRRD encourages the DDAs to share major progress, best practices and areas of collaborations among the various stakeholders and share their major constraints and challenges in the provincial Conferences. NABDP also encourages other stakeholders to work through the DDAs as the development gate way in the district level.

Moreover, the provincial resource mobilization conferences are proposed to conduct for providing detailed information about the opportunities to work with local development institutions and create conducive working environment at the district and community level through the DDAs and CDCs for the fulfilment of above objectives. The provincial resource mobilization Conferences will be conducted from October to mid December 2011 in the provincial headquarters.

Recent major achievements
NABDP established 388 DDAs out of 402 DDAs across the country. The 388 District Development Plans (DDP) were formulated. Out of the 388 DDAs which already completed three years, re-elections were carried out in 158 DDAs. The capacity development modules (training) were provided to the 290 DDAs. The modules on the training were 1- Good Governance, Conflict resolution and gender equity, 2- project planning, implementation and project management, 3- Procurement and financial management and 4- Disaster Management and Mitigation. The LIDD/NABDP has established 63 District Information Centres and 215 DDAs are receiving grant in aid. Additionally, project monitoring and special training was provided to 13 insecure provinces where DDA members are directly involved in the project monitoring process.
The programme has 96% coverage of Afghanistan where 11460 DDA members directly support the rural development and local governance process. Furthermore, 2,366 DDA members have been trained in different project management modules like local governance, gender, conflict resolutions, procurement & finance, project management & disaster management. These members are contributing in peace and stabilization process and completion of projects. 80% projects are getting implemented through communities with a tripartite agreement between DDA, CDCs, and MRRD. This agreement helped increase the employment, where 2,330,616 beneficiaries of 4,290 families of 461 villages are connected with 27 road projects with access to safe drinking water. In addition, 278 Jeribs of land is irrigated by the updated and newly completed irrigation projects and 13,438 Jeribs of land is protected from the natural disaster by supporting and construction of river control and retaining walls. Likewise, 181 KW of electricity is generated and 10,368 households are electrified from rural energy programme. Similarly, Biogas projects have provided 1,057 households with alternative cooking fuel. Additionally, many female DDA members are part of the Provincial Development Committee and two DDA male members were elected for the parliament.
Challenges and opportunities
Legitimacy of District Development Assemblies (DDAs) has been a key challenge. Without having a legal status, there is an issue of sustainability. Without a legal and legitimate status the donors, government institutions and civil society will hesitate to enter in any deal with the DDAs.
The District Development Plans are prepared and formulated by the DDA members based on their needs. These community plans needs should be reflected at the district level and reflected in Provincial Development Plans and National Plan of the GoIRA. In addition, various emerging Shuras at the district Level formed by other line ministries like, IDLG- USAID, DFID’s Community Councils (CCs) are being paid monthly salary, while the DDA members work voluntarily. The role of DDAs vs. CCs members and their overlapping roles are creating great challenges to the DDAs.
DDAs have been the exclusive responsibility of the MRRD; it must now implement its programmes and channelize its resources in the districts through DDAs. This helps to build DDAs’ capacity in development administration and will help transform them into institutions. Competent human Resource to manage these institutions at the district level is another great challenge. It requires additional commitment and capable human resource support for project implementation, institutionalization and capacity building support to individual DDAs.
Conclusions
DDAs have better opportunities to play an important role in development and governance at the district level. These local institutions are well capacitated for the project management, procurement and finance and monitoring process. These institutions have better coordination with district/provincial governor office and working relationship with Provincial Development Committees. These local institutions are carrying multi ministerial activities at the district level for the providing effective service delivery to the local communities. These institutions are effectively mobilizing internal and external physical and financial resources for the better management, implementation and monitoring the projects. Thus DDA should be converted as a District Council at the district level which can be most appropriate institution to provide effective service delivery in the better governance at the sub national level.

Wake up with big Explosions in Kabul

Friday; 19th August 2011.
Kabul, Government was preparing for the celebration of Independence Day. Friday is a national holiday in Afghanistan, marking the country's independence from Great Britain in 1919.

I was in completely in weekend mood and laying down in my bed with good morning sleep. I heard very loudly noise and wake up with suddenly. I saw from my window big smoke near to Interconentinential Hotel (Karte Parwan Area). My windos were shaiking and brids were flying in front of my yard due to big noise. The first blast went off at 05:38 am (01:08 GMT), with a second 10 minutes later; sporadic gunfire was also heard.

The British Council was the target of the attacks; a spokesman for the NATO-led force was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. Unconfirmed reports say there were casualties. The Taliban later said they carried out the attack. "(There were) two explosions at the British Council but at this stage, we're still gathering facts," said Maj Jason Waggoner, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, according to AFP. (Source: BBC)

Kabul police official Farooq Asas was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that three people were killed in the blasts. But details are not yet coming. There are other reports are saying some municipal workers also killed.

There is fighting is still going on, unconfirmed report said three internationals were killed and one of them is Nepali security guard. It is not yet confirmed that whether he was working in British Army or security guard.

Being a development worker in Kabul and Afghanistan, life is always stressful due to this type of unexpected casualties and explosions. My office security focal persons Mr. Sadery called to me and said “today is movement blocked and please stay at home until further notice”. Now we cannot go out from the home.

We were invited for the lunch at UNOCA by our friends. My friend Manoj Khadaka told me he postponed this plan. We cannot have any pre plan here. After this attack, an hour later I started to do my YOGA and I did full course of my Yoga an hour. I realize this is the only ways to minimize this stress of working in war zone like Afghanistan.

By; Nahakul K.C. 11.am. Kabul.

My Impressions about Sub National Governance Institutions

My Impressions about Sub National Governance Institutions:

Kabul

My Impression about the Local Governance Institution is this is very new process in Afghanistan. District Development Assemblies (DDAs) are converting informal Shuras (committees) to formal local governance institutions. Informal social/village leaders called Khan, Malik, Qadir are still more powerful then members / executive officials of DDAs. Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) are trying to establish formal local governance institutions as per Sub National Governance Policy (SNGP) of the country. These DDAs more democratically elected representative. Some of the case it is noticed there is some indifferences between people’s representatives and local bureaucrats District Governor’s especially in the case of corruption and transparency. Geographical difficulties to travel one places in to another places is most constraints. Security is one of the most crucial situations in this country. Many districts along the broader site of Pakistan is still high influence of Taliban or anti government forces.

Despite above mentioned difficulties Community Development Councils (CDCs) and District Development Assemblies (DDAs) are most visible and successful local governance institutions at the sub national governance (district) level. Sub National Governance Initiatives very new in Afghanistan and there are huge possibilities to support for establishment, strengthen and institutionalizations, resource mobilization to the local governance institutions at at the local level. There is need of formal election as per Independent Election Commission (IEC) of these exiting LG institutions to make them formal and legitimize institutions per the local development which is help to reduce poverty and improvement rural livelihoods of the prosperous future of the Afghanistan. It is long way to walk.

02/04/2011

DDA Members are becoming capable to run District Development Assemblies (DDAs)

Nahakul K.C. [1]

Capacity building team of NABDP recently conducted three different modules of trainings in the Logar provinces during the 21st July -2^nd August 2010. The capacity building team of Community Empowerment Component (CEC) facilitated the training with the support of Provincial Directors of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD).

Main objectives of the trainings were to enhance the level of awareness in the District Development Assembly (DDAs) to establish and strengthened the local governance institutions in the district.

After the Capacity Building training on Local Governance and Conflict resolutions, Gender mainstreaming, Project Cycle Management, the Participants were able to; describe local governance in a good manner, the role of DDA and women in stabilization of local governance, developed procedure of DDA establishment and structure of DDA. Members were able to develop themselves structure, obligations and responsibilities of sub-committees those were established under the DDAs. Members of DDA were able to learn how to minimize conflicts, describe and analyze the factors affecting conflicts. They learn to resolve those issues in the societies in to Islamic perspectives. DDAs were agreed to mainstream women’s participation in to meetings, implement and monitor of development project in to their respective district.

In the second Module of Project Cycle Management participants were able learn the various subject matters i.e.; Definition for the participation and participatory planning of the projects that explained about the importance of people participation in to the projects and local resource mobilization. Understand the project cycle management (identification, designing, appraisal, feasibility, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).

During the training, the facilitators were explained the roles and responsibilities of Executive and Sub Committees of DDA;

· Procedure of sub-committees (finance and procurement committee, project management committee, monitoring and evaluation committee, and natural disaster management committee). Roles and responsibilities of the sub committees,

· Definition and role of civil society and engaged in to local development

· Role of DDA in conflict solutions.

· Gender and gender equity in line with women rights in Islam perspective.

Facilitators are explaining about the roles and responsibilities of DDAs in to local development

Facilitators observed and Participant told us at the end of the training session the following points were major achievements from these trainings;

§ During these 4 days workshops 32 participation were attended. Four social workers of the Rural Rehabilitation and Development Department also participated among others: the acting head of the Rural Rehabilitation Department, provincial council representatives, provincial government and local municipality representatives, Social leaders.

§ Group work, brain streaming, questions & answers, lectures and snow balling process were applied in the training.

§ The Second module of course was trained to the Executive Committee and the three sub-committee members, totally consisted of 12 DDAs members.

• Development issues on mentioned topic were discussed between male and female member of the DDAs. The most important thing which was notices to us is that; the participation of the women was more than men in discussing issues.
• Positive and sensible changes were appeared on behaviour of the DDA members, for example exchange of the views and ideas and having flexibility in to the development. They made plan to run their assemblies in professional ways.
• Active participation in to groups works, proposals discussed in small groups and sharing their group plan in to big groups for discussion and exchanging of the views.

Ms. Lailoma the principal of girl’s school of Khoshi District, she proposed to implement women projects in the district. “Women of the district are able and eager to implement livelihood projects, because the district is suitable for agriculture and raising livestock”. Haji Naeb the Khoshi District DDA chairman also describe about the training “It’s very good methods to develop our needs based on most urgent needs in to District Development Plans”.

Women DDA members are discussing about their needs during the group work

During the training following major issues also observed;

The DDA members have actively participated in the Participatory Planning process for the preparation of District Development Plan. They have discussed over how to get access in to technical and financial resources for the proposed development projects. Practically, women's role in the selection of projects and establishment of the relevant check lists. DDAs shown their constraints to establishment of check lists for the different projects monitoring carried out by themselves.

DDAs are in various stages. And there are difficulties to follow up the biding and preparation for different projects. Maintenance of the project commodities, storing equipments in proper and safe place is one of the issues. Timely payment of instalment for different project activities was considered another issue. After this capacity development, the DDAs and their respective members are able to efficiently conduct their respective district development assemblies (DDAs).

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[1] . Currently working for National Area based Development Programme of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/UNDP) as Decentralization & Local Governance Management Support in Kabul-Afghanistan.

Trip to Kathmandu-Sharjaha- Kabul:

Nahakul K.C.; Kabul

21/02/2011

Recently I was travelling to Nepal for my annual leave and R&R (rest and recreation leave which is provided to international employee working in non family duty stations). The trip was made via new route via Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs. This trip was able to manage due to recent flight schedule of Air Arebia. This trip was able to make same day reach to Kathmandu Nepal. Where I was able to save two travel days, when I used to travel via Delhi route. Thanks to Air Arebia.

Delhi-India route is better transit points for Nepalese travelers despite some minor misbehave of Indian Immigration Officers. There is no need visa and outside of the airport we can travel easily. Our food, culture and traditions is similar there is good environment. There are a lot of budget hotels and Karol Bagh and PahadGunj.

This trip of Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs encouraged to me write some feelings due two reasons; one was our foreign policy and lack of business competency of Nepalese private sectors and second one is about Nepalese labor market out of the Nepal. First let me take an opportunity to brief about the Nepalese private sectors and government neglected to tap opportunities with tie-up business relationship with Afghanistan. Being SAARC member and neighboring countries there are more potentialities for business opportunities in the minerals, labor and other bi-lateral issues. Here are more than 40000 ex Gurkhas, security staff and logistical workers and 200 plus professionals of various sectors are serving to the Afghan government, American and private companies. Second one; what I observed in this trip all most all seats (275 seater airbus) was full of Nepalese labors form various middle east countries, Doha, Dubai, UAE and Afghanistan. This author rarely found professionals are travelling by this airbus. Most of the labor class people from Nepal and pilgrims were traveling from Kabul to Sharajaha who were visiting to Karbala.

It shows more opportunities and threat for country like Nepal. The labor market has opportunity to get income and send remittances to the Nepal and their families. This remittance is one of the strong back bond economic strengthen of the country. But many labors are sharing their feelings and pain which they felt in their working countries. There are fundamental issues how government of Nepal can prepare to send trend and skills labor in to these labor markets. Now, Nepal is ruled by the pro communist parties, which are principally disagreed to send Nepalese youths abroad for the labor markets. What is their plan to stop them in Nepal and how??? So Nepalese communists should be clear before talking radical issues among the youths they should think twice.

We are just seeing to Afghanistan as War Zone country, but there private sector of Afghanistan is becoming stronger day by day. Six private companies are managing international flights and domestics. Where in Nepalese private sector is able to manage domestic flights except by Buddha Air.

My advices are to government of Nepal to learn from Afghanistan and Arabian countries, to promote private airlines for the promotion of tourism and to make success of Tourism Year 2011. In the longer national flagship airlines needs to be none politicized which is very much important to make success of the counties. This is the time for Public Private Partnership to promote this sector.