A GA K HAN D EVELOPMENT N ETWORK

1. AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

2. What is AKDN? The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.

3. Tourism Promotion Services Financial Services Industrial Promotion Services AKDN’s Organisational Structure: Foundations THE IMAMAT AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK Social Development Economic Development Culture Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development Aga Khan Trust for Culture Aga Khan Foundation Aga Khan University University of Central Asia Aga Khan Education Services Aga Khan Health Services Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Aga Khan Award for Architecture Education and Culture Programme Historic Cities Support Programme

4. AKDN’s Area development Programmes

5. Stable, Self-Reliant, Prosperous Areas Microfinance Health Disaster Mitigation and Relief Human and Institutional Development Education Agriculture Livestock Enterprise Development Engineering Cultural Development Higher Education Private Investments Aga Khan Foundation Aga Khan Development Network

6. Multi-Input Area Development (MIAD) AKDN Capacity Building Facilitation Better environmental management Improved farming systems Communities Government CSOs Healthier livestock More private enterprise Quality education system Access to water & health services Results Area Development Plans Planning Planning (MIAD in Bamyan)

7. Health Agriculture Development Education CD Water and Sanitation dsd Community Community- based infrastructure Afforestation Farm Forestry Watershed Mgmt Livestock development Community Development Income Generation Enterprise Dvpt. Afforestation Farm Forestry Watershed Mgmt Community Planning Meeting, Shiva, Badakhshan Integrated Area Development Approach

8. National Solidarity Programme The National Solidarity Programme was created in 2003 by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development to develop the ability of Afghan communities to identify, plan, manage and monitor their own development projects. Election of Community Development Council Community Development Plan Sub Project Proposal Project Implementation

9. A community elects their CDC, Badakhshan

10. NSP Achievements • NSP has covered 359 districts across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan • 21,605 Community Development Councils (CDCs) elected • 48,730 Community Development Plans (CDPs) completed • 47,498 Community sub-project proposals submitted to the NSP • 22,102 Community sub-projects completed

11. NSP – Key Questions • What other roles should CDCs adopt, beyond simply implementing NSP projects? • What is the role of CDCs’ in local governance? • How do we ensure the sustainability of CDCs, and capitalize on the investment made through NSP?

12. AKF’s Vision For CDCs – NSP Plus The goal of AKF’s NSP Plus program is for CDCs to become democratic, inclusive, competent, accountable and transparent village based institutions, fulfilling local development and governance roles.

13. NSP Plus – Part 1: Training • In addition to implementing NSP projects, AKF CDCs benefit from structured training in: • Leadership • Conflict management • Project proposal writing • Common Property Resources management • Gender sensitization and planning • Poverty analysis (starting June 09)

14. Training methodology • Locally designed for Afghan context • Cascade model - training of trainers • Training is participatory and interactive • Intensive follow up to translate theoretical learning into practice • Measure results and adjust methodology to emerging needs • Gender as cross-cutting issue

15. NSP Plus – Part 2: Additional capacity building inputs • In addition to training, CDCs benefit from: • Multi-stakeholder shura conferences on key issues (ie: primary education, health, common property resources) • Exchange visits for peer learning • Linkages with Government departments and other development actors • Social audit exercises

16. NSP Plus – Part 3: Other support • Micro Grants to encourage CDCs to act on strategic issues • Voluntary campaigns • Primary school enrollment • Plantation • Road repair (video) • Immunization campaign (proposed) • Tailored support for CDC voluntary projects

17. NSP Plus - Achievements • CDCs are taking initiative to address local development issues: • Local development projects worth USD600,000 • 22,730 children enrolled in school • 3 million trees planted • 3,337 km roads repaired • Over 900 CDCs have initiated local voluntary development activities • Maturity assessment of CDCs – 70% “A” Category

18. Marginal per-CDC cost of NSP Plus

19. NSP Plus - Conclusion • NSP is a strong program, but one that needs concerted support to capitalize on its potential. • AKF’s innovative NSP Plus pilot program is a multi-donor initiative that has leveraged NSP resources to create a network of competent, mature CDCs. • CDCs that have gone through the NSP Plus process are capable of leading the local governance and development process, in coordination with other government initiatives. • This NSP Plus model can be replicated on a national scale, providing massive value addition to the existing NSP program at a relatively low unit cost.

20. Thanks! Questions?