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Central Asian Local and Economic Community Development Programme to be Adapted for Use in Afghanistan

Published: 25 August 2014 г.
Kabul, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 5 August 2014– The Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG)of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the University of Central Asia (UCA), which is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase the capacity of civil servants in Afghanistan through UCA’s Local Economic and Community Development (LECD) certificate programme.

The agreement was signed in Kabul on 5 August 2014 by His Excellency Mr Abdul Khaliq Farahi, Director General of IDLG, and Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General of UCA. The AKDN Diplomatic Representative, Mrs Nurjehan Mawani, H.E. Sharofiddin Z. Imomov, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Avazbek Abdurazakov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic and H.E. Omirtay Bitimov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan were present at the ceremony.

"The capacity development of local governance staff is the primary and essential factor of good governance. We hope the University of Central Asia and Independent Directorate of Local Governance’s joint efforts in preparing capacity development materials and curriculum for local governance personnel will bring positive change in strengthening governance and further boost the relationship between IDLG and UCA. We believe that capacity development will impact day-to-day tasks positively and will result in improved effectiveness in the future delivery of governance services, after these excellent programmes are implemented," said His Excellency Farahi.

UCA has successfully delivered the LECD programme to 1,150 civil servants in the Kyrgyz Republic. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada is supporting the University to adapt the programme for Afghanistan and Tajikistan as part of its Research and Public Policy Initiative (RPPI).

Under the agreement, a joint IDLG-UCA Working Group will review and adapt the LECD curriculum for delivery in Afghanistan and identify instructors for training to deliver the programme. IDLG will provide a location for the delivery of the programme and other critical support. Based on its experience delivering professional development programmes in Central Asia, UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education will develop the structure, curriculum and materials for the LECD programme in Afghanistan and train instructors.

IDLG aims to deliver the LECD programme to Afghan District Governors through weekly sessions over the course of a year, representing 30 credits in the European Credit Transfer System. Successful participants will receive a professional development certificate and a certificate supplement detailing the programme of studies completed and learners’ achievements in accordance with European norms.

“This partnership reflects UCA’s commitment to building capacity in Afghanistan through cross-border sharing of information and experiences,” said Dr Krawchenko, “Our training programmes are informed by almost a decade of delivering programmes and working with government partners in Central Asia. Our goal is to provide programmes that generate skills to enrich the outputs of civil servants, while also fostering cross-border dialogue.”

Over the past three years, UCA has worked with Central Asian and Afghan government partners to engage civil servants with skills building, networking and research opportunities. Under its Regional Cooperation and Confidence Building in Central Asia and Afghanistan project, implemented in partnership with the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development, UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration conducted training in trade policy and negotiations and workshops on small and medium-sized enterprise and regional trade. The project also supported the piloting of a Visiting Fellow Programme, which offers Afghan civil servants the opportunity to conduct research and network with their peers from countries in Central Asia.

In addition to the adaptation of the LECD programme, the IDRC-supported RPPI included UCA hosting workshops in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan on policy processes, which contributed to the development and delivery in 2014 and 2015 of a policy analysis certificate programme to civil servants in the three countries. UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute’s Central Asia and Afghanistan Research Fellowship programme is also supporting research by Central Asian and Afghan researchers to inform the development of sound policy and programmes for the region’s mountainous communities.

“UCA and the Aga Khan Development Network are committed to working in close collaboration with the Government and other partners to strengthen institutions  and build capacity,” said Mrs.Nurjehan Mawani. “This agreement represents another step in that process during a critical time of transition for the country.”