Amidst a deepening crisis, Afghanaid continues to assist.
In 2023 we marked Afghanaid’s 40th anniversary, and my own 10th anniversary as Managing Director. It was a year in which there was much to be thankful for, yet one beset with considerable challenge.
As 2023 dawned, we were confronted with the Taliban’s shocking ban on all Afghan female staff from working for NGOs. Through January and February, we devised a plan that would allow women to work from home while remotely liaising with female community leaders to socialise projects; select women project participants; deliver training through available technology; distribute equipment and materials; and monitor and evaluate project performance – thereby ensuring the meaningful involvement of women in Afghanaid’s work, by women for women.
As 2023 dawned, we were confronted with the Taliban’s shocking ban on all Afghan female staff from working for NGOs. Through January and February, we devised a plan that would allow women to work from home while remotely liaising with female community leaders to socialise projects; select women project participants; deliver training through available technology; distribute equipment and materials; and monitor and evaluate project performance – thereby ensuring the meaningful involvement of women in Afghanaid’s work, by women for women.
Negotiating with local district and provincial de facto authorities built confidence and allowed our women to visit target communities in person once again.
All the while, we negotiated with local district and provincial de facto authorities to build confidence and allow our women to visit target communities in person once again. Gradually, our efforts paid off, and by year’s end most female project staff were able to meet with female project participants in most locations, most of the time. The continued meaningful engagement of women will remain a top priority and a work in progress; we must be careful, but we will continually negotiate with the authorities for improved access for and to women.
The continued meaningful engagement of women will remain a top priority and a work in progress; we must be careful, but we will continually negotiate with the authorities for improved access for and to women.
Afghanistan, as in the rest of the world, was at last able to look back on the Covid-19 pandemic: most travel restrictions had been lifted and the number of cases in Afghanistan were dramatically down.
The financial and banking crisis that had beset Afghanistan since 2021 began to abate and because of our extensive efforts to establish alternative banking channels, gradually, it became easier and less expensive to move money into and around Afghanistan.
The financial and banking crisis that had beset Afghanistan since 2021 began to abate and because of our extensive efforts to establish alternative banking channels, gradually, it became easier and less expensive to move money into and around Afghanistan.
Dramatically reduced criminality and corruption
The Taliban, in imposing a firm military and police presence on Afghanistan, ended instances of open conflict, giving Afghanaid ready access to all needy communities in our target provinces and at the same time dramatically reducing criminality and corruption.
When the Taliban ended open conflict, it gave Afghanaid ready access to all needy communities in our target provinces.
And, through measured and principled engagement with the de facto authorities, maintaining and explaining our position whilst trying to listen to theirs, we were able to achieve improved relations with local and national authorities, strengthening our ability to resolve bureaucratic impediments, especially those surrounding project registration and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with line ministries.
On the fundraising front, 2023 proved to be yet another successful year, and Afghanaid’s annual spend grew yet again to exceed £19 million, including gifts in kind; meanwhile, our much-improved capacity to generate private donations, especially from the British public and trusts and foundations, resulted in an additional £800,000 in unrestricted funding during 2023.
On the fundraising front, 2023 proved to be yet another successful year, and Afghanaid’s annual spend grew yet again to exceed £19 million, including gifts in kind; meanwhile, our much-improved capacity to generate private donations, especially from the British public and trusts and foundations, resulted in an additional £800,000 in unrestricted funding during 2023.
