To broaden the impact of AKDN civil society activities, the Civil Society
Programme -- previously a focus area of the Aga Khan Foundation -- has now
been formally extended to encompass all the AKDN agencies. The scope of
the programme has also been widened in order to increase the positive impact
of a wide array of organisations that have a presence in public life. Please
see below for Strategy, Objectives and Stages of Implemenation.
As Afghanistan struggles to rebuild a society which can supply its people’s needs after years of conflict, one of the most widespread and persistent complaints is of corruption and the lack of accountability in government. Social audits, which are carried out with the agreement of the community development council and the community, allow local people to "audit" how funds are used, pose questions about the progress of a development project and ask about staffing and maintenance costs. More
News Archives
Partnering with Governments
01 April 2007 - In Afghanistan, AKDN is a facilitating partner of the Government’s National Solidarity Programme (NSP). Under the NSP, AKDN assists villages in establishing village-based Community Development Councils, electing an accountable and transparent Council leadership, formulating village development plans, and prioritising village needs.
Responding to Emerging Challenges
01 July 2007 - When restoring Baltit Fort, in Hunza, Pakistan, it was the aim of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to use the restoration as a catalyst for the generation of new employment opportunities, the provision of training in jobs that were needed for a changing economy and the creation of new forms of governance to maintain and protect the area’s rich cultural heritage.
Strengthening Civil Society
01 December 2007 - Although democracy has been growing in the developing world, the UN still categorises 40 percent of its member states as "failed democracies". It has become clear to many governments that successful states require more than the introduction of democratic elections and political parties. Civil society, particularly indigenous NGOs, must play a central role in promoting good governance and accountability.
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Strategy
To build and strengthen the civil society sector in 8 countries so that
it becomes an important engine for development: to build a civil society
in those countries which will improve the quality of the lives of people
there.
Objectives
Building and strengthening the civil society sector:
- Conducting CSO Surveys
- Building the capacity of quality CSOs
- Building public approbation of CSOs
- Building greater collaboration between CSOs and national Governments
- Building greater collaborations between CSOs and Local Governments
Building a civil society:
- Building institutional integrity in development organisations
- Developing civic education curricula
- Building corporate social responsibility
Stages of Implementation
Stages of Implementation progress at different speeds in different countries,
depending on local circumstances, and local partners, but include:
Stage 1: Identify expertise and competent actors in 8 components and 8
countries: bring together CSOs and Government officials to map actors and
accomplishments, research and document this, and disseminate it widely
Stage 2: Building on the collaborative work of Stage 1, establish and support
Working Groups of CSOs and Government to identify blockages holding back
objectives, and overcome them
Stage 3: Building on the collaborative work of Stage 2, achieve changes
in policies and practice, and attempt to institutionalise them.
Stage 4: Building on Stage 3, back this up with capacity building and learning
from comparative experience.
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