MONTHLY REPORT ADVANCING EFFECTIVE …pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MQRJ.pdf · MoU Memorandum of ... Manager of the e-Tazkera program and sought his opinion on structuring the new

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MONTHLY REPORT

ADVANCING EFFECTIVE REFORMS FOR

CIVIC ACCOUNTABILITY

Cooperative Agreement 306-A-00-09-00522-00

September 2016

AERCA MONTHLY REPORT SEPTEMBER 2016 | 2

Prepared under USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 306-A-00-09-00522-00

Submitted to:

USAID/Afghanistan

Prepared by:

Democracy International, Inc.

Contractor:

Democracy International, Inc.

7600 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1010

Bethesda, MD 20814

Tel: 301-961-1660

www.democracyinternational.com

This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency

for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of

Democracy International, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States

Government.

http://www.democracyinternational.com/


Table of Contents

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Background ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Monthly highlights ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Programmatic Activities ................................................................................................................................................... 7

Component One: Improve Government Delivery of Selected Public Services ............................................. 7

Engagement with Ministries for Service Process Reform Effort ......................................................... 7

Ministry of Interior (Direct Support) ............................................................................................................. 7

Ministry of education (Indirect Support) .................................................................................................... 10

Component Two: Engage Afghan CSOs in Social Accountability for Improvement of Selected Public

Services .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Mobilization for CSOs’ Engagement............................................................................................................ 10


ACRONYMS

ACBAR Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief

ACSEN Afghanistan Civil Society Elections Network

A-EGP Afghanistan Effective Governance Program

AERCA Advancing Effective Reforms for Civic Accountability

AFCA Afghan Coordination Against Corruption

AIHRC Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission

ANJU Afghan National Journalists Union

AOAD Accessibility Organization for Afghan Disables

AYNO Afghanistan Youth National Organization

COP Chief of Party

CSO Civil Society Organization

DI Democracy International

ECW Empowerment Center for Women

ETWA Election Transparency Watch Organization of Afghanistan

FACT Federation of Afghanistan Craftsmen and Traders

FCCS Foundation for Culture and Civil Society

G2G Government-to-Government

HC Secretariat of the High Council on Anti-Corruption

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

KM Kabul Municipality

MCIT Ministry of Communication and Information Technology

MCI Ministry of Commerce and Industry

MEC Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee

MoCIT Ministry of Communications and Information Technology


MoE Ministry of Education

MoF Ministry of Finance

MoI Ministry of Interior

MoMP Ministry of Mines and Petroleum

MoPH Ministry of Public Health

MoT Ministry of Transportation

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

NUG National Unity Government

PRD Population Registration Directorate

PR Public Relations

RFA Request for Applications

RFQ Request for Quotes

RCA Root Cause Analysis

SC Selection Committee

SMEs Small and Medium Enterprises

UNDP United Nations Development Program

USAID United States Agency for International Development


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

Beginning in January 2016, Democracy International (DI) initiated a new phase of the U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement no. 306-A-09-00522-00 called Advancing

Effective Reforms for Civic Accountability (AERCA). The objectives of AERCA are 1) to strengthen

Afghan civil society organizations’ ability to perform watchdog functions and to 2) support the

Government of Afghanistan to implement reforms that will combat corruption.

BACKGROUND

From May 2011 through December 2015, DI implemented USAID’s Afghanistan Electoral Reform and

Civic Advocacy Project, supporting an Afghan-led electoral reform process, specifically through support

to civil society, and conducting public opinion research on governance and elections topics.

During this period, the AERCA program facilitated an electoral reform effort among Afghan

stakeholders that fostered important dialogue and built the knowledge and advocacy capacity of civil

society to better advocate for reforms. Notably, DI supported the development of the Afghanistan Civil

Society Elections Network (ACSEN), a network of more than 150 civil society groups that has quickly

become a prominent voice of Afghan civil society. Through a small grants program, DI provided financial

and technical support to civil society organizations to implement civic education and advocacy training

activities at the national level and in districts throughout the country.

Through its research component, DI facilitated important research on electoral reform and developed

Afghan capacity to conduct future research and analysis on elections and political issues. The results and

conclusions of DI’s research have been disseminated to Afghan and international stakeholders for use in

policy and programmatic decision making and have garnered significant interest among these

stakeholders.

In January 2016, the AERCA project was renamed Advancing Effective Reforms for Civic Accountability,

demonstrating the project’s shift to focus on combatting corruption through improving public service

delivery. Under AERCA, DI will work with reform-minded individuals within government ministries to

pursue visible, tangible improvements to a few public services used regularly by Afghan citizens. At the

same time, DI will engage civil society actors to organize social accountability projects that go beyond

basic advocacy or oversight initiatives to include a full range of activities complementing and enhancing

existing governmental accountability practices.

MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

In September 2016, the AERCA team continued to work with government and civil society partners to

initiate the launch of program activities. Under Component One, the Service Delivery Process

Improvement team visited the Federation of Afghan Craftsmen and Trader (FACT) and acquired their

inputs for reforming business licensing procedures at the Kabul Municipality (KM). The team also met

Population Registration Directorate (PRD) officials to discuss developing a website for the PRD. The

proposal review committee also started the review of proposals received in response to the Requests

for Quotes (RFQ) for IT Equipment and Data Entry Trainers for the Ministry of Education (MoE).


In the last week of September, DI held a workshop on “Root Cause Analysis” for the officials of KM,

MoE, and PRD; in addition to discussing relevant workshop topics, the results from the Customer

Satisfaction Survey conducted for the three organizations were also presented.

The second round of grants focusing on anticorruption and service delivery processes were selected to

11 civil society organizations (CSOs) while the first round grantees focused on government

accountability continue to follow-up and advocate for the commitments made by the National Unity

Government (NUG). In the month of September, CSOs implementing the accountability website small

grants met with several ministries and government institutions, including officials from the Chief

Executive’s Office, Central Passport Office, Kankor Examination Board, Provincial Council of Takhar

province, Governor’s Office of Kunduz province, Independent Election Commission, Ministry of Women

Affairs, and Ministry of Information and Culture.

PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES

COMPONENT ONE: IMPROVE GOVERNMENT DELIVERY OF SELECTED PUBLIC SERVICES

The objective of component one is to reduce corruption and improve the delivery of four priority public

services important to most Afghan citizens in a timeframe of one year.

ENGAGEMENT WITH MINISTRIES FOR SERVICE PROCESS REFORM EFFORT

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (DIRECT SUPPORT)

Tazkera (National ID Card) During this month, the project team worked with PRD Working Group

members on the redesign of five service delivery processes:

Verification of identity

Issuance of new Tazkera

Replacement of new Tazkera

Correction of birth dates (age correction)

Change in residency

The PRD Working Group members sought to further clarify the structure and the number of personnel

needed for the newly designed processes as well as their current organizational structure.

The project team held several meetings with the PRD Working Group members to work on redesigning

and simplification of the “Replacement Tazkera,” “Age Correction and Change of Residence,” and

“Tazkera Verification” processes.

Additionally, the project team visited the PRD Kart-e-Parwan office site to assess the current situation

with their archives. The team sought the opinions of the current Archive Officers in order to put them

into perspective for purchasing the new archive shelving system. It became apparent during the visit that

the main challenges are a lack of space and personnel for this office. The team also met with the Archive

Manager of the e-Tazkera program and sought his opinion on structuring the new archive and PRD

complex.

The project team visited the PRD Complex along with the metal worker to meet with the PRD

Complex engineer and discuss the installation of the two new gates. PRD has not been able so far to

break down the walls where they are planning to install the new gates. A number of vendors with


disabilities have placed their shop booths behind the PRD wall and are not ready to remove them. PRD

has sought the help of the Police District in order to remove the shop booths, after which, the new

gates can be installed.

The AERCA team met with the director of the Asan Khedmat Office, Mr. Aryobee, and his Senior

Advisor, Mr. Popal. They briefed us about their plans and the progress of activities. Mr. Aryobee

expressed his interest in working closely with DI to expedite the process of service reform in Afghan

government ministries with the aim to combat corruption and improve services. They are particularly

interested in working with us jointly on the business licensing process that DI has already started with

the Kabul Municipality.

The project team sought guidance from the MoCIT on the development of a website for the PRD.

MoCIT provides this service for all government institutions using a common template, domain name,

and hosts the websites in the Ministry’s data center. Any departure from this arrangement must be

justified in writing and submitted for approval. PRD seeks an alternative hosting arrangement to better

serve its constituents. In advance of PRD’s website development, the project will assist PRD with this

justification.

On Wednesday, September 21st, DI organized a change management and preparedness workshop for

PRD, KM, and MoE senior and mid-level managers with the aim to introduce them to the concepts of

change management and best practices and mentally prepare them for implementing changes that are

necessary in their organizations.

In addition, on Wednesday, September 28th, DI organized a workshop on the topic of “Root Cause

Analysis” (RCA) for the senior and mid-level managers at PRD, KM, MoE, and Asan Khedmat. The aim

was to introduce the methodology of cause analysis as a problem-solving tool and as a step in the

process of the Service Delivery Improvement Model. The sessions of the workshop focused on the

importance of conducting the analysis and critical thinking based on facts and contributions from

multiple individuals before a solution is applied and put into practice.

During the workshop, the preliminary findings of the Customer Satisfaction and Feedback Survey were

shared with the participants. Based on the main findings, workshop participants identified some

institutional problems, applied the root analysis methodology, identified solutions, and prioritized them.

A total of19 people participated in the workshop (17 males and 2 females). At the end of the workshop,

it was agreed that the DI team will conduct sessions at each organization’s premises to further identify

and seek solutions to problems, and develop action plans for each solution.

Root Cause Analysis Workshop, DI Main Office, Kabul


DI is planning to hire a legal Advisor to assess and analyze the legal framework in PRD and KM to insure

smooth implementation of the improved services. The Legal Advisor will also provide technical

assistance in the process of reform implementation. The project team interviewed candidates for the

position of Legal Advisor and identified a highly qualified candidate for this role.

Driver’s License Due to a lack of political will in the Kabul Traffic Department leadership, the AERCA

project team in consultation with USAID, has decided to refrain from working with the mentioned

entity. However, there is opportunity for a potential last-mile assistance with the Passport Department.

Thus, discussions are underway to replace Kabul Traffic Department with the Passport Department.

KABUL MUNICIPALITY (DIRECT SUPPORT)

Small Business License The AERCA team visited the Federation of Afghan Craftsmen and Traders

(FACT), the largest guild representing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kabul and Afghanistan as

a whole, and met with the heads of different unions of craftsmen and traders. In this meeting, the

business licensing process, and challenges and bottlenecks around the process, were discussed with the

heads of each union (e.g. garments traders, jewelry traders, beauty parlors, butchers, restaurant owners,

technicians, tailors, blacksmiths, etc.) to collect their inputs and feedback in an effort to inform the

reform process of the business licensing procedures currently underway with KM.

The team also conducted a Working Group meeting at KM to discuss the database requirements and

transparency and accountability issues around the collection of business license fees. In collaboration

with KM officials, the team also defined the attributes and logical framework for a pilot billing system, as

part of the AERCA intervention. Process improvements will be streamlined based on policies

incorporated into the billing application.

As part of the above effort, DI interviewed shortlisted candidates for the position of Application

Developer/Database Programmer in September. DI is planning to hire two Developers/Programmers to

design a web-based billing application for the business licensing section of KM.

Similarly, DI discussed with the members of the KM Working Group the environmental, health, and

hygiene aspects of getting a business permit. DI collected sufficient information necessary for the

reform.

The project team also met with the Market Management unit of KM and discussed the regulatory

framework for getting a business permit and different procedures for different categories of businesses.

Collection of Inputs and Feedback from Traders Union, FACT Office, Kabul


Additionally, the team met with Kabul Municipality’s Director of Revenue and a representative from UN

Habitat in order to discuss close coordination as both continue to provide support to KM.

The project teams met with the Director of e-Government at the Ministry of Communications and

Information Technology (MoCIT) to seek clarification on the required actions to obtain Internet access

for the 22 sub-district offices of KM. They also discussed using the Ministry’s data center for the

project’s work to equip the municipality’s sub-districts with a web-based business licensing application.

The project team was informed that the municipality needs to put together a concept proposal that

outlines the project’s objectives, an action plan, the specific needs from the Ministry, and submission to

MoCIT’s Minister. There will be a nominal chargeback fee which is consistent with typical government-

to-government (G2G) services. The project will assist KM in the preparation of the concept proposal.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (INDIRECT SUPPORT)

High School Certificate In response to a request by MoE, the team developed a Project Design

approach for CMIS. The approach articulates the responsibilities of DI and MoE, implementation

schedule, and a sustainability premise.

In September, DI’s review committee finished reviewing proposals received in response to the IT

Equipment and Data Entry Trainers RFQs to procure IT Equipment and provide Data Entry

Trainers/Operators for CMIS system of MoE. Due diligence included interviewing the shortlisted

vendors as well as visiting the premises of the recommended firms.

The AERCA team met with Mr. Abdul Wassay Arian, Director of Policy and Planning at MoE, and

discussed the requirements for an MoU to be signed between MoE and DI/USAID to formalize the

collaboration.

COMPONENT TWO: ENGAGE AFGHAN CSOS IN SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR

IMPROVEMENT OF SELECTED PUBLIC SERVICES

The objective of Component Two is to support the service reforms undertaken by the Afghan

government by involving civil society organizations (CSOs) for public accountability and outreach.

MOBILIZATION FOR CSOS’ ENGAGEMENT

Post Accountability Website Small Grants CSOs implementing these grants conducted meetings

with government entities and line ministries to follow-up and monitor NUG commitments as detailed

below.

Election Transparency Watch Organization of Afghanistan (ETWA)

Following the project to monitor the NUG pledges, ETWA met with Mohammad Nateqi as the

representative of the Chief Executive Officer on Monday, September 5th. The interview was aimed at

exploring Mr. Nateqi’s views regarding the commitments of the government, especially those of the

CEO regarding electoral reforms, indemnifying existing obstacles to this process, and examining

government political will.


Mr. Nateqi stated that the Office of the CEO is

committed to pursuing and implementing the NUG

agreement, especially those that relate to electoral

reform and holding of upcoming elections. He

considered the formation of the SERC an example of

progress toward visible electoral reform.

While they are expecting to have the new decree

issued by the President soon, he confirmed

disagreements exist between the CEO and President

that mainly revolve around distribution of electronic

identity cards, convening Loya Jirga to amend the

constitution, electoral reform, holding of next

parliamentary elections, and the issue of the

President sharing more authorities with the CEO.

“Negotiation and talks are ongoing to resolve such

disagreements,” he added.

In addition, ETWA met with Zarqa Yaftali, a

member of the Selection Committee (SC) on

Thursday, September 1st to follow up on the

NUG commitment to electoral reform and

obtain her perspective on the fate of the SC,

assess existing barricades to electoral reforms,

examine government’s political will for reform,

and track the progress made thus far.

Ms. Yaftali criticized the delay in the work of

the SC and stated that the consecutive

rejection of the president’s decrees by the

Parliament and inherent disagreements

between the CEO and President caused such a

delay.

Ms. Yaftali hoped there would be no legal

barricades to halt the work of the SC following the issuance of a new decree by the President.

According to her, the new committee will be composed of representatives from civil society

organizations in addition to representatives of the Supreme Court, the Afghanistan Independent Human

Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of

Constitution under the new decree.

Ms. Yaftali emphasized that change in the composition of electoral bodies is an essential element for

ensuring the stability and sustainability of the NUG. She noted such change is also reflected in the

Special Electoral Reform Commission proposal and considered a key government commitment to the

international community.

ETWA also arranged for a meeting with the Head of Central Passport Department in Kabul on

Saturday, September 3rd to track and monitor the status of a government pledge to extend electronic

passport timeline to 10 years. According to the information provided by the Head of the Passport

ETWA Conducts Meeting with Mr.

Mohammad Nateqi, Representative of the

Office of the Chief Executive of the Islamic

Republic of Afghanistan

ETWA Conducts Meeting with Ms. Zarqa Yaftali,

Member of the Selection Committee


Department, the process of distributing 10-year passports started in March 2016 based on international

standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the relevant conventions. Future

plans and reforms to standardize and simplify the passport distribution process were also discussed.

Similarly, ETWA met with Head of Provincial

Passport Department in Balkh province to monitor

whether distribution of 10-year passports

commenced and how the process is going in this

province. The meeting findings show this process

kicked off and applicants go through normal

procedures in place to get 10-year passports. This

department is active in providing required

information to applicants. The main problem is the

delay caused by submitting all required documents to

Kabul for verification and printing of passport. In

addition, ETWA met with Ms. Shakeeba Hashemi,

member of WJ Internal Security Committee, and

discussed the advantages and challenges before 10-year passport distribution, what MPs have done so far

to facilitate the process, how challenges can be overcome and what WJ future plan is to resolve existing

problems with obtaining a 10-year passport.

ETWA also met with Fahim Dashti, Executive Director of the Afghan National Journalists Union

(ANJU), to monitor the status of NUG commitment to electoral reforms on September 19th. Mr. Dashti

questioned the President’s will to implement electoral reforms and deplored the current condition of

this process. Acknowledging disagreement among the CEO and the President on electoral reforms, he

viewed rejection of relevant presidential decrees by the Parliament as the main reason for the delay in

the work of the selection committee.

ETWA started analyzing the finding of individual meetings which will be used to inform the next stage of

the project (public outreach sessions and radio round-tables).

Afghan Coordination Against Corruption

(AFCAC)

The AFCAC met with Jawed Rasouli, head of the

Kankor Examination Commission, on September 2nd to

discuss the gaps and issues in Kankor Exam process,

Kankor Examination administrative procedures, and

admission processes. During this meeting, Mr. Rasouli

indicated some major improvements such as establishing

a new database for the final results.

Empowerment Center for Women (ECW)

The ECW managed to establish coordination with

Governor’s office of Kunduz province in regards to follow up on the pledges of creation of an

agricultural university in Kunduz province. Coordination was established with provincial council of

Kunduz province.

ETWA Conducts Meeting with the Head of

Central Passport Department

AFCAC met with Jawed Rasouli, Head of

Kankor Examination Commission


Foundation for Culture and Civil Society (FCCS) and Afghanistan Youth National

Organization (AYNO)

Mr. Timor Shah Hakimyar, Director of FCCS, and

Mr. Habiburahman Nang, Director of AYNO, met

with the Minister of Information and Culture H.E

Abdul Bari Jahani on August 28th. Interesting

conversations took place when the issue of

standardization of RTA and Bakhtar News Agency

was mentioned by the director of FCCS. During the

meeting it was noted that the minister and director

of Bakhtar News Agency were not aware of NUG

pledges regarding expected reforms in the ministry.

As a result of long discussions with the minister, an

agreement for a cooperation mechanism between

the ministry and FCCS was reached for capacity

development of ministry staff, and lobbying will be

followed up by FCCS with Administrative Reform

and Civil Servants Directorate.

The Accessibility Organization for Afghan Disables (AOAD)

AOAD met with 10 CSO members at the ACBAR office on September 20th to share information on the

two NUG promises by the President of Afghanistan for people with disabilities. The promises included

land distribution, special fund allocation, and comprehensive nationwide survey for people with

disabilities as further information to prepare for the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October

2016.

FCCS and AYNO Directors Meet with

Abdul Bari Jahani, Minister of Information

and Culture

Documents

MONTHLY REPORT ADVANCING EFFECTIVE …pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MQRJ.pdf · MoU Memorandum of ... Manager of the e-Tazkera program and sought his opinion on structuring the new