DUSHANBE, August 7, 2014, Asia-Plus — The Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the University of Central Asia (UCA), which is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase the capacity of civil servants in Afghanistan through UCA’s Local Economic and Community Development (LECD) certificate program, AKDN reports.
The agreement was reportedly signed on August 5, 2014 by Mr. Abdul Khaliq Farahi, Director General of IDLG, and Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General of UCA. The AKDN Diplomatic Representative, Mrs. Nurjehan Mawani, Sharofiddin Imomov, Ambassador of Tajikistan, Avazbek Abdurazakov, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan and Omirtay Bitimov, Ambassador Kazakhstan were present at the ceremony.
Based on its existing programs and regional experience, UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) will develop the structure, curriculum and materials for the LECD program in Afghanistan and train instructors. SPCE has successfully delivered the program to 1,150 civil servants in Kyrgyzstan. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada is supporting UCA to adapt the LECD program for Afghanistan and Tajikistan as part of its Research and Public Policy Initiative.
IDLG aims to deliver the LECD program to District Governors of Afghanistan through weekly sessions over the course of a year, representing 30 credits in the European Credit Transfer System. Successful participants will receive a professional development certificate and a certificate supplement detailing the program of studies completed and learners’ achievements in accordance with European norms.
Over the past three years, through partnerships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance, as well as other government agencies, UCA has provided Afghan civil servants with skills building, networking and research opportunities. UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration conducted training in trade policy and negotiations and hosted a symposium in Kabul on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Regional Trade in Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia Region. This project was delivered under UCA’s Regional Cooperation and Confidence Building in Central Asia and Afghanistan project implemented in partnership with the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development. The project also supported the piloting of a Visiting Fellow Program, which offers civil servants the opportunity to conduct research and network with peers from countries in Central Asia.
The IDRC-supported Research and Public Policy Initiative at UCA has also co-hosted a workshop on policy processes with the Afghan Ministry of Finance which has contributed to the development and delivery in 2014 and 2015 of a policy analysis certificate program to the staff of several Ministries. UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute’s Central Asia and Afghanistan Research Fellowship program is also supporting research\to inform the development of sound policy and programs for the region’s mountainous communities.
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000, by the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan, to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region.
His Highness the Aga Khan is founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve their quality of life, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network’s nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKDN’s underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for non-profit development is US$625 million.
The Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) was established on August 30, 2007 pursuant to a decree by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. IDLG was established to manage, facilitate and lead the overall activities of local government structures in Afghanistan, including Provincial Governor Offices (PGO), District Governor Offices (DGO), Municipalities and Provincial Councils (PCs). The main goal of IDLG is to bring about positive changes in the lives of Afghans by providing good local governance. IDLG is mandated to consolidate peace and stability, achieve development, balanced economic growth and improve service delivery by having good local governance entities with justice and democratic process at the local level.
