Aga Khan Development Network: Social Audits in Afghanistan

Kalan Guzar, Afghanistan, 07/06/2009 - 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.

	The entire village of Kalan Guzar turned out for the social audit meeting which was held in a big compound next to the school and the clinic. - Photo: AKDN


	On a map of the village, women indicate whether they receive an adequate supply of electricity from the new mini-hydroelectric generator – one of the two development projects they came to audit. - Photo: AKDN


	The social audit, which has been used successfully in India by communities to monitor the implementation of development projects, was introduced to increase transparency and accountability among community development councils. - Photo: AKDN