PAST PERFORMANCE Research, Assessment, Evaluation and Socio-Economic Survey

Transcription

1 TADBEER Consulting PAST PERFORMANCE Research, Assessment, Evaluation and Socio-Economic Survey HEALTH SECTOR RESILIENCY (HSR) PROJECT-2016 Client: Palladium Provinces: Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Herat & Nangarhar The USAID Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) Project supported the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to implement critical sector-wide reforms that will be required to increase the resiliency and self-sufficiency of the health sector and move towards sustainability. In addition, the HSR Project primarily focused on improving the health sector s stewardship, governance, financing, and human resources. This project was multi-layered and had to go through different phase. For achieving the objectives of the project, Tadbeer orderly assessed the Procurement and Finance Directorates systems and procedures, conducted staff Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) and contributed in conducting Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA). The overall objective of the assessment was to evaluate the functions of MoPH Procurement and Finance Directorates, including procedures, systems, roles, and responsibilities, and to identify gaps and challenges that the staffs face in both directorates. The findings of the assessment highlighted several institutional and staff capacity-building gaps and recommended the client and the MoPH to bridge the gaps through needs-based trainings and develop the required SOPs and Operational Manuals. EVALUATIVE STUDY OF THE AGA KHAN FOUNDATION S MULTI-INPUT AREA DEVELOPMENT (MIAD) APPROACH TO 10 YEARS PROGRAMMING Client: Aga Khan Foundation Province: Badakhshan This project was designed to identify the achievements gained in the Afghanistan Province of Badakhshan over the last decade ( ) by assessing the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of AKF/AKDN s evolving MIAD approach; and also to make recommendations for the use of the MIAD approach in Badakhshan in order to inform future planning and programming by AKDN in Afghanistan and in other countries. 1 Page

2 In essence, this study focused on the genesis of a particular development idea; the degree to which it has been translated into practice; the question of how this practice was integrated (or not) into the organizational culture and operational procedures of the AKDN; and finally, what difference it may have made in the life people in Badakhshan Province. While this study draws on sector-specific evaluations of AKDN initiatives undertaken at different points of time over the past decade or so, its principal focus was on understanding the degree to which the various parts of the larger MIAD fit together (or not), and, ideally, add up to something more than the sum of their individual components and impacts. The methodology for this comprehensive research was including implementation of more that 20 focused group discussions involving more than 400 male female participants, more than 60 key informants interview, involving program staff, senior district, local businesses provincial, national government officials, donors, operating NGOs and civil society organizations, and personal observation of the research teams. The field research was implemented by a team of senior male and female researchers who extensively traveled to the eight selected districts of Badakhshan province. The final report was submitted to the Aga Khan Foundation USA. DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TVET SCHOOL IN URUZGAN Client: GIZ Province: Uruzgan The first task under this project was desk review of the existing government and nongovernment document of code of conduct, SOP and other necessary procedures for TVET schools. A team of two senior consultants carried the desk review of the obtained documents, including the TVET strategic plan in MoE and relevant documents and highlight the key aspects. The desk review was conducted with the aim of widening the perspective of the project staff. The second activity was taking on-board the project stakeholders through a consultative process in the form of workshop that involved presentation, brainstorming, breakout sessions, and plenary discussions on various aspects of the Code of Conduct and SOP This consultative process was facilitated by a team of two senior consultants in Trinkowt. The participants were including; i) The LGU/ Provincial Education Director and his other Senior Staff, ii) School Management, Formal TVET Teacher, non-formal TVET Instructors, Student Representatives and Members of Education Committees. Development of Code of Conduct and SOP was the third activity implemented by Tadbeer under this project. Taking into consideration the highlights of desk review, 2 Page

3 inputs of the consultation workshop the mentioned documents were developed by a team of two professional consultants of Tadbeer. Both documents were submitted to the client for review and comments and after the incorporation of comments the final documents were translated into Pashto and Dari and all three versions submitted to the client in time. The developed SOP was a comprehensive document covering; staff recruitment, HR management, financial management, procurement, inventory management, student enrolment and certification of the student. These aspects are in line with the government laws and other aspects for which there is no government law and has in accordance with the existing MoE procedures and international best practices. The final activity was training of the TVET management, instructors and senior staff of the provincial education department on the COC and SOP handbooks. A one-week classroom training was followed by another week of coaching and mentoring of the participants was conducted in Trinkowt. During the coaching and mentoring, a process of learning by doing was applied that enabled the concerned staff to apply their newly acquired knowledge into the work environment. FOCUSED GROUP DISCUSSION ON YOUTH ELECTORAL ATTITUDES Client: Democracy International (DI) Province: Kabul In order to determine the youth political participation and electoral attitudes in Afghanistan, Tadbeer implemented a multi-phased research project. The first phase was conducting extensive focused group discussion; as a rapid assessment, semi structured data gathering method in which a purposively selected set of participants to discuss issues and concerns based on a list of key themes drawn up by the researcher/facilitator. The purpose of the first phase was to determine the exact research indicators and to collect first hand data to guide the development of questionnaire for conducting an Afghan Youth Survey Tadbeer has successfully conducted 8 FGDs with youths of different social/educational backgrounds; male/female university students, male/female civil society activists, educated, uneducated, media and government representatives. More than 300 youths of different gender have actively participated in FGDs; shared their views on youth political role, challenges and opportunities. FGDs have been transcribed in local language and translated to English by Tadbeer research staff. Transcription of each FGD has reached to 80 pages of very useful data. The transcriptions were done with complete synchronization to the audio file handed over to the client. 3 Page

4 NATIONAL YOUTH SURVEY Client: Democracy International (DI) Provinces: All 34 provinces Tadbeer conducted the fieldwork for data collection on youths electoral attitudes. A total of 84 enumerators (42 male and 42 female) were deployed. 36 quality-control officers were dispatched to verify the quality fieldwork on the spot. At least one quality-control officer was deployed in each province. At each sample point, enumerators and team leaders picked easily recognizable landmarks, such as a village shop, school, clinic, water well or mosque, as the starting point of the survey. In urban areas, enumerators walked in an assigned direction, stopped at the third street on the right hand side and selected the first house on the right. Systematic random sampling was used for selection of households by dividing the total number of households with the total number of sample units (to 10) with an assigned random start. In settlements with more than 100 households, a fixed interval (10) was applied to account for the sampling distribution within the settlement. Similarly in rural areas, enumerators turned right from landmark starting points and selected the third house. Interviewers used a Kish grid to randomly select household youth members from age groups. A Kish grid was drawn with instructions on the first page of each questionnaire for enumerators to utilize while selecting the respondents in the field. Substitution of respondents was allowed in accordance with the Kish Grid. Interviewers were instructed to move on to the next right side house if the respondent refused to participate or were not available after three callback attempts. During fieldwork, 96.9 percent of interviews were completed on the first attempt, 2.8 percent on the second attempt, and 0.2 percent on the third attempt. Using a comprehensive questionnaire consisting of 65 main and 24 follow-up questions altogether 5020 interviews were conducted throughout the country. This National Youth Survey was including 4020 interviews conducted at the household level with male & female youths that were further divided between urban/rural male & female participants. In 80 urban districts, 1484 household interviews were carried out of which 735 involved female and 749 male interviewees. Similarly in 86 rural districts, 2536 household interview were conducted. In rural settings 1241 interviews were conducted with female respondents and 1295 male respondents. The interviews conducted at the household levels involved both educated and illiterate respondents. An additional 1000 individual interviews were also conducted with university male & female students of public universities in more than 20 provinces The findings of this survey came out within an inclusive report that was officially released by Democracy International. 4 Page

5 The following key findings were presented in detailed report: Youth are more concerned about their economic status than politics. Students are more interested and engaged in the political sphere than the general youth population but few young people are actually politically and civically active. Young women face more barriers to political participation than young men. There is a crisis of confidence in the government among Afghan youth. Youth are committed to the rule of law, but frustrated with corruption. CAPACITY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF SCHOOLS IN SELECTED PROVINCES Client: GRM/DAFA Provinces: Badakhshan, Kabul and Uruzgan The project assessed the impact of natural calamities, security issues and attacks on school operations with regard to formulating emergency prevention, preparedness and response strategies. This research project involved field research in 24 schools in the province of Badakhshan, Kabul and Uruzgan. The field research was successfully conducted and the data analysis and preparation of the final report was completed in January The main purpose of this research project was to help the Ministry of Education develop a comprehensive strategy for effectively handling natural and man-made disasters affecting the schools and communities. IMPACTS EVALUATION OF CLUSTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (CCDC) NSP PILOT PROJECT Client: Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development MRRD Provinces: Nangarhar, Balkh Bamyan This project was joint venture between Tadbeer and the department of Post War Reconstruction Unit (PRDU) of University of York in United Kingdom. The main objectives of this impacts evaluation were; (i) overall impacts of the CCDC Pilot Project in improving socio-economic welfare, social cohesion and local governance for development;(ii) assess impacts of key design variations introduced in the project on development outcomes;(iii) assess the interaction of the project with pre-existing contextual factors;(iv) analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the CCDC modality;(v) identify the challenges and risks entailed in implementing CCDC processes at a wider level;(vi) provide policy recommendations on how the challenges and risks entailed in scaling-up CCDC processes can be addressed; and,(vii) recommend changes to the CCDC Pilot Project s design and/or implementation mechanism, should the project be scaled-up in spite of risks and challenges. 5 Page

6 This evaluation was entirely qualitative in nature, and conducted in the form of Focused Group Discussions FGDs in three provinces Nangarhar, Balkh and Bamyan six districts covering nine Cluster Community Development Councils CCDCs, 27 CDCs. All together 150 FGDs with village men and women were conducted in the three provinces in order to collect the most reliable first hand data from the involved stakeholder. In this multi-layer study, members of District Development Assemblies (DDAs), District governors, Facilitating Partners of NSP and provincial representatives of NSP were also interviewed in order to cross-check the field data. The field data were further consolidated by elaborative and comprehensive case studies, focusing on crucial research variables, cause and impact of the success and failure stories. All the sample points were mapped by Tadbeer s technical team, with emphasis on all those crucial points in social demography of the surveyed communities. The analysis and findings of this impacts evaluation have been compiled in the form of an inclusive research report of more than 200 hundred pages; addressing insightful results, findings and corrective recommendations. STUDY OF NSP'S IMPACTS ON IDP/REFUGEE RETURNEE REINTEGRATION Client: MRRD Provinces: Nangarhar, Kabul, Balkh, Kunduz, Kandahar & Herat On behalf of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit at the University of York, in the United Kingdom, prepared a "Study of NSP's impact on IDP/Refugee Returnee Reintegration in Afghanistan". The study analyzed the NSP's strategic design and how this has impacted the return and reintegration of returnees and IDPs; and, the impact of NSP initiatives at the grassroots community level. Tadbeer was a vital partner in this study and contributed by conducting field research at the provincial, district and community levels, using local expertise and knowledge in each location. Tadbeer carried out research in six provinces and with key stakeholders in Kabul. A highly collaborative and participatory approach was adopted, which allowed Tadbeer to conduct highly qualitative social research, resulting in the collection of high quality data. Focused group discussions and semi-structured interviews were utilized throughout with 410 interviews conducted with IDP and returnees families, along with a control group of families that had never been displaced. A comprehensive report was produced indicating that the NSP has had a positive impact on the return and reintegration of returnees; the authors made a number of core recommendations with corresponding actions to address existing capacity gaps. 6 Page

7 TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF LOWER KOKCHA Client: SNC-Lavalin International Inc. Province: Kunduz As per ToR for the project, the Topographic Survey of Lower Kokcha as well as a comprehensive social and agricultural survey in Kunduz province were subcontracted to Tadbeer Consulting by SNC-Lavalian International Inc. with the below details of the project: Control network of reference points and permanent benchmarks have been established both in Archi and Shahrawan districts and these benchmarks actually served as a basis for the topographic surveys of structures and canals. The datum of elevation and coordination used for this purpose had been in accordance to the national cartographic network. As part of the activity, horizontal coordinates (X and Y) using GPS and Total Stations were determined and accuracy of the coordination were verified at the same time. Three different types of benchmarks were established as part of the survey; 1) on existing structures, 2) a 50cm PVC pipe filled with concrete and a 50cm iron rod placed at a depth of about 40cm, and finally, 3) at key locations where there is no permanent structure around, for example end of a canal. Topographic map of intake site at a scale of 1:500 and 1:2000 (A3) and 1: 1000 (A1) have been prepared for both the Archi and Shahrawan intake and canal. The maps covered the area between the river and the distribution canal, escape canal and downstream of the head regulator, the irrigation canal, and extended from the entrance of the intake canal to the mouth of the escape canal. COMPERHENSIVE SOCIAL & AGRICULTURAL SURVEY Client: SNC-Lavalin International Inc. Province: Kunduz Tadbeer Consulting conducted comprehensive survey of social and agricultural aspects of Kunduz province. The methodology applied in this survey was focused group discussions, household and individual interviews as means of data collection. Tadbeer fielded 20 senior male female researchers who collected both qualitative and quantitative date from several districts of Kunduz province. The analysis of the data was carried out by the client. 7 Page

8 CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF RUSTAQ DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING AREAS Client: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Province: Takhar An assessment of the drivers of conflict and emerging conflict risk was undertaken for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The SDC intended to initiate sustainable, conflict sensitive development projects in Takhar without further exacerbating conflict. A five-stage assessment was implemented that required researchers to build relationships and to create partnerships with local community members to conduct a thorough profile of Rustaq; to identify causes of conflict; to analyze the involvement of stakeholders and key actors in conflict situations; to identify the dynamics of conflict in the district; and, to provide analysis to SDC on proposed plans and activities and how the activities would affect prevailing conflict in the district. The second activity under this project was a one training on conflict resolution and do no harm analysis for the staff of the partner NGO working in Rustaq district Takhar province. Tadbeer`s master trainers enabled the staff to apply the do no harm analytical framework on the annual work plan of the organization. PROVISION OF ENGINEERING AND SPERVISON SERVICES Client: ADB / SNC-Lavalian International Inc. Provinces: Kunduz and Takhar Tadbeer as sub-contractor of SNC Lavalian Inc. (Montreal, Canada) and successfully implemented a three-year project on Engineering and Supervision Services to an ADBfunded project on the Preparation and Implementation of Tranches 2 and 3 of the Afghanistan Investment Program Water Resources Development Investment Program (WRDIP) for the Ministry of Energy and Water. This project was implemented in Takhar and Kunduz provinces during Tadbeer s team played a major role in the technical survey, design and preparation of the project documents. PROGRAMME REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT Client: Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) Provinces: Badakhshan and Ghazni The evaluation was intended to assess progress towards the achievement of objectives, to identify and document lessons learned, including lessons that might have improved the design and implementation of the planned NAC IRD Phase 2 program. It was also planned to identify potential project design issues, and to make recommendations regarding specifications that might be taken to improve the phase 1 of the program and to be considered in the second phase. Based on all these, Tadbeer evaluation team studied and assessed the extent to which the 8 Page

9 implementation of the project has been inclusive of relevant stakeholders, and to which extent it has been able to create collaboration between different partners. The evaluation team also examined if the project had significant unexpected outcomes, whether it has been beneficial or faced with detrimental character. Project progress was then measured based on the project s Logical Framework, which provided clear performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. At the end of the project, the key outputs prepared by Tadbeer Consulting for the client was a comprehensive evaluation analytical report which was a stand-alone document that substantiates its recommendations and conclusions. The report was submitted to NAC country team and HQ in Oslo with complete and convincing evidence to support its findings and conclusions. MONITORING OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION Client: FazlLulah Construction and Engineering Company (FCEC) Province: Kabul & Zabul Tadbeer Consulting provided monitoring services to Fazllulah Construction and Engineering Company (FCEC) (Kabul, Afghanistan). Tadbeer s task was to conduct periodical monitoring of the progress of the work, and the quality of the constructed roads by FCEC s subcontractors for the following road construction projects: 1. Construction of Kabul to Bagram road (22KM), Kabul 2. Construction of Qalat to Layshor road (27KM), Zabul 3. Construction of Layshor to Shinkay road (31KM), Zabul Tadbeer assigned a dedicated team of two experienced road engineers for each of the projects. The teams conducted the monitoring missions in accordance with the agreed criteria and work plan with FCEC. Monitoring was conducted on the basis of accepted standards: Did the proposed plan meet the actual plan? Did sub-grade preparation and CBR test result meet the proposed value? Did the structure schedule total the actual number of structures constructed on site? Did the sub-base and base thickness and materials used at the site meet the standards outlined in the drawings and technical specifications? Did the course thickness and the method of preparing bituminous material meet the ASTM standard drawings? 9 Page

10 IMPACTS EVALUATION OF WATER SUPPLY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN THREE PROVINCES Client: DACAAR Provinces: Laghman, Balkh and herat The focus of this research project was to analyze the impacts of the water supply and community development program implemented by DACAAR in the provinces of Laghman, Balkh and Herat. The field research involved more than 100 household interviews and focused group discussions. The most challenging part of the field research was interviews with women beneficiaries of the projects that were successfully conducted. The interviews explored social and economic impacts of the projects on the participating communities and particularly the impact of training courses on conflict resolution. This impacts evaluation was initiated to determine the impacts of the integrated community development projects implemented by DACAAR and to document lessons learned from the field to feed into the future strategies of the organization. ENHANCING CAPACITY OF AFGHAN NGOs THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTE FOR CREDIBLE AND INDEPENDENT NGO CERTIFICATION SERVICES Client: Aga Khan Foundation Province: Kabul To assess the ability of civil society organizations to maintain transparency, accountability and credibility, a survey was conducted among civil society stakeholders to analyse the systems which organizations use to self-regulate. Feedback was elicited to determine the need to create a new civil society institute to certify Afghan NGOs. A baseline study revealed that an institute is necessary to provide certification, as long as it was capable of ensuring efficiency, transparency and accountability of the civil society sector as a whole. Altogether 32 organizations were interviewed, including international NGOs, government agencies and donor partners. Interviews were undertaken and data was gathered using semi-structured interviews. In an effort to gather as much information as possible to raise awareness, build support and elicit feedback about the need for an Afghan civil society institute, researchers went to great lengths to attain the input from a wide spectrum of respondents, using contacts already provided by the Aga Khan Foundation, and contacts researchers had already established throughout their work in the field. The respondents provided the feedback necessary to both encourage the need for a regulatory body as well as the need for an ombudsman to protect the credibility of the institute itself. The findings go to great lengths to support the regulation and therefore the improvement of Afghan NGO performance. 10 Page

11 PROVINCIAL OPERATIONN AND MAINTENANCE Client: World Bank Provinces: Herat and Samangan This project was mainly based on interviews of six sectorial ministries at the national and sub-national levels. The ministries included Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Energy and Water, Public Works, Education, Health and Rural Rehabilitation and Development and their provincial departments in the provinces of Herat and Samangan. The study was designed to obtain an in depth knowledge of the understanding of O&M at various levels of the government, budget planning and allocation process for O&M and control and monitoring system of O&M expenditures. The study also involved a thorough analysis of the government s three-year development and operation budget in relation to O&M allocation and expenditures. COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON THE BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN COUNTRIES AFFECTED OR THREATENED BY CONFLICT Client: Collaborative Learning Projects/CDA and the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) Province: Herat, Logar and Kabul A comprehensive study to develop guidelines for companies operating in conflict zones was undertaken for Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA) and the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB). Tadbeer conducted the research in Herat, Logar and Kabul, each of which was selected due to the presence of factories in communities. 51 respondents were selected at random, all of whom lived in close proximity to factories in their communities. A contextual analysis revealed that similar issues related to gender divisions between skilled and unskilled labor existed in the communities in question, as in other areas of Afghanistan. Similarly, security implications and conflict triggers are not unlike those found in other locations. The study revealed that a profound lack of engagement between companies and communities affected respondents views on the nature of the companies roles in the community. Many expected to be approached out of respect, and due to a feeling of inferiority, community members were reluctant to approach the companies themselves out of the fear that their advances would be rejected. This lack of communication was further compounded by misunderstandings among community members about what the company would provide for the community, in terms of benefits (good quality products, service provision, etc.) and employment (engaging local labor, wages, etc.). Overall, the presence of the companies was well received, as companies were associated with increased wages, better employment opportunities and improved living conditions. The companies, however, also had a negative effect on communities; land was 11 Page

12 transferred for the use of the company and water was diverted from irrigation channels for company use. Further, in terms of policing in the communities, loyalties had been re-assigned in favour of the companies, rather than community members. In this regard, respondents were asked about their rights in relation to the company and the issues affecting them. Findings showed that community members were unclear about their rights and, in many cases, were not aware that they had rights in holding companies accountable for their actions. The report concluded that villagers were rarely given the chance to express their views and, as such, the lack of engagement on the part of government and companies were the most pressing concern. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION STUDIES Client: GTZ Province: Baghlan This project was based on an extensive desk research and very extensive collection of data from three districts on various aspects of agricultural production, crop patterns, income, potentials for diversification of agriculture and economic development. Field data collection involved systematic sampling of the households in the 110 villages with the total population of 169,953 people in Pule-Khumri, Khost wa Fring & Baghlan Jadeed districts of Baghlan Province. A total of 1,068 interviews were administered of which 587 interviews were conducted at the household level including land holding and landless families, 400 interviews with the CDC and DDA members and 30 key informants interview involving provincial /district officials as well as the staff of Agriculture department. At the households level the respondents including male and female were interviewed on various aspects of their livelihoods, sources of income and agriculture. The survey also included focus group discussions with farmers contracted to produce sugar beets. The final report provided policy recommendations for future investments in the districts and to enhance economic regeneration. Factual information from more than one hundred villagers was obtained as a result of a comprehensive study of economic diversification in Baghlan province, concerning the feasibility of sugar production in a newly rehabilitated sugar factory. Attempts were made to determine the investment needs for economic diversification of agriculture in the province. 12 Page

13 CONTINUOUS CONFLICT ASSESSMENTS Client: GTZ Provinces: Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Samanghan, Balkh, Jowzjan, Sar-e-Pul and Faryab Tadbeer undertook three successive rounds of conflict assessments in nine Northern provinces to understand disruptions in state program delivery. The study was sponsored by GIZ, in order to analyze local governance and conflict in the North, to be used as a basis for implementing projects in insecure environments. Tadbeer was hired to conduct a Continuous Conflict Assessment (CCA), via interviews and focused group discussions with key government and non-government personnel in each of the nine Northern provinces. The study focused on three areas: conflict, governance and development. Prior to field data collection a consultative workshop involving a wide range of stakeholders including UNAMA, OCHA, NGOs and other UN agencies active in the provinces was conducted to gain maximum insight about the predominant conflict lines and information on the performance and capabilities of local governance. The feedbacks from these workshops were incorporated in the survey tools. The consultative workshops were followed with field data collections using various survey tools including key informant Interviews, Households interviews focused group discussions and personal observations of the field researchers. Key informant interviews involved wide spectrum of stakeholders prominent among them provincial/district governors, police chiefs, provincial councils members. Household interviews were conducted in randomly selected households both male and female members. Focused group discussions were conducted with DDA/CDC members in the selected districts. In addition, ordinary people in the market place involving local shopkeepers, local restaurant owners and local drivers were also interviewed in each of the selected districts. Key informant Interviews were administered with 8 senior government officials in each of the 9 provinces and districts. Household interviews were conducted in 27districts (3 districts in each province) involving 30 respondents in each district, altogether 810 respondents. In each district between 5 to 8 individual interviews were conducted in the marketplace. This makes a total 216 interviews. The results of the study indicated that although a relatively peaceful situation prevails in comparison to other regions in Afghanistan, conflict over natural resources and the presence of the Taliban hinder development project delivery and execution. Planning and implementation of development programs were severely hindered by localized conflict in Northern provinces, where the prevailing culture of war, poor governance and the re-emergence of the Taliban contributed to disruptions in program delivery. As an example, the findings for three provinces were highlighted here: As a benchmark for implementing future projects in Afghanistan s northern provinces, a provincial level assessment was conducted in Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, Samangan, Balkh, Jowzjan, Sar-e-Pul and Faryab provinces. Analysis focused on 13 Page

14 conflict, governance and development issues in each province. By and large the issues facing the people in all of the nine provinces could be characterized by ineffective governance, clashes between militias fighting for their share of economic and political influence. Some of the focused provinces experienced ethnic conflict that was of greater concern to respondents than the issues of poverty. Poverty and access to illegal weapons were the main drivers of conflict in most of the provinces. Similarly, governance was weak in this area, as most government officials were not accessible, and respondents agreed that education and healthcare facilities were also lacking. Overall, the populations in each of the northern provinces under study were grouped along ethnic lines, which reflected the level of economic wealth and political influence in each province. This triggers armed conflict and governance challenges in each province, as affiliations between jihadi groups and the central government affected local governance potential. In terms of development, health and education facilities were lacking; development workers wishing to address this need which could only proceed with a solid grounding in the local conflict and governance context of each province in which projects were to be executed. 14 Page