Dominic Medley, Media Relations Officer, UNDP

Learning Afghan sign language

The end of 2005 saw the opening of Afghanistan’s parliament, the first in decades. By the early months of 2006 the nation watched with amazement as the new parliamentarians flexed their political muscles. Millions of Afghans were gripped by the live TV questioning of President Karzai’s nominated ministers. Here was democracy in action as the new members of parliament found their political way and developed their checks and balances on the executive institutions of Afghanistan.

Behind the scenes one of the most important projects of the United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan has been slowly but surely working away at the parliament. The SEAL project (Support to the Establishment of the Afghan Legislature), with a budget of more than US$ 15 million and a duration of two years, aims to support the activities of the parliament, its members and staff, with training and equipment so that an effective legislature can take shape in Afghanistan.

Members of both houses (the Meshrano and Wolsei Jirgas, upper and lower houses) have attended substantial training courses, seminars and workshops both in Kabul and abroad. A survey of assembly members in late 2005 indicated a strong desire for English language and computer classes and the chance to travel abroad. The secretariat of the parliament has also received training as have accredited assembly journalists. A parliamentary library and other essential equipment such as computers, cameras and microphones have all been bought and put into place.

During the recent recess of the parliament the UNDP’s SEAL project organised a number of events for members to meet their electorate back home in the constituencies. In Wardak, Bamiyan and Konduz parliamentarians met representatives from civil society organisations, the media and their electorate. The recess period of outreach was launched across ten provinces so that the electorate outside Kabul could begin to understand the parliamentary process that is taking shape in Afghanistan.

In the centre of government UNDP has traditionally played a lead role in building up Afghanistan’s institutions so that they will continue to function as a normal governmental bureaucracy in the future. A recently announced US$ 10.6 million agreement with the Asia Foundation will see further support to the development of the central executive institutions involving the Office of the President of Afghanistan. The project will strengthen the Office of Administrative Affairs, the Council of Ministers Secretariat, and the Presidential Chief of Staff Office’s capacity by upgrading their organizational structures, procedures, office equipment and facilities, information technology, and policy coordination processes.

In the wider government institutions UNDP is laying the groundwork for the future leaders of Afghanistan. Some 550 top civil servants are going through a two and a half year process of Civil Service Leadership Training. The aim is to consolidate the implementation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy but also to identify younger staff who show potential. 150 interns, 50 of them female are also attending training and getting experience from working in various ministries.

UNDP has always been at the forefront of advocating for change and to help people build a better life. Of all the countries in the world, and after three decades of turmoil, Afghanistan presents one of the major challenges to development. With all the major projects the smaller ones must not be overlooked.

War in Afghanistan has created a population dramatically affected by trauma and disability. Estimates suggested two million people may have a physical disability of some sort. This figure excludes those who have some sort of mental trauma, perhaps from something they witnessed or the high level of domestic violence.

It is a major role of the United Nations worldwide to encourage and ensure that everyone has the chance to play an active role in their society. In Afghanistan this is even more important than ever following the restrictions the Taliban regime imposed. Perhaps some 75% of children with disabilities don’t attend school; 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed.

UNDP’s National Programme for Action on Disability (NPAD) is targeting a powerful voice in the country. To be a war victim in Afghanistan can earn respect; many parliamentarians, minister and leading members of society have some form of disability. But all too often they and others can be forgotten. Working with the Ministry of Martyrs, Disabled and Social Affairs NPAD is ensuring that people with disabilities and their problems are not pushed aside; that they have a chance for education and employment.

NPAD is also leading the way in the development of Afghanistan’s first ever sign language. There are an estimated 10,000 people who are hearing impaired in Afghanistan. That might not be a large number but it is all too easy to forget about them in the wider development picture. Now the creation of an Afghan sign language is moving forward with new signs and grammar. A Disability Resource Centre has also been opened in Kabul which is fully accessible. This model centre, the first of its kind in Afghanistan, offers a haven for the disabled that will also be built in Jalalabad, Kandahar and Mazar.

Strengthening the parliament, the central institutions of government, the chance for people with disabilities to get involved in a full life in Afghanistan are just some of the areas UNDP Afghanistan is working on. The UN has been in Afghanistan for 50 years. UNDP has been at the forefront in providing development assistance and helping to build up the institutions of the country. Poverty reduction, democratic governance and crisis prevention and recovery will continue to be the main areas of concern for UNDP Afghanistan.