jann afghanistan briefing pack briefing pack...afghanistan briefing pack september 2005 japan afghan...

Afghanistan Briefing PackSeptember 2005

Japan Afghan NGO Network

1

JANN Afghanistan Briefing PackSeptember 2005



2

ContentsPreface...................................................................................................................... 4About JANN............................................................................................................. 4

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 51.1 Historical Background......................................................................................... 51.2 Geography .......................................................................................................... 61.3 Population and Ethnicity ..................................................................................... 81.4 Economy............................................................................................................. 91.5 Islam in Afghanistan ......................................................................................... 12

2. Post-Taliban reconstruction and peace-building overview.................................. 132.1 Bonn Agreement ............................................................................................... 132.2 Security Sector Reform (SSR)........................................................................... 152.3 Civil-Military Relations .................................................................................... 16

3. Aid Environment................................................................................................... 183.1 Aid Process Overview ....................................................................................... 183.2 Refugees and Internally Displaced People ......................................................... 213.3 Health sector ..................................................................................................... 223.4 Education.......................................................................................................... 263.5 Women.............................................................................................................. 273.6 Landmines ........................................................................................................ 283.7 Livelihoods ....................................................................................................... 30

4. Useful points for Japanese NGOs......................................................................... 314.1 Japanese aid to Afghanistan............................................................................... 314.2 Practical Issues.................................................................................................. 414.3 Resources and further reading ........................................................................... 44



3



4

PrefaceThis guide is aimed primarily at Japanese NGO staff and other aid actors who are newto Afghanistan. Newcomers to Afghanistan are faced with a wealth of information onissues ranging from history and culture, to aid structures and security sector reform. Inthis guide, we provide an up-to-date, Japanese language synthesis of the key pointsregarding each of a range of central issues.

Many people have contributed to this guide. In particular, the editor would like to thank:Christian Dennys, Reiko Hirai, Seiji Konno, Yutaka Hayashi, Kumiko Akabori, HiroshiTaniyama, Yuko Shibata, Chihiro Imai, Mamiko Saito and Kana Kumai for theircontributions. We are also very grateful to the Afghanistan Resesarch and EvaluationUnit (AREU) and to the British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG) for kindlyallowing us to translate relevant sections from their existing publications. Finally, thisguide could never have been produced without the generous help of our JANNtranslators, namely: Yayoi Sugii, Mayu Uchino, Orie Nakayama, Kyoko Miyashita andShu Uchida. The Japanese translations were proofread by Takatoshi Hasebe.　The editorwas Emily Perkin.

Since the situation in Afghanistan is changing very rapidly, we intend to update thisguide on a regular basis. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this orfuture editions of this guide, please contact Emily Perkin at [email protected]

For further detail, readers are encouraged to explore the reading list at the end of theguide, and also to visit the JANN website (http://www.jca.apc.org/~jann/ ), which hostsa database of relevant publications, many of which are translated into Japanese.

About JANNThe Japan Afghan NGO Network was established in 2003 as a means to improve accessto relevant information amongst Japanese NGOs that are involved in the reconstructionwork in Afghanistan. The JANN Mission is laid out as follows:



5

1. To improve access within Japan – especially within the Japanese NGO community –to information and analysis on Afghan peace-building.2. To undertake research on relevant policy issues and to channel research findings intothe policy-making arena.3. Furthermore, to coordinate and encourage a climate of information-sharing anddebate regarding issues relating to Afghan peace-building.

1. Introduction

1.1 Historical Background(This section is taken from BAAG (2003) ‘Afghanistan Briefing Pack’ p.7)The roots of the Afghan conflict go back to the early part of the 20th century when newintellectual movements met with resistance from conservative tribal and religiouselements. The political changes that resulted in the PDPA (communist party) coup ofApril 1978 and the Soviet invasion of December 1979 were the culmination of thisprocess of political and ideological struggle.

The ten years of Soviet occupation, and the subsequent three years in which the Soviet-backed government remained in power, saw a major investment by the USA, SaudiArabia and others in the provision of arms to the resistance and in the development ofIslamic organisations. When the Soviet-backed regime fell in April 1992, the variousMujahidin resistance parties were unable, from the outset, to agree on an appropriatepowersharing arrangement and fighting broke out between them almost immediately aseach sought to achieve its objectives by military means. Over the four years before theTaliban took Kabul, many areas of the capital were reduced to rubble, with the Talibanalso contributing to the destruction during the build up to the takeover.

The emergence of the Taliban in October 1994 can be seen as a response to the anarchythat prevailed in Kabul and much of southern Afghanistan. They had their origins as asmall group of students living near Kandahar who objected, on moral grounds, to the



6

behaviour of the commanders controlling the area. When these students, or Taliban,resorted to violence against the commanders concerned, elements within Pakistan sawan opportunity to achieve certain strategic, political and economic objectives throughsupport to the Taliban and this gave them the resources to engage in a military campaignaimed at the creation of an Islamic state based on Shari’a Law.

Initially, their creed was based on a wish to restore what they perceived as the moralvalue systems that had prevailed before the various reform movements of the 20thcentury introduced liberal concepts and this took an extreme form. The radicalism of thecreed offered certainty to a war-weary population but its imposition on the populationmet with mixed reactions as they moved forward to conquer new areas, particularly inthe non-Pushtun areas of northern Afghanistan. Over the 1998-2001 period they becameprogressively more hard-line in response to military defeats in the north, the US airstrikes of August 1998 and subsequent UN sanctions, together with growing influenceon the part of radicals from other parts of the Islamic world.

The collapse of the Taliban in November 2001, as a result of the US-led militaryintervention, led to the Bonn Agreement of 2001. This agreement, in which theinternational community had a strong hand, provided for a staged process leading tonational elections and the reconstruction of a democratically elected Afghan state.

1.2 Geography(BAAG Briefing Pack p.8-9)Afghanistan can largely be characterised as a mountainous desert, with isolated valleysand oases, where rivers and springs permit irrigated agriculture or rainfed agriculturecan thrive. The north of the country is divided from the south by a range of mountainsthat extends from the eastern end of the Iranian plateau to the western edge of theHimalayan massif. In the extreme north-east, the peaks rise to 7,470 metres in theWakhan corridor that separates Pakistan from Tajikistan. The northern plains are largelyscrubland, with areas of cultivation around the key population centres, of which Mazar-i-Sharif is the foremost. South-western Afghanistan is pure desert, with high dunes



7

presenting a constant threat to settlements and cultivation along the Helmand Rivervalley. The Kabul River Valley, which stretches from the capital, through Jalalabad, tothe Pakistan border and beyond, is particularly fertile, as the Shomali Valley, to thenorth of Kabul, used to be. Elsewhere, fertility is highly variable in response to theopportunities that hills, mountains and soil types present.

The main population centres are the capital, Kabul, Kandahar in the south, Herat in theWest, Mazari- Sharif in the north and Jalalabad in the east. Kabul was an economicbackwater from 1996 to 2001 as a result of the collapse of the state infrastructure andthe effective cessation of trade from Central Asia and northern Afghanistan through thisroute. Since the beginning of 2002, the trading economy has revived and the capital hasalso benefited from the large-scale influx of expatriates working for aid organisations,embassies and the media. However, this influx has had negative side-effects instimulating dramatic inflation in the housing market and also making it impossible forthe government bureaucracy to compete with international bodies for professional staff.Herat is a wealthy oasis standing on a crossroads traditionally connecting the trade ofPersia, the Gulf, Central Asia and the Indian sub-continent. In the past it has been thecultural centre of Afghanistan, with its beautiful historic buildings and traditions ofmusic, miniaturism and painting. Kandahar and Jalalabad have been important tradingcentres. Mazar-i-Sharif, where the shrine of Ali – Islam’s fourth Caliph – is located, hasreligious and cultural significance for Afghans. It also suffered economically from thecollapse of trade with Central Asia during the Taliban period but has since revived.

The principal communication route is the highway which extends from theTurkmenistan border at Torghundi through Herat, Kandahar and Kabul, to Mazar-i-Sharif and Shibarghan. Branching from this are major spur roads from Herat to theIranian border at Islam Qala, from Kandahar to the Pakistan border at Chaman, fromKabul to the Pakistan border at Torkham, from Pul-i-Khumri through Kunduz to theTajikistan border at Sher Khan Bandar and from Tashaurghan to the Uzbekistan borderat Hairaton.



8

Figure 1. Map of Afghanistan

1.3 Population and Ethnicity(adapted from BAAG BP p.8)Afghanistan has a population of 29,928,987 people1, living in 34 provinces. Ethnicidentity has, over the past three centuries, been a determinant of access to power. ThePushtuns, whose territory covers much of southern Afghanistan, have been the largestgroup, although they have not constituted an absolute majority. The rulers ofAfghanistan from 1747 to 1992 were Pushtun, with the exception of less than a year in1929, when an ethnic Tajik was in power. There was also a strong Tajik element in theMujahidin Government that ruled in Kabul from 1992 to 1996. With the emergence ofthe Taliban from 1994 onwards, a predominantly Pushtun movement again took power.

1 CIA World Factbook – Afghanistan (July 2005 estimate)



9

Figure 2: Ethnicity by percentage2

Tajik27%

Pushtun42%

Hazara9% Uzbek

9% Aimak4%

Turkmen3%

other4%

Baloch2%

other9%

The majority of Pushtuns speak Pashto while the majority of other ethnic groups speakDari, a dialect of Persian. Both languages are official languages of government. Amajority of the ethnic groups (80% of the population) espouse Sunni Islam, the primaryexceptions being the Hazaras and the Ismailis who are Shi’a (19% of the population).The Hazaras have tended to be marginalized politically and economically and they havealso been the victims of a number of massacres over the past century or so.

1.4 Economy(Emily Perkin)The Afghan economy was devastated during the conflict years. Recently, however,donor-supported reconstruction activities have contributed to promoting strongeconomic growth – although economic growth so far seems to have done little toalleviate inequality by income, gender or geography3. At the same time, it is difficult to

2 Ibid.3 This point was noted in UNDP (2005) Afghanistan Human Development Report



10

predict how the economy will fare in the medium- to long-term, since economic growthis influenced by a range of wider issues.Key issues relating to the Afghan economic situation can be listed as:l Drought and flooding: as an economy that is largely based on agriculture (namely

wheat and livestock), droughts and flooding have major economic significance inAfghanistan. For example, this is shown by the crippling effects of the four-yeardrought that ended in 2003.l Drug economy: official GDP figures do not include opium production, although it is

estimated to be equivalent to at least 40% of formal GDP4. (see box below)l Security: it is often acknowledged that security worries remain a serious barrier to

investment and economic development.l Illicit trading: it is estimated that 90% of Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan are in

fact illicit ‘re-exports’ of goods which were imported from Pakistan in the first place5.

4 UNODC (2003) ‘Afghanistan: Opium Survey 2003’5 See Fujimura (2004) ‘The Afghan Economy after the Election’ ADBI for a clearsummary of this and other key issues facing the Afghan economy.



11

Box 1: Opium

Opium accounts for a uniquely large proportion of the Afghan economy, with estimates suggesting

that opium revenues may be equivalent to as much as half of legal GDP1. In 2004, approximately 2.3

million people (12-14% of the population) were involved in opium cultivation1.

The Government’s National Drugs Control Strategy has been established as a framework for tackling

Afghanistan’s widespread narcotics trade. However, policy-makers are nevertheless faced with

significant problems. Ward and Byrd (2004) identified the following key issues in their influential

report, ‘Drugs and Development in Afghanistan’:

l The government is under pressure to produce quick and visible results – and this may be at the

expense of longer-term sustainable improvements.

l There are major implementation issues relating to prioritization and sequencing between

interdiction, alternative livelihoods and eradication.

l There is a huge need to build capacity in governance, law enforcement, and the judicial and penal

systems.

(Emily Perkin)



12

1.5 Islam in Afghanistan(Jawed Ludin, BAAG ‘Afghanistan Briefing Pack’ p. 22)Islam means submission, that is, submission to the will of God. Muslim is based on thesame Arabic root as Islam and means one who submits to God, that is, a believer inIslam. The concept of “God” in Islam is based on the premise that Allah (orKhoda/Khodai as in Afghan languages of Dari/Pashto) is the “supreme being”, the oneand only God. Allah is the same God as that worshipped by the Jews and Christians.The Arabic-speaking Christians also use the word Allah referring to God.

The Quran (also spelled Koran), meaning reading or recitation, is the holy scripturerevealed by Allah to Muhammad. Quran is the direct Word of God to mankind throughthe prophet Muhammad. All Muslims believe in the entirety and integrity of the Quran,which is compiled in 114 chapters and a total of 6,666 verses. In addition to the Quran,God’s message was conveyed through Muhammad in form of Sunnah – meaningtradition – which is based on the leadership and guidance of the Prophet in practical aswell as ideological matters. The Sunnah is what Muhammad ordered, forbade, did oracknowledged in his capacity as prophet. The sayings and traditions of Muhammad arecalled Hadith. Hadith books, containing records of the Prophet’s sayings and actions,are considered essential religious texts.

The main aspect that distinguishes Islam from its sister-creeds, Christianity and Judaism,is its concept and practice of worship. Despite the great body of tradition and law, thepractice of Islam is essentially personal – between God and the believer. Like allMuslims, Afghans believe that worship is not limited to religious rituals and basicallycovers everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. This, of course, includesrituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare ofone’s fellow human beings. Such terms as Sawab (meaning ‘a good deed’), Ajr(meaning reward for a good deed) and Gunah (meaning sin or evil) are common in theordinary conversation between Afghans.



13

2. Post-Taliban reconstruction and peace-building overview

2.1 Bonn Agreement(excerpt from AREU ‘A-Z Guide’ August 2003 pp.15-16)The Bonn Agreement is a roadmap for the re-establishment of permanent governmentinstitutions in Afghanistan. The Agreement also established a timetable for the creationof provisional arrangements until permanent ones could be put in place. The BonnAgreement was signed on 5 December 2001 by representatives of various Afghanfactions (excluding the Taliban) at the conclusion of the UN sponsored BonnConference talks on Afghanistan. The possibility of a meaningful implementation of theBonn Agreement resulted from the fall from power of the Taliban authorities and theiral-Qaeda allies at the end of 2001.

The Agreement lays out several processes through which power will be exercised andthen transferred over time to a fully representative government selected through free andfair elections. It provides for the sovereignty of Afghanistan to reside first in an interimauthority, succeeded by a transitional authority, and then ultimately by a nationallyelected government.



14

Box 2: September 2005 Elections

On September 18th 2005, elections will be held in every province for both the Wolesi Jirga (Lower

House) and the Provincial Councils. It was originally intended that the District Council elections would

also take place at the same time, but these have been postponed due to a lack of clarity over the exact

locations of district borders.

The Wolesi Jirga: The 249 seat Lower House will be directly elected by the Afghan people for a period

of no more than 5 years. Numbers of seats are allocated to provinces in proportion to the population of

each province. 10 seats are reserved for Kuchis (nomads) and 68 seats are reserved for women.

The Provincial Councils: Provincial Councils will number from 9 to 29 members, depending upon the

population of the province. Of those members, at least 2 will be women. Once the Provincial Councils

have been elected, they will in turn each elect one of their members to sit in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper

House).

The Meshrano Jirga (Upper House): the Meshrano Jirga will consist of 102 members – one elected

from each Provincial Council; a further 34 elected from each District Council; and 34 directly

appointed by the President. Since the District Council elections will not take place in 2005, as a

temporary measure the Meshrano Jirga will be formed either with 2 elected representatives from each

province, or with only 17 Presidential nominees.

For further details, see the JEMB website: http://www.jemb.org/

(Emily Perkin)



15

2.2 Security Sector Reform (SSR)(Christian Dennys)The security sector reform (SSR) is divided in to 5 sections,

Area Abbreviation Lead Nation / DonorCreating the Afghan National Army ANA USRetraining the Afghan National Police ANP GermanyReforming the judicial system - ItalyDisarming the Afghan Militia Forces(AMF) in the Disarmament,Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR)Programme

DDR Japan

Combating narcoticsCounterNarcotics (CN)

UK

The lead nation is the key donor and political representative of the InternationalCommunity in that sector, however other countries and donors assist with programmesas well. For example, the US leads on the ANA, but is supported by the UK and France.

The development of the ANA and the DDR Programmes have both resulted in at leastsome positive outcomes. However, the reform of the ANP and the judiciary is seriouslybehind schedule because of a lack of reform of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry ofJustice respectively. Counter Narcotics has not been particularly successful, however theUS has increased funding for this area and improvements may be seen over the next fewyears.

There are doubts that the ‘lead nation model’ will continue. In DDR, Japan has movedfrom being the lead to being the ‘focal point’. This is in an effort to widen internationalparticipation, but also more importantly to allow a greater role for the AfghanGovernment.



16

2.3 Civil-Military Relations(abridged from AREU A-Z Guide Aug.2005)In a post-conflict reconstruction environment such as Afghanistan in which military,government and civilian organisations are all engaged in similar, related and sometimesoverlapping activities, coordination and communication between actors is essential forthe effective delivery and implementation of development programmes. To meet theseneeds, both international military forces in Afghanistan –Coalition Forces and theInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) – have dedicated units that liaise withthe external community. ISAF and Coaltion units differ in focus and name, but they areboth intended to ensure positive relations and clear information exchange with themilitary, the government, the international community, NGOs, civil society groups andordinary civilians.

ISAF: Civil Military Cooperation, or CIMIC, is a NATO term ISAF uses to describe itscivil–military activities. The ISAF Headquarters CIMIC office is divided into threesections: Planning, Operations and Liaison. At the same time, in order to promote opendialogue and information exchange with NGOs, ISAF established the Kabul CIMICCentre “outside the wire” but within the walls of ISAF headquarters. In addition to thework done at CIMIC headquarters, the ISAF Kabul Multinational Brigade (KMNB)includes approximately twenty CIMIC units staffed by four to eight people. ISAFProvincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) outside Kabul generally include CIMICofficers who perform similar duties to their KMNB counterparts, although the extent towhich they exist and operate within any given PRT is dependent on the PRT leadnation’s approach.

Coalition Forces: within the Coalition Forces, civil–military relations are theresponsibility of the Civil Affairs Directorate (CJ9). CJ9 has nine liaison officers basedat headquarters who work primarily with government agencies to determine what typeof security, training and general infrastructure development and support is needed. CJ9does not have the same focus on civilian groups and NGOs as its ISAF counterpart(CIMIC). COALITION PRTs usually incorporate a Civil Military Operations (CMO)



17

group of four to ten people who liaise with local populations and NGOs. The functionsof the CMO groups vary depending on the security and needs of the area. CMO groupsare not under direct lines of command from CJ9 at headquarters.

UNAMA: UNAMA has a dedicated civil–military liaison section with Military LiaisonOfficers (MLOs) at UNAMA headquarters and in UNAMA Field Offices. As well ascommunicating with the military about UNAMA’s own operational efforts, MLOs alsocoordinate activities and information exchange between military and other non-militaryorganisations. They are responsible for communicating and coordinating with PRTs,despite the fact that the military structures keep PRT planning and operations separatefrom their civil–military relations efforts.

NGO Civil–Military Working Group: since September 2004 this group has metfortnightly at the Ministry of Interior and has served as the only consistent forumthrough which the NGO community and military representatives interact.Announcements for the working group are distributed through a yahoo group email list.



18

3. Aid Environment

3.1 Aid Process Overview(AREU A-Z Guide August 2005)NDF - National Development FrameworkThe National Development Framework (NDF) was drawn up by the government as aroad map for the development and reconstruction process in Afghanistan. It detailssixteen national sectors under three broad pillars, and identifies six cross-cutting issues.The first draft of the NDF was made available to the public in April 2002, and althoughsome slight adjustments have been made to it the NDF remains the primary basis forgovernment and donor planning. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for overseeingthe implementation of the NDF.

Box 3: UNDP Afghanistan Human Development Report 2004

"The first-ever Afghanistan Human Development Report shows the economy and education improving,

but poverty, inequality and instability threaten progress. The new Afghan Government together with the

international community must act now to prevent relapse. Accountability should be to the Afghan

people's human security needs." (UNDP report summary)

Key Human Development Indicators:

l Afghanistan's Human Development Index (HDI) falls close to the bottom (173rd) of the 177

countries ranked by the global Human Development Report 2004, significantly behind all of its

neighbours.

l Maternal mortality is 60 times higher than in most developed countries.

l Adult literacy rate is less than 30%.

l 20% of all children die before the age of five; those who survive can expect to live less than 45

years.

(Emily Perkin)



19

Each of the sixteen sectors identified in the NDF are considered National DevelopmentProgrammes (NDPs) and are overseen by a corresponding Consultative Group (CG).These sixteen CGs operate as a forum within which the details of reconstruction anddevelopment projects in each sector can be designed and discussed. Each CG thenimplements its sector’s plans by proposing a Public Investment Programme (PIP) forthe National Development Budget (NDB).

The original NDF identified six National Priority Programmes (NPPs) that were to takeprecedence over other activities, and in April 2004 President Karzai announced thecreation of six additional priority programmes. These programmes were knowncollectively as the NPPs and were meant to be major policy priorities for thegovernment. However, most NPPs have since been incorporated into the NDP withwhich they were most closely linked.



20

Pillar I -

Human Capital and

Social Protection

Pillar II -

Physical Infrastructure

Pillar III -

Enabling Environment

for Development

Cross-Cutting Issues

l Refugees and IDPs

l Education and

Vocational Training

l Health and

Nutrition

l Livelihoods and

Social Protection

l Culture, Media and

Sport

l Transport

l Energy, Mining and

Telecoms

l Natural Resource

Management

l Urban Management

l Trade and

Investment

l Public

Administration and

Economic

Management

l Justice

l National Police,

Law Enforcement

and Stabilisation

l Afghan National

Army

l Mine Action

l Disarmament,

Demobilisation and

Reintegration

l Gender

l Environment

l Humanitarian

Affairs

l Human Rights

l Monitoring and

Evaluation

l Counter Narcotics

NDS – National Development Strategy(see: www.afgnds.gov.af)The Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) was first publicly proposed atthe Afghanistan Development Forum (ADF) in April 2005. The overall vision of theANDS is to promote growth, generate wealth and reduce poverty and vulnerability.Until the ANDS is established, the National Development Framework (NDF) of April2002 and the government’s Securing Afghanistan’s Future report of March 2004continue to guide government policies and allocation of resources for development andreconstruction. However, the NDF and Securing Afghanistan were prepared quicklywith hasty consultations, and this resulted in a lack of awareness of these efforts and



21

limited implementation of their recommendations.

The ANDS will be informed by careful consultation with representatives at all levels ofthe government, the private sector, NGOs, civil society and the international community.An ANDS Working Group, under the guidance of an inter-ministerial OversightCommittee, has been formed to lead the consultation and drafting processes. The ANDSwill be structured into eight pillars: Infrastructure and natural resources; Agriculturaland rural development; Human capital and gender equity; Social protection; Economicgovernance and private sector development; International and regional cooperation;Good governance and rule of law; and Security.

Each pillar will have a working group that includes representatives from central andprovincial government, donors, the UN, NGOs and civil society, as well as technicalexperts. The timeline for completing the first ANDS draft is September 2005. It isexpected that this draft will be finalised and approved by the government by December2005 or January 2006, corresponding with a major donor meeting planned for the sametime in London. The ANDS will serve as an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper(PRSP) for the Afghan government.

3.2 Refugees and Internally Displaced People(Reiko Hirai - PWJ)As a result of the 1979-1989 Soviet invasion and the ensuing drawn-out civil war, aswell as drought and other reasons, large numbers of Afghan people have been forced tolive as refugees both overseas and within Afghanistan. At its peak, the number ofAfghan refugees who had fled the country was estimated at 5-6 million people, and thenumber of IDPs (internally displaced persons) was thought to be between 1.1 and 1.5million people. At that time, Afghanistan was labeled the world’s largest refugee crisis.

Following the fall of the Taliban regime (in the wake of American air-raids afterSeptember 11th 2001), and the subsequent establishment of the Afghanistan InterimAdministration in January 2002, many refugees and IDPs started to return home.



22

Between March 2002 and February 2005, it is estimated that 3.5 million refugees (2.3million from Pakistan and 1.2 million from Iran) and 500,000 IDPs have voluntarilyreturned home. However, although the message is put out that conditions for return arefavourable, at the same time, the fact that the security situation is bad in many parts ofthe country and that there are few prospects for establishing new livelihoods afterreturning home remains a key inhibiting factor to potential returnees. It is estimated thatthere are still 18.5 million refugees continuing to live in Pakistan, and 800,000 in Iran. Itis now feared that Pakistan and Iran may cut aid to refugees, and that refugees will be toan extent forced to return home. Meanwhile, an estimated 180,000 IDPs – mainly in thesouth and west – are compelled to live as refugees.

In the areas where refugees and IDPs have already returned home, the security situation,drought, lack of employment opportunities, and problems of access to agricultural landare causing serious impediments to the rebuilding of livelihoods. In urban areas such asKabul, where the there are concentrated numbers of returnees, it is feared that the livingenvironment will worsen as a result of the population increase. It is necessary for theAfghan government and the international community to make a long-term commitmentto rebuild the lives those who have already returned and those who will return in thefuture.

3.3 Health sector(Hiroshi Taniyama - JVC)Within the Afghanistan reconstruction process, the health sector is seen as one of themost important sectors from the point of view of peoples’ needs, government policy,and also international aid objectives. The health situation in Afghanistan is highlyinadequate, and ranks amongst the worst in the world. This is the partially the result of23 years of consecutive civil war, but even before the war, the system did not provideservices to remote regions.

According to a six-month survey carried out by the government in 2002, one third of themedical and health facilities surveyed across the country were damaged in some way.



23

Most of this damage was the result of the war. On average, there is one medical orhealth facility for every 27,232 people nationwide. But these figures vary considerablyfrom region to region: in Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor and Uruzgan provinces, there is onefacility for every 40,000 people. In the worst case, there is one facility shared amongst 5districts – a total of 100,000 people.

The poor state of medical services has the most serious impact on women and children.According to a government report in 2004, infant mortality for babies under 1 year ofage was 165 in every 1000 children (compared to 4 per 1000 in Japan). Infant mortalityfor children up to the age of 5 was 257 per 1000. The maternal mortality rate wasextremely high at 1,600 in every 100,000 (compared to 6.5 per 100,000 in Japan).Thereare a number of prevalent illnesses such as diarrhea, bronchitis, tetanus, malaria, polio,tuberculosis and so on. But the key point to note is that there are so many children whodie from dehydration caused by diarrhea, and so many mothers who die from tetanuspicked up whilst giving birth.

A further problem relates specifically to female patients. Afghan traditional cultureimposes limits upon how much women can leave the house, and prohibits women fromcoming into physical contact with men who are not their immediate relatives. As a result,there are many cases when even though there has been a doctor, it is difficult for afemale patient to visit him and receive treatment. If a woman is having problems givingbirth and there is no female doctor or midwife available, it is not possible to receive anytreatment. Furthermore, the number of female medical practitioners is less than onethird the number of male medical practitioners, and the ratio becomes even moreunbalanced in rural areas. In Nuristan province the ratio is 1 female to every 60 males.

In remote areas, access to medical facilities is extremely bad, but even in cases wherepatients do access their nearest facility, on many occasions they are unable to receiveadequate treatment because of a shortage of staff, equipment or medicines. Only 2% ofpatients are able to travel to find better treatment – either because of the poor conditionof the roads, or because they are unable to pay the transport costs. This is one example



24

of how the state of livelihoods and infrastructure reflects on medical issues.

The 2004 Afghan government policy position paper, ‘Health and Nutrition PublicInvestment Program (PIP)’, lays out a ‘Basic Package for Health Service’, which aimsto provide medical services that are evenly distributed across the country. The followingkey aims are set out.

1) To reduce the infant mortality and child mortality rate (children under 5). To thisend, to expand the vaccination program, and reduce the number of cases ofdiarrhea and acute bronchitis.

2) To reduce maternal mortality. To this end, to train female medical practitioners(especially midwives), and dispatch them to work in regional areas. Also, tocreate an emergency obstetrics centre in each area.

3) To put a stop to the rise of diseases associated with hunger and malnutrition.4) To adopt policies against infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria.

As for who is actually providing medical services, 47.3% of services are provided byNGOs operating alone, and 27% are provided by NGOs operating in partnership withthe government. The large role played by NGOs in the health sector is a point ofconcern. The Afghan Ministry of Health acknowledges the importance of NGOs, but ithas taken two key steps towards bringing NGOs under closer government control. It hasmade it compulsory for all health agencies to observe the stipulations of the BPHS(mentioned above), which pledges to deliver health services equally across the country.Furthermore, it has adopted a system whereby in every province or district cluster, oneparticular NGO is entrusted to supervise the delivery of all health services in that area.These contracts are termed “Performance Based Partnership Agreements (PPAs)”.However, this system of contracting out the services is being led by the donors – WorldBank, EU and USAID – and it is they who hold the power over NGO bids.

Hence in this system, it is not a case of NGOs supporting government-run clinics(“contracting in”), but rather the NGOs are directly responsible for providing the



25

services. It is said that this system was brought in after it had proved to becomparatively effective when tested in Cambodia. However, it is true that there remainquestions as to the sustainability of such a system. The NGOs receive 30-monthcontracts from the international donors to take overall responsibility for managing theclinics, as well as administering staff salaries. However, there is no guarantee that afterthe contracts end and the government takes over control, the staff will be paid the samesalary as that which they had received from the NGO. (For example, in the PIP annualbudget, 1-1.5%of GDP is earmarked, but in 2015 as much as 50% of annual revenuewill need to be sought in aid from international donors). Furthermore, even if specificregions are entrusted to particular NGOs, there is still a danger that clinics might fallinto a state of functional paralysis if long-established NGOs are at the same timerejected.

Community health is a further key issue in Afghanistan, where large numbers of peopledo not have access to clinics. In particular, this issue relates to mother and child health.According to a 2003 UNICEF survey, 8% of births are attended by a qualified doctor,midwife or nurse; 8.8% of births are attended by a traditional birth assistant (TBA); andthe remainder of births are attended by relatives or friends. Thus far, the Afghangovernment and NGOs have attempted to lower the rates of maternal and infantmortality in each region by enlisting traditional midwives (TBAs). Except for certainrare cases, in Afghanistan there has been no such thing as a Community Health Worker(CHW).

However, over the past few years, following the advice of the WHO and others, theMinistry of Health has introduced a key policy of training new CHWs, instead of TBAs.The training of these CHWs has all been entrusted to NGOs through PPAs. Followingthis policy change, NGOs who previously provided training for TBAs are stopping theiractivities, and instead they have started afresh with the training of CHWs – a conceptwhich does not exist historically in Afghanistan. There have been some complaints thatit might not be suitable to train CHWs through a top-down system when the CHWsthemselves ought to be firmly rooted in their separate regions. And even if the training



26

of CHWs is indeed successful, it is thought that it would take 10 years for them tobecome established in the regions. In that time, it is likely that the TBAs who have beentrained thus far would fade away through lack of support.

With the policies of contracting out PPAs and training CHWs, Afghanistan’s currenthealth policy shows a tendency to introduce ideas from outside whilst ignoring therealities on the ground. At the same time as trying to improve the quality of aid throughimporting international experience, it is equally necessary to try to use methods that areappropriate for the reality on the ground in Afghanistan. It could be argued that NGOsshould not only concentrate on implementing projects, but that they should also engagein policy advocacy towards policies that reflect experience and knowledge gained atground level.

3.4 EducationMamiko SaitoOver the past two decades of war, around 75% of school buildings have been destroyed.Since 2002 there have been efforts to build and re-build schools, but ultimately over5000 facilities are required. Only 48% of all schools are equipped with water andsanitation facilities. Nevertheless, even in this environment, the number of childrenattending school at the moment is greater than ever before in Afghan history. Theestimated gross enrolment rate for female students jumped from 3% in the Taliban era to37% in 2003. Meanwhile, the estimated gross enrolment rate for male students is 66%6.

However, there are still at least 1 million girls aged 7 to 13 who are not enrolled atschool. Overall 34% of girls are enrolled at school, but there is a high rate of enrollmentin the capital, Kabul, whereas in the regions girls have very limited opportunities foreducation7. In particular, there is the fact that there are many girls who enroll inelementary school, but drop out at secondary level. There are a number of reasons for

6 Afghanistan Education Fact Sheet, 2005 February, UNICEFhttp://www.unama-afg.org/about/_gender/Gender.htm7 UNAMA ウェブサイト



27

this: the commuting distance to school; the shortage of female teachers; the lack ofopportunities for sex segregated education; early marriage; reasons of family income;families being ill-disposed towards the idea of education.

Recently, there has been a concerted effort to train large numbers of teachers as a meansto improve the quality of education. However, in the regions there is a shortage ofpeople to undertake teacher training, and also a shortage of educational resources suchas text-books. Adding to the discrepancy between urban and rural areas, there is also theproblem that in many regions educational opportunities are limited because aid cannotbe delivered due to poor access and security. All the same, in areas where there is noschool, informal education is taking place either in Mosques or in ordinary houses.There are also families who choose to educate their children at religious schools(madrasas).

3.5 Women(Mamiko Saito)In Afghanistan there are said to be three key assets – the “three Z’s”: Zamin (land), Zal(money) and Zan (woman). Women are regarded as the property of men, and there arefrequent fights over women. It is considered improper for a woman to walk alone in thestreet without the company of a male relative.

The position of women is weak in a number of ways. There are many cases in which awoman has been killed by her father, husband or brothers following an outbreak ofdomestic violence. In regional areas, there also cases where teenaged girls commitsuicide in order to stop themselves from being forced into marriage with much oldermen. On the occasion of a marriage, a bride’s family must pay a large sum of money tothe husband’s family. This ‘Dowry’ may help to push back the marriageable age formen, but it is also may be a source of tension between husband and wife once themarriage has taken place. In this context, 16 in every 1000 women die during pregnancy,and 85.9% of women are illiterate, compared to 56.8% for men.



28

However, in urban areas, there are many women who are well-educated and employedin good jobs. Women in Kabul are famous for their progressiveness, and in thecommunist era in the 1970s it was even possible to see women out in the streets in mini-skirts. During the civil war, women grew accustomed to wearing a burka, but since thecollapse of the Taliban, the number of women who do not wear a burka has increased.

In Afghanistan the situation of women varies greatly according to urban and rural

disparities, local society and customs, the attitudes of parents and husbands, the

education level of the woman herself, and the personality of each individual woman.

3.6 Landmines(AAR – Seiji Konno)Since the start of the war in 1979, many landmines have been laid in Afghanistan, andlarge amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) have built up. This is not only a threat topeople’s lives and security, but is also a major barrier to reconstruction and development.Globally speaking, Afghanistan has the most landmines of any country in the world.This section provides an outline of the landmine situation in Afghanistan.

Landmines in AfghanistanAfghanistan does not manufacture landmines, but each month around 100 people eitherdie or are injured by landmines (2004 figures). Still, numbers of landmine victims aredecreasing year by year: in 1998 there were as many as 1423 reported victims, but in2003 there were 846 reported victims. It is thought that the actual number of victims istwice the reported number. Meanwhile, there are more victims from unexplodedordnance than from landmines. 90% of victims are male (both men and boys); there arefew female victims. The strongest concentration of landmines is in Kabul Province –and almost 20% of incidents take place in Kabul. Across the country, over 2500communities have suffered in some way from landmines. 56 types of landmines from 13countries have been discovered.

Government policy: On September 11th 2002, the Afghan government ratified the anti-



29

personnel mine prohibition treaty (Ottawa treaty), and took on the landmine problem asan urgent issue.International community’s policy: The United Nations Mine Action Center forAfghanistan (UNMACA) has taken the lead on anti-mine policy, and an NGO called‘MACA Partners’ is contracted by UNMACA as implementing agency. At the time ofwriting (June 2005), there are 4 Japanese staff working for MACA. The internationalcommunity is contributing considerable funds to anti-landmine work. The major donorcountries are Australia, Canada, EU, America, UK, Germany and Japan. In 2003, theJapanese government contributed 5.4 million dollars.

Implementation structure: MACA Partners is the main implementing agency, butlocal and international NGOs have also started to undertake demining activities, and arecarrying out various projects. Amongst Japanese NGOs, JCCP is carrying out deminingwork, and AAR is carrying out landmine educationDemining: The key NGOs carrying out demining are: ATC, AREA, DAFA, DDG,JCCP, the HALO Trust, MDC, OMAR.Landmine education: The key NGOs carrying out landmine education are: AAR,ARCS/ICRC, the HALO Trust, Handicap International – Belgium, OMAR.Aid for landmine victims: The key NGOs providing aid for landmine victims are:ICRC, Sandy Gall Afghan Appeal, Emergency, KOC, Handicap International – Belgium,PARSA, AABRAR, SERVE, Swedish Committee for Afghanistan. The relevantgovernment ministries are The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled and the Ministry ofHealth, as well as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance. The UNUNOPS/RAD (previously CDAP) is the key provider of rehabilitation services withinthe structure of the National Disability Commission.

Other: Landmines in Afghanistan are marked with red and white stones. The areamarked out by red stones is considered dangerous and it should not be entered at anycost. If you see a landmine then you must report it to the regional demining body. If youenter a mined area, then keep calm and stay outside the red stones. If it is possible towait then stay until the demining team arrives. If you directly come across an incident



30

where there is a victim, contact the demining team. Do not try to help, because the riskof a causing a second incident is high. Always make sure you know the hospitals thatcan provide emergency treatment.

Reference8

Landmine Monitor　http://www.icbl.org/lm/2004/afghanistanJapan Ministry of Foreign Affairs　http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/cwd/top.htmlJCCP　http://www.jccp.gr.jp/jpn/index2.htmAAR　http://www.aarjapan.gr.jp/

3.7 Livelihoods9

(Peace Winds Japan – Yuko Shibata)Afghanistan is an agricultural country: 80% of the population are farmers (either cropsor livestock or both). Agricultural production can be divided into two key forms – cropsand livestock farming, and the farming carried out by nomads (Kuchis). The Kuchinomads keep sheep and goats, and migrate seasonally.

Prior to the Soviet invasion, 85% of the population were involved in farming. However,the share of land that is available for artificially or naturally irrigated agriculture orgardening is relatively low. Over half of the irrigated land lies to the north of the HinduKush mountains, using the irrigation system that is linked to the Amu Darya river. Thereis a lack of accurate statistics, and information varies according to source, but it isthought that at present 33 million hectares of irrigated land and a further 45 millionhectares of rain-fed land is being farmed nationwide. Most of the rain-fed land lies in an

8 In the AAR office we prepare landmine education materials and distribute them for free to other

Japanese citizens who work in Afghanistan. We also hold training courses for foreign NGO staff o

landmine awareness. When new staff are appointed, we aim for them to receive landmine training as soon

as possible. Contact details for AAR are as follows: Miyazaki Koji, AAR Japan Kabul Office Project

Manager, email：[email protected] Main source for this section: UNEP (2003) ‘Afghanistan, Post-conflict Environmental Assessment’



31

East-West line between the mountains and the plains. Recently as regional populationshave grown, people have expanded the rain-fed areas in order to produce wheat, andfarming is expanding to cover even steep mountainsides.

Reflecting Afghanistan’s culinary traditions, the main crop on both irrigated and rain-fed land is wheat. On average, one household consumes around 167 kilos of wheat. Avariety of vegetables, including potatoes and onions, are also grown for regularconsumption. In particular, Afghan melons have long been prized for their high quality,to the extent that they are exported to neighbouring Pakistan. High quality goods suchas cumin, sesame and sugar cane are also grown, and cotton is cultivated in Helmand,Baghlan and Kunduz.

At the same time, Afghanistan has long been known for its excellent fruits (apricot,apple, grape etc) and nuts (almond, walnut, pistachio etc). In the 1970s, over 40%foreign income derived from dried fruit and nut exports.

However, Afghanistan is currently the world’s greatest producer of opium poppy. 75%of the world’s illegal opium is produced in Afghanistan, and it is thought that aroundtwo thirds of Afghanistan’s GDP comes from opium.

4. Useful points for Japanese NGOs

4.1 Japanese aid to Afghanistan

For Japanese government policy towards Afghanistan, see the Ministry of ForeignAffairs website Afghanistan page



32

JANN member activitiesAid for War Orphans in Asiahttp://www.awoa.org/Location: Kabul

Summary of activities:Aim: to provide a secure and hopeful future for children in Asia who are sufferingtrauma after losing their parents in war.

Activities: Operating a specialist clinic providing stress care for war orphans sufferingfrom trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Also, starting in 2004, providing aid forseriously injured orphans requiring medical treatment. (In September 2004, AWOAbrought a young girl to Tokyo for medical treatment)

NICCO - Nippon International Cooperation for Community Developmenthttp://www.kyoto-nicco.orgLocation: Herat city and surrounding area

Main Activities:l Education projects (construction of school buildings and distribution of educational

materials)l Forestation / agriculture projects (forestation and water projects / promotion of

environmentally friendly organic farming practices)l Health projects (hospital construction and action against tuberculosis)　

In our education project so far, we have repaired school buildings, built shower andkitchen facilities attached to a school dormitory and distributed notebooks andstationery items. In the future, we plan to build a high-school and also to run a technicaltraining college for unemployed men and women based on the model of a college thatwe operate for Afghan refugees in Iran.



33

In our forestation and agriculture projects, we are working in the suburbs of Herat cityand villages in the surrounding area to provide agricultural guidance. We alsoimplement forestry projects and repair water facilities. In the future, we intend to moveahead with our agricultural and forestry projects through our activities to promoteenvironmentally friendly farming, through planting fruit trees, and through repairing“karez” under-ground water supply facilities.

In our health projects, we are working in Herat province to combat tuberculosis, to buildmedical facilities in areas where they do not exist, and to provide ambulances fortransporting patients. At present, we are working with the WHO on our tuberculosisprojects and we are working in a successful partnership with a local NGO for ourconstruction work.

Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR)http://www.aarjapan.gr.jp/Location: Kabul Province (Kabul city); Takhar Province (Taloqan)

Summary of activities:In Kabul, we worked from January 2002 until September 2003 with the British NGO,Halo Trust Afghanistan, carrying out landmine and UXO awareness education,landmine surveys and supporting demining activities. Since October 2003, we haveworked with the United Nations Mine Action Center for Afghanistan (UNMACA) andUNICEF, developing materials for mine awareness education and also implementingfield programs.

In Northern Takhar Province, we are running two facilities to provide treatment andsupport for people who have lost limbs as a result of landmine incidents or polio, orwho suffer from paralysis. Through these facilities, we aim to support people to becomeindependent. Meanwhile, for people requiring artificial limbs, we provide financialsupport and also offer transportation to the UN center for artificial limbs.



34

Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA)http://www.jca.apc.org/svaLocation: Nangarhar Province

Summary of activities:Following the US/UK invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, we initiated emergencyaid projects both inside and outside Afghanistan. In 2003, we opened an office inNangarhar in Eastern Afghanistan to support reconstruction work. We aim to improvethe quality of elementary education, and have undertaken work to build school buildingsand libraries.

・Library projectsMany children have returned to school, but they lack books and picture books whichthey can enjoy. We initiated our library projects to tackle this need.(1) Publishing picture booksWe create and publish picture books in Pashtu, based on folk stories from EasternAfghanistan.(2) Seminars for teaching staffWe hold 3-day seminars for elementary school teachers involved in our library projects.(3) Mobile libraryOnce every 1-2 months, we tour around elementary schools with our mobile library andhold reading sessions.(4) Community libraryWe run a community library in Jalalabad city where people can come and browse booksand picture books. The library space is the only children’s library in the Province, and itis used as a youth centre, to hold various events, and for literacy work.

・School constructionIn our school construction projects, we do not hire construction companies, but insteadwe establish independent school construction teams. These teams manage the selectionof the site, the planning process, and the actual building process in an integratedmanner. Our aim is to build schools in partnership with the local community, whoprovide the land, security and labour for the projects. We also coordinate our work withthe Ministry of Education and the local education authorities. So far we have build 6schools, each with 12 classrooms and a library. We also hold sanitation and maintenanceworkshops at the schools that we have built, with the aim of instituting a systemwhereby the whole community can take care of the management of the school buildings.



35

manner. Our aim is to build schools in partnership with the local community, whoprovide the land, security and labour for the projects. We also coordinate our work withthe Ministry of Education and the local education authorities. So far we have build 6schools, each with 12 classrooms and a library. We also hold sanitation and maintenanceworkshops at the schools that we have built, with the aim of instituting a systemwhereby the whole community can take care of the management of the school buildings.In 2005 we plan to build 3 schools.

Japan Emergency NGOs (JEN)http://www.jen-npo.org/Location: Parwan Province and Kabul city

Summary of activities:JEN entered Afghanistan in August 2001 to carry out field research about the situationof Afghan IDPs. However, following the US invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of9/11, we changed our approach and started to provide emergency aid to the refugees andIDPs who were victims of Afghanistan’s long years of conflict. At that time, largenumbers of refugees returned home following the establishment of the interimadministration (AIA). Starting in 2002, we provided assistance for the resettlement ofreturnees in Parwan Province, where there were particularly large numbers of returnees.Our aim was to help people who had returned home to rebuild their livelihoods andregain their independence.

In the implementation of our projects, we work in partnership with local communities,aiming to establish a climate where people are able to take care of their own livelihoods.We are advancing an approach where the local people themselves take control of themanagement of projects. For school reconstruction projects, we establish a SchoolManagement Committee, and for the building of houses, bridges and roads, we ensurethat it is the local people themselves who undertake the work.

The Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP)



36

http://www.jccp.gr.jp/Location: Kabul city and surrounding area

Summary of activities:The JCCP head offices concentrates on two issues:1) Reintegration to society (of former Afghan militia)2) Landmines and UXO

1) ReintegrationReintegration is an issue that we took on after our office had been established. FromDecember 2004 until June 2005, we received a grant from the Japanese government toprovide support for the reintegration of former soldiers. The exact location of ourproject was Karakon district and Milbachak district in northern Kabul Province. Ourcentral aim was to build a sense of ownership amongst the ex-soldiers themselves. Inconcrete terms, we concentrated on the following four issues (in no particular order):- Basic education for former soldiers who had passed school age, but had missed an

education because of the war.- “Peace education” in order to help people adjust to a new peaceful era.- Technical training so that people are not forced to live by the gun.- “Community Activities” to improve understanding of the technical skills delivered in

the training courses, with the aim of building the trust of the local community. Beforethe projects begin, the jobless former soldiers are seen as murderers by the villagers,but through “Community Activities” they regain the trust of many of the villagers, andthey settle into the aspiration to live in future as metal-workers or carpenters.

2) Landmines and UXOOur office started planning its landmine and UXO projects in 2002 when it was firstestablished, and in August 2005 we created 2 landmine and UXO teams in ParwanProvince. JCCP has previously implemented landmine and UXO projects in Sri Lanka,and in 2005 we also started a project in Afghanistan. In Parwan Province, we are locatednear to a military airstrip that was used during the war against the Soviets and alsoagainst the Taliban. The area is particularly harshly affected by war, with 90% of thevillagers having been displaced as refugees. At present 2 Japanese technical advisershave been dispatched to lead the Parwan province landmine and UXO clearance team aspart of the effort to reduce the number of landmine and UXO victims.



37

against the Taliban. The area is particularly harshly affected by war, with 90% of thevillagers having been displaced as refugees. At present 2 Japanese technical advisershave been dispatched to lead the Parwan province landmine and UXO clearance team aspart of the effort to reduce the number of landmine and UXO victims.

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)http://www.ngo-jvc.net/Location: Jalalabad / Kunar

Summary of activities1) Activities to improve the health of women and children in north-easternNangarhar province.In 2005, JVC has based its activities in a local clinic, from where it offers training totraditional birth attendants (TBA) and community health workers. At the same time,JVC has supported a project to provide safe water by digging new wells. In 2004, JVCwas only able to implement these projects in part, but in 2005, it has been able toprovide comprehensive local health services.

a) Support to clinicsIn 2005, JVC has provided support for a clinic in Gulek village, Shewa district,Nangarhar province. The support has been delivered in accordance with the Ministry ofPublic Health Basic Package for Health Services. In response to the specific needs ofthe area, JVC has established a mother and child health center at the clinic, and hasdispatched a female doctor and a midwife. Meanwhile, female health workers havestarted to operate in the surrounding area.

b) Training and Support for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs):JVC has been supporting traditional birth attendants in the villages by conductingtraining courses on safe delivery techniques. After the courses, TBAs are provided withdelivery kits as well as periodic follow-up training. Overall the project is designed toreduce mortality rates for both mothers and children. In 2004 JVC conducted trainingcourses and follow-up for 49 traditional birth attendants in 4 villages collectives in 3different districts. As a result, pregnant women showing signs of trouble are ignored lessoften than before, and more women are being taken to the city hospital. The number ofsafe births has increased. In 2005, JVC has aimed to improve the support system formidwives and birth attendants through careful coordination with the newly trainedcommunity health workers in each clinic, and through increased monitoring.



38

courses and follow-up for 49 traditional birth attendants in 4 villages collectives in 3different districts. As a result, pregnant women showing signs of trouble are ignored lessoften than before, and more women are being taken to the city hospital. The number ofsafe births has increased. In 2005, JVC has aimed to improve the support system formidwives and birth attendants through careful coordination with the newly trainedcommunity health workers in each clinic, and through increased monitoring.

c) Support for the course for female students at the Institute of Medical and Science,Jalalabad city.JVC has provided the Institute with the necessary equipment, materials and means oftransportation so as to improve the educational environment for female studentsintending to work in rural areas. In 2004 this assistance was severely delayed followingchanges in the course format and curriculum, and confusion amongst the varioussupporting agencies as to how the course was being managed. As a result, support forthis project started in 2005.

d) The provision of safe water and hygiene education: Shewa district, Goshta districtand Khogyani district, Nangarhar province.

In 2005, JVC cooperated with the local NGO, RDRO (Rural Development andReconstruction Organisation), to dig 90 wells in the same areas as where medicalsupport is being provided. At the same time, JVC has conducted hygiene education forthe local people who use the wells. The local community takes responsibility forproviding labour, and materials are also supplied locally. Furthermore, JVC conductstraining for caretakers and mechanics to repair the wells. The aim of this project is toreduce water-borne infectious diseases. Combined with the health projects, it isdesigned to improve health in rural areas.

2) Support for EducationSchool construction and support to improve the quality of education.In the past 3 years, the number of students at Shigi girls’ school has increased almostthreefold. As a result, around 500 students have been forced to take classes outdoors.JVC has provided support to the school for 3 years (2003 - 2005), constructing schoolbuildings and distributing educational equipment and materials with the aim ofimproving the educational environment in this school.



39

threefold. As a result, around 500 students have been forced to take classes outdoors.JVC has provided support to the school for 3 years (2003 - 2005), constructing schoolbuildings and distributing educational equipment and materials with the aim ofimproving the educational environment in this school.

3) AdvocacyAs regards Afghan reconstruction, JVC has conducted advocacy relating to the issue ofhumanitarian aid carried out by the military and also relating to the DDR (Disarmament,Demobilization and Reintegration) program.



40

Box 4: NGO Legislation and NGO Code of Conduct

Since 2002 there have been two initiatives underway to clarify what is, and what is not, a not-for-

profit non-governmental organisation (NGO), and to strengthen the accountability and transparency of

NGO activities in Afghanistan.

The first is NGO legislation that is designed to: determine what an NGO is; determine permissible

activities of NGOs; determine criteria for establishment and internal governance of NGOs; clarify

reporting requirements for NGOs; enable profit-making bodies currently registered as NGOs to

establish themselves as businesses; and enhance transparency and accountability of NGOs. The NGO

law was passed in June 2005.

The second is an Afghanistan-specific NGO Code of Conduct, designed by the NGO community itself

as a self-governing mechanism to ensure commitment to transparency, accountability and professional

standards from all signatories. The four major NGO coordination bodies in Afghanistan – Agency

Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), Afghan NGOs Coordinating Body (ANCB),

Southern and Western Afghanistan and Balochistan Association for Coordination (SWABAC) and

Afghanistan Women’s Network (AWN) – jointly drafted the text of the code. The NGO community

publicly launched the Afghanistan NGO Code of Conduct on 30 May 2005. In order to be a signatory

to the Code of Conduct, NGOs are required to submit several documents to prove their NGO status,

including legal registration documentation, coordination body membership, financial records and

other organisational documentation. At the time of writing, 86 NGOs had begun the application

process, which is being administered by the Code of Conduct Secretariat at ACBAR

(AREU A-Z Guide Aug. 2005)



41

4.2 Practical Issues(JCCP - Yutaka Hayashi)

4.2.1.ImmigrationThe safest way is to arrive by airplane. Entry by road is not very advisable consideringthe security situation. In particular if you use a white Land Cruiser you will be easilymarked out as a target by insurgents.

It seems to be safer to change planes in Dubai than in Islamabad, although there arecertain to be differences of opinion about this issue amongst different NGOs. It iscrucial to establish a clear consensus within each organisation.

4.2.2　VisasThe cost of applying for an Afghan visa in Japan is relatively high – at 3,750 Yen for a15 day visa (the shortest possible visa). In the case of a long stay, it is possible to applyfor a visa extension after entering the country　(the cost of this visa is cheaper than oneobtained in Japan). 2 photos and a supporting letter are required. In JCCP’s experience,it is possible to obtain a visa within one week.

4.2.3 InsuranceFor Japanese citizens, it is advisable to obtain insurance from a Japanese insurancecompany. At the time when you draw up the contract it is vital to agree with theinsurance company the particular details relating to a conflict situation. At present thereis not adequate information relating to insurance for Afghan locally employed staff.

4.2.4 FoodAfghan food is rather oily, and so it does not agree well with Japanese people in general.For Japanese people it is very common to suffer stomach upsets from particularly oilyAfghan food. Meanwhile the tap water regularly carries harmful bacteria and so it isnecessary to buy treated water for drinking. In summer when the temperature reaches up



42

to 40 degrees, it is easy to suffer from dehydration and so it is important to drink enoughwater.

In Kabul city there are outbreaks of cholera, and so it is best to avoid eating out as far aspossible, and to make a rule of heating all food very thoroughly. It is necessary to drinka minimum of 1.5 litres of water every 24 hours.

Regarding products from the south of Afghanistan, there are concerns of contaminationwith depleted uranium, and so it is advisable to avoid these products. You shouldconsult a doctor if you have repeated headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite or other suchsymptoms.

4.2.5 HealthMaintaining a healthy state of mind is a very important element of maintaining overallhealth and resilience. It is important to take regular R&R so as to keep the mindrefreshed.

It is easy to become unhealthy by eating food to which you are not accustomed, or veryoily Afghan food. Hence it is a good idea to do as much exercise as possible. Also,because Afghanistan is overall fairly high above sea level, for people brought up inJapan it is common to suffer from headaches and lethargy when they first arrive. It isnecessary to acclimatise the body to levels of around 2000 metres above sea level.

Taking leave roughly every three months helps to maintain overall health and alsoincreases productivity. The medical section of the Japanese Embassy recommendstaking leave once every 2-3 months.

4.2.6　Security- Landmines exist across the country and so it is necessary to be extremely cautiouswhen visiting unknown areas. Moving by foot should be avoided at all costs.



43

- In cases where there is no choice other than to walk, it is advisable to follow existingfootprints.

- Old military vehicles or equipment are highly dangerous and must not be touched.

- If you discover animal corpses and dead patches of grass in a particular area, then takespecial care because these may be signs that chemical weapons have been used in thatplace.

- The risk of attack or kidnapping has become greater in the run up to the elections onSeptember 18th, 2005. The security situation is difficult to predict. When leaving theoffice, it is necessary to take adequate communications equipment (radio, mobilephone, satellite phone) and food and water, and to announce what time you expect toreturn.

- When travelling in a vehicle, make sure to lock the doors and try not to open thewindows. If you are stopped at a check-point which does not usually exist, try to showyour ID without opening the window. It is important to make contingency plans forwhat to do in the case that your vehicle is attacked.

- Be particularly careful when travelling at night.

4.2.7 Contingency planning for emergenciesIt is necessary for each organisation to lay out clear criteria and a clear evacuation planfor what to do in case of emergency. Registered NGOs that usually keep their distancefrom one other ought to cooperate as much as possible in cases of emergency. If a largescale military conflict breaks out, several hours before it erupts, satellite phones andmobile phones will become unusable because of the disturbance. It is also likely thatwireless internet will suffer the same problem. Hence it is very important to makecontingency plans for communications. (During riots, mobile phone companies becomeprime targets for attack, and so it is dangerous to become over-dependent on mobile



44

phones)

4.3 Resources and further reading(Christian Dennys and Chihiro Imai)

General / Travel writingDanziger, N (1987) Danziger's Travels; Beyond Forbidden FrontiersElliot, J (2000) An unexpected lightFergusson, J (2004) Kandahar Cockney: A Tale of Two WorldsKremmer , C (2002) The Carpet WarsNewby, E (1960s) A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush (Picador Books)Stewart , R (2004) The Places in BetweenZoya, with john Follian and Rita Crisofari (2002) Zoya's Story; An Afghan woman'sstruggle for Freedom

Politics/HistoryAdamec, L (1997) Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 　　

Lanham, Md &London

Donini, Niland and Wermester (2003) Nation-building Unraveled: Aid, Peace andJustice in AfghanistanDorronosoro, G (2005) Revolution Unending, Afghanistan: 1979 to the presentDupree, L (1974 & 1998) AfghanistanEdwards, D (2002) Before Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad

Goodson, L (2001) Afghanistan’s Endless War—State Failure, Regional Politics, and

the Rise of the Taliban University of Washington Press

Johnson, C and Leslie, J (2004) Afghanistan: The Mirage of Peace

Mistra, A (2004) Afghanistan Polity

Maley, W (2002) Afghanistan Wars Palgrave Macmillan

Rashid, A (2001) Taliban: The story of Afghan WarlordsRoy, O (1990) Islam and Resistance in AfghanistanRubin, B (2002) The Fragmentation of Afghanistan



45

Scarecrow Press (1996) Historical Dictionaries of Wars, Revolution and Civil Unrest,No.1 The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Lahham, Md & London

WebsitesPlease see the JANN website links page for a list of useful weblinks.

jann afghanistan briefing pack briefing pack...afghanistan briefing pack september 2005 japan afghan...

Documents