AFGHANISTAN PROGRAMME PLAN 2014
1. Introduction
The security and political situation remains volatile in Afghanistan. The international military forces have
formally transferred the responsibility of security to Afghan national forces, however, the national forces need
continued support for resources and finance. Negotiations are incomplete between the Afghan authorities and
the US on the issue of leaving behind a small contigent of troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, as the two sides
have not agreed on the issue of prosecution of US soldiers in case of violation of national laws. The President
signed two legislations that have set in motion the presidential as well as the provincial council elections to be
held in 2014. The elections and the international troop withdrawals are likely to have significant impact on
the security situation in 2014. In Concern programme areas of Takhar and Badakshan the situation is no
different to the rest of the country. Badakshan has seen an increase in the push by the Taliban, which has
recently taken control of one of the districts (outside Concern’s programme area). Concern’s programme
plans for 2014 have essentially taken these developments into consideration.
As in the past years Concern Afghanistan will continue its interventions that will complement the
Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). Concern programmes also focus on the National Action
Plan for the Women of Afghanistan, the National Education Strategic Plan (NESP), and Agriculture and Rural
Development (ARD) – particularly linking micro and meso levels by facilitating CBOs to have increased
dialogue and influence with district and provincial authorities. Concern Afghanistan works with local
government departments to ensure that programming complements national initiatives at the local, district
and provincial and national levels. This is particularly true of Concern’s role as one of 28 Facilitating Partners
(FP) of the Government of Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Programme (NSP). Concern is also a member of
both the Badakshan Development Forum (BDF) and Takhar Development Forum (TDF). Concern will
continue to be an active member of both the BDF and TDF.
.
The recommendations on the Country Strategic Plan (2009 – 2013) realignment will feed into the process of realigning the CSP in accordance with the Global Strategic Plan (2011-2015). The realignment will provide
strategic direction for the country programme over the next two years (2014-15). Concern’s overall
programming in Afghanistan will continue to focus on (i)behaviour change (with an emphasis on women’s
empowerment), (ii) engaging the extreme poor, (iii) in building community capacity to manage natural
resources, (iv) training community leaders in participatory, pro-poor targeting and monitoring, (v)
transferring assets, (vi) building resilience to shocks and (vii) increasing livelihood and education options.
Afghanistan’s country programme focuses on the sectors of Food Income & Markets (FIM), Education and
Emergency Response.
As part of the discussions on the programme strategy, the country programme will also reflect on some of its
current approaches and arrangements with a view to streamline some of these processes. . The main issues
being discussed for implementation in 2014 are:





Exit Strategy for SWIM and IDEAS
Merging Takhar South and Takhar North programs into one programme
Exploring partnerships with local NGOs
Health Programme as separate programme
Insitution building – capacity building of the CBOs Concern has helped form (such as Self Help
Groups, Water User associations etc.), developing linkages between these CBOs with the more formal
village level structures such as CDCs and also with external agencies such as the various line
departments.
The FIM sector aims to strengthen social, human and natural resources and includes the sub-sectors of food
security and livelihood security, natural resource management, National Solidarity Programme (NSP) and
Action for Women’s Advocacy on Rights and Empowerment (AWARE). The Health sector will be a new
programme area. Aimed at strengthening human capital, this sector includes the sub-sectors of WASH and
public health. The programme will explore integrating nutrition related interventions within the food security
AFG
sub sector. The education sector, through the Rural Education Support Programme (RESP), contributes to
improving universal quality education and the elimination of gender disparity in primary schools.
Emergency and disaster response activities, through the appropriate identification of cash/food/fodder for
work and other social protection projects will enable strong linkages between disaster mitigation and
response to long-term development programming. In addition, the community based disaster preparedness
initiatives link communities, schools and other service providers to build response mechanisms at community
level.
Programme
FIM
Health
Education
Emergency
Closure/opening new locations
SWIM and IDEAS in Takhar will close in the first quarter of 2014
IAFP will be new addition to the 2014 annual plan and will be
implemented across all the programme areas including the Kabul
programme
The pilot phase of RESP will be completed by the first quarter of 2014 and
the lessons learnt will be considered for scaling up the programme in
Badakhshan province in 2014. An Education for Peace project funded by
ECHO in Badakshan will be implemented in 2014
Response to cyclical shocks and humanitarian crisis
The DIPECHO project on community level disaster preparedness will be
completed in last quarter of 2014 in Badakhshan province
2. Programmes
Afghanistan’s country programme focuses on the sectors of FIM, Health, Education and Emergency
Response.
2.1
Food Income & Markets (FIM)
The FIM sector programme focuses on food and livelihood security with the overall aim to contribute to
poverty alleviation through improved food security. The programme involves training community groups
and government bodies, supporting community structures and implementing initiatives to manage natural
resources and reduce the risk of disasters. Within the FIM sector, there are a number of sub-sectors as
outlined below.
2.1.1
Food Security & Natural Resource Management
FIM projects are implemented in Takhar and Badakshan provinces, and are funded by the European Union
and Irish Aid. Three EU-funded projects (Social Water and Integrated Management Project, Sustainable
Management for Improved Livelihoods and Environment Project, and Integrated Development Environment
and Sustainability Project Phase II) are ongoing in Takhar. These projects are components of the overarching
government Panj Amu River Basin Programme working at a holistic level on both upper and lower
catchments. The FIM programme also includes a water management component. This involves the
construction and rehabilitation of water systems and the capacity building of community development
councils and water user groups to effectively manage and maintain their water systems.
Number of beneficiaries: c. 160,000
Objectives:

To promote community based natural resource management and agriculture through the establishment
and capacity building of community based organisations and farmers cooperatives

To increase food security and reduce vulnerability of poor marginal, smallholder farmers and landless,
through economic advancement, increased livelihood options and capacity in DRR

To advocate for pro poor changes in food security, agricultural and natural resources management
policies and practices
Outcomes:
AFG



Increased equitable access to and control of natural resources through community management for
extremely poor and marginalised people in the target communities
Increased food security, economic advancement and increased resilience and capacity to withstand
natural and other environmental hazards for poor, marginal and smallholder farmers and poor landless
in the target communities
Improved dialogue and effective policy and advocacy engagement between CBOs, LNGOs and
government officials, contributing to more effective and efficient support to communities in the
management of natural resources and in integrating interests of marginalized groups, including women.
The Irish Aid funded SEEDLING-HS programme (2012-2015) is implemented in both Takhar and Badakshan
provinces. Details of the SEEDLING-HS programme are outlined in the Results Framework below.
Intended
Impact
1. Dimensions
of Extreme
Poverty
Improved health, nutrition and income/assets through an integrated programme approach in 10
districts of Badakshan and Takhar Provinces, Afghanistan
2. Programme Outcome
Improved food security and
assets through better use of
agricultural resources at
target household,
community and district level
(micro/ meso).
Assets (and
Return on
Assets)
Outcome (s)
2 Increased access to value
chain facilities and market
linkages between targeted
producers groups (especially
women) and reputed traders
in the targeted communities
and districts (micro/meso)
3. Indicators
4.Baseline value
and source
Average length of hunger
gap in a year in the targeted
households and districts
V: 2.2 months in a
yr
S: HH survey 2013
V: 4.7
S: HH Survey
2013
V: 8848 Afs
S: HH sample
survey
V: 40%
S: HH Survey
2 months in a
year
V: M=29% F= 33%
S: HH Survey
M= 35%
F=40%
V: 67%
S: HH survey/KII/
FGD
72%
V: 0
S: HH survey/KII
with community
producer groups
2.2 per district
(in 2 districts)
% of women who had at
least four antenatal care
visits provided by a trained
health professional
V: 15%
S: HH Survey
2013
20%
% of deliveries conducted by
V: 41%
S: HH Survey
2013
V: 42%
S: HH survey
2013
45%
Improved and diversified
diet (disaggregated for girls
and women)
HH assets index (gender
disaggregated) in the
targeted communities
% of HH satisfied with level
and quality of agricultural
extension services from
District Government
% of males and females who
sell their product in the
9500 Afs
50%
gender)
% of women participating in
financial decision making at
# of market linkages
established between
community producer groups
and district level traders
Improved access to maternal
and child health facilities, for
extremely poor households
in the targeted communities
and districts (micro).
5.2
market (disaggregated by
HH level
Inequality
Outcome(s)
5. Target 2014
a skilled health provider
% of Women of Child
Bearing Age (WCBA)
demonstrating improved
MCH knowledge and
AFG
50%
behaviour in target
communities
% of women attending CDC
meetings who are satisfied
with their level of
participation in the CDC
Improved access for women
to strengthened government
services (micro/ meso).
Improved resilience of target
communities and local
authorities with the capacity
to recover from risks and
shocks (micro/ meso).
Risk and
Vulnerability
Outcome(s)
Access to improved water
and sanitation for extremely
poor households (micro/
meso).
V: 49%
S: HH
Questionnaire;
Beneficiary Score
Card; KII, FGD,
NRMC & CDCs,
WUGs
V: 42%
S: HH
Questionnaire;
Beneficiary Score
Card; KII, FGD,
Social Audits
55%
% of women report using
government services
V: 81%
S: HH
Questionnaire;
KII, FGD,
90%
Percentage of vulnerable
households with more than
one livelihood strategy and
emergency coping strategies
N% of vulnerable
households with more than
one emergency coping
strategy
Number of disaster
preparedness, mitigation
and management plans
developed at community
and district level
% of households using
improved and reliable
drinking water sources in
targeted communities and
districts
V: 64%
S: HH sample
survey and Prog.
M&E system
V: 10%
S: HH sample
survey and Prog.
M&E system
V: 0
S: KII, FDG with
community
leaders
70%
% of households using
sanitary latrines in targeted
communities and districts
V: 12%
S: HH Survey
18%
% of respondents reporting
improved WASH
knowledge & behaviours
V: 47%
S: Baseline, M&E
system, KAP
Baseline & Survey
V: 0
55%
% of women who feel they
are able to actively
contribute to decision
making in local community
forums
# of communities with
signed MoUs with District
Health Departments for
support to provision of
AFG
V: 62%
S: HH Survey
2013
S: KII, FDGs with
community
48%
20%
50% of targeted
communities
have disaster
preparedness
plans
68%
40% of the
targetted
communities
WASH services
leaders
2.1.2
The National Solidarity Programme
Concern has been a facilitating partner of the Government of Afghanistan and World Bank funded National
Solidarity Progarmme (NSP) since 2003. The NSP was created to develop the ability of Afghan communities
to identify, plan, manage and monitor their own development projects. NSP empowers communities to make
decisions and manage resources during all stages of the project cycle. The overall objective is to eliminate
poverty and establish a foundation for improved sub-governance structure by strengthening community
skills that will enable them to define, manage and govern their own development. The communities are
initiating and implementing vital projects, including water systems, micro hydro power stations, road and
bridges. In 2013 Concern moved out of Badakhshan province and Rushtaq district in Takhar province. This
was due to closure of the phase in Badakhshan and in 2014 will consider working in Rushtaq in Takhar, and
Ragistan and Kohistan districts in Badakhshan in case of repeated block grants by NSP/MRRD.
Concern committed to extend its support in 2014 by facilitating community based projects in 234 communities
in Farkhar, Warsaj, Chall and Namak Ab districts in Takhar province. This year’s focus in NSP will be on
women’s participation; including linking women’s participation to the milestones and disbursements within
the contracts. The construction support for communities will also resume with 40% of Farkhar and Wersaj
and 60% of Chal and Namakab communities (approximately 110 CDCs).
Number of beneficiaries: c. 249,882
Objectives:

To empower Afghans to reduce poverty by establishing and strengthening a national network of selfgoverning community institutions and implementing community led development projects
Outcomes:

Improvement of social cohesion by enhancing collective decision-making and action

Improvement of the socio-economic capital of rural communities

Empowerment of the population, especially the inclusion of women in the decision-making process and
implementation of projects
2.1.3
Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
The programme will continue its interventions related to WASH that aim to improve the health status of
communities. These interventions are planned for Takhar and Badakshan Provinces. As in the past, the work
will be community orientated, with Concern providing resources for the physical structures for the water
systems, spring protection and latrines. The existing community structures (Community Development
Councils and Shuras and WUGs) will be provided with training to ensure optimal programme quality and
maintenance. The programme will provide equal emphasis to the Sanitation and Hygiene components of
WASH. The programme will also consider reviewing its subsidy policy and also to look at alternatives for the
more expensive toilets promoted currently in its projects, including social marketing alternatives to enhance
sustainability of these interventions.
Number of beneficiaries: c. 10,000
Objectives:

To sustainably increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation and to improve hygiene practices in
the target areas
Outcomes:

Improved access to potable drinking water

Improved access to safe sanitation facilities

Enhanced health and hygiene awareness and practice and increased HIV awareness
AFG

2.1.4
Strengthened coordination mechanisms at district, provincial and national levels of government
institutions and other humanitarian and development actors
Kabul Programme
Concern has worked in District 16 in Kabul since 2005. In response to the issues affecting women in the
society, Concern’s interventions included a range of socio-economic activities. Based on the success and the
high level of acceptance of these interventions among the targeted communities, and the results of a
contextual analysis carried out in mid 2011, the programme plans to implement a new phase of Action for
Women’s Advocacy on Rights and Entitlements (AWARE) programme. The ultimate goal of this project is to
empower the most vulnerable and extremely poor women in District 16 (D16) in Kabul, particularly the head
of families, to ensure their participation in the development process and their role in household income
generation. While the programme has not yet identified a confirmed source of funding, the anticipated
impact of the programme is to reach 1,500 direct women beneficiaries to improve food and job security,
nutrition, empowerment and increase their participation in development processes and decision making. An
additional 10,000 beneficiaries will indirectly benefit from the programme through the improved socioeconomic status of extremely poor households.
Number of beneficiaries: c. 10,000
2.1.5
Action for Women’s Advocacy on Rights and Entitlements (AWARE) Programme
The programme works on the premise of establishing effective community based institutions to build
meaningful partnerships between men and women in rural communities. Women’s empowerment and
development is at the centre of each component and sectoral intervention of the action. The programme is
implemented in the rural areas of Badakshan and Takhar provinces.
Number of beneficiaries: c. 10,000
Objectives:

Increase in household incomes and food security of the poorest households related to women’s
productive activities

Increase in women’s influence over resource allocation at household level
Outcomes:

An enabling environment exists in the target communities for women to play an active role in
development leading to their improved social status

An increase in women’s control over productive assets at household level

Improved awareness and practice on health, hygiene and nutrition

Increased community acceptance of women’s role in development
2.2 Health
Afghanistan Country Programme is planning to initiate the Health Sector in its programme sectors in the
forthcoming strategic plan. While Water and Environmental Health activities are already incorporated into
the FIM programmes, in 2014 the programme will develop a separate health sectoral strategy, which would
include Public Health, WASH and nutrition. The nutrition component will be initiated in Ragistan district in
Badakhshan as pilot.
Number of beneficiaries : c 10,000 (for nutrition programme will be c. 1,000)
2.3 Education
The Irish Aid funded education programme has been slow to take off ground due to a number of factors
including long delays in obtaining approval from the government. Hence it is still at its inception stage. The
programme has three specific objectives: (i) improved learning outcomes of children, (ii) improved
community and government capacities and accountability mechanism to improve school performance and
education services and (iii) improved child protection at school. In the first quarter fo 2014, the pilot phase of
the project will be completed and the lessons learnt will be considered for replicating the process in Ragistan
AFG
and Kohistan districts in Badakhshan province along with the current programme in Chab and Rustaq
districts in Takhar province.
Number of beneficiaries: c. 7,000
Details of the Education sector programme (2012-2015) are outlined in the Results Framework below:
Intended
Impact
1. Dimensions
of Extreme
Poverty
Assets (and
Return on
Assets)
Outcome(s)
Contribute to improving universal quality education and the elimination of gender disparity in primary
schools in the targeted vulnerable communities of 4 districts in Badakshan and Takhar Provinces
Afghanistan.
2. Programme
3. Indicators
4.Baseline value and source
5. Target
Outcome
2014
Improved service
delivery and
accountability of
education services
(micro)
Pupil to Qualified Teacher
ratio in community based
learning centres and primary
schools (gender disaggregated
by teachers)
V: 74:1
S: Baseline, M&E system
60:1
Grade retention rate of the
boys and girls at community
and primary schools in 4
districts
V: TBD both boys and girls
TBD
Daily attendance rates of
students from grade 1-6
(gender disaggregated)
V:
S: Record from district education
department/Data from School
Register
75%
Gra
de
boys
girls
total
1
100%
0%
80%
2
67%
31%
82%
3
97%
64%
65%
4
63%
56%
39%
5
97%
64%
49%
6
94%
64%
47%
total
84%
43%
60%
S: Record from district education
department/Data from Schools
Inequality
Outcome (s)
Risk and
Vulnerability
Outcome(s)
Improved learning
outcomes of children in
4 district of Takhar and
Badakshan Provinces
(micro)
% students scoring minimum
standard of literacy skills
(EGRA)
Improved child
protection at school
(micro)
Percentage of boys and girls
using sanitary latrines in
community based learning
centres and primary schools
V: Boys: 25%, Girls 15%
# of PTSA, CBE Shuras
V: 1 of 3
participating in regular school
S: Baseline, M&E system
TBD
V: TBD
S: Baseline, M&E system
40%
S: Record from district education
department
3 of 3
monitoring and are satisfied
with school’s safety
% of parents and teachers
Teachers 81%
displaying improved
Parents 75%
AFG
Teacher –
90%
Parents -
knowledge and attitudes in
relation to child protection
S: KAP survey (based on
assessment of 6 key questions)
85%
In complement to the Irish Aid Education project Concern has secured funding from ECHO for the ‘EU
Children of Peace Initiative - Promoting peace and development through education in post-conflict
Afghanistan’. The project will run for 18 months in Kohistan and Ragistan districts of Badakshan. The overall
objective of the project is to contribute to the achievement of universal education and elimination of gender
disparities in education in post-conflict communities in Afghanistan. The specfic objective is to improve
access to and delivery of comprehensive emergency community based education services for conflict affected
children. The project has three main approaches: 1) To improve access to basic education opportunities for
boys and girls in conflict affected communities. This will be achieved through establishment of Emergency
Community Based Edcuation (ECBE) for early years learners and Accelerated learning programmes for those
of non school going age and those who have missed early grade edcuation; 2) Improved quality of teaching
and school management through estabilshment and capacity building of school management commitees
(SMC) , teacher recruitment and provision of learning materials for ECBE; 3) Improving child protection and
safety in schools. This will be achieved through training on child rights, conflict resolution, peace edcuation
and DRR. Safety audits on pysical infrastructure of schools including WASH facilties will also be undertaken
for neccesary improvements. Psychosocial support will also be extended through the creation of child friendly
spaces and initiation of child led recreational activities.
Number of beneficiaries (estimate): c. 3,000 direct 15,000 indirect
2.3
Emergency
Afghanistan is vulnerable to a myriad of natural disasters including droughts, floods, avalanches, landslides
and earthquakes. It is also affected by conflict related emergencies which result in massive displacement of
vulnerable survivors. The team will remain responsive to the needs of people affected by all emergencies. It is
proposed have Concern’s DRR Advisor, to revisit the programme area in 2014 to provide further support to
the programme team in the mainstreaming of DRR across all programme areas and to help the team to revise
Afghanistan’s PEER plan. The current PEER will be reviewed mid-2014.
The DIPECHO supported Community Based Disaster Preparedness project implementatioin will be
continued in 2014 in Yawan, Kohistan and Ragistan districts in Badakhshan province. Started in May 2013,
this 18 month project which will end in September 2014, will help 50 targeted communities in Badakshan to
develop community level response plans based on community’s risk and vulnerability analysis to various
hazards. Community led task forces will be developed in these communities to prepare for any disaster
eventualities and draw response plans. The communitiy led process will be linked with Schools for
institutionalising the CBDP among the community, teachers and children. This project will generate common
methodologies for communty led disaster preparedness and management in Afghanistan programme and the
lessons leant can be scaled up in other programme areas.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation
The results frameworks and baselines conducted for IAPF will be used to track the progress of the FIM and
Education sectors over the lifecycle of these programmes, and hence will guide the programme monitoring
work in 2014 as well. Some of the important events related to M&E that will take place during 2014 are given
below sector-wise.
Programme
Contextual
Analysis
Survey (e.g.
baseline/ mid
line/ end line)
M T Review /
Evaluation
AFG
Internal /
External
Donor (if
Applicable)
Health
February/
March 2014
March/ May
2014
Education
Contextual
Analysis for
Badakhshan in
April/May
2014
EGRA Analysis
for Baseline
2014
February-May
2014
Emergency
Response
FIM
Irish Aid
Internal Review
of Pilot phase of
RESP in
January/February
2014
Irish Aid
April/ May
2014 (PEER review)
DIPECHO Final
Evaluation in
October 2014
Irish Aid
IDEAS Final
Evaluation in
March/April 2014
SWIM II Final
Evaluation in June
2014
EU
ECHO
In addition to these specific events, the M&E unit will continue with the process of the M&E rollout and as
part of this process the following tasks will be completed in 2014.





M & E Tool Kit for Programme Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Learning to be ready by
January/February 2014.
Programme Area Data Base and Management Information System (MIS) to be developed Feb/Mar
Barrier Analysis for Health, Education and WASH and BCC roll out in all program areas
Participatory Monitoring Systems for institutional Building in all CBOs/CDCs promoted by Concern
Worldwide
Programme and sectoral level M&E to be strengthened
AFG