Thread by @SarwarySulaiman

In Afg, between 2012/13, I used 2 head 1 of the most amazing Departments in the National Solidarity Programme (NSP). The WB funded NSP worked in 34 provinces and covered over 90% of the country, including Taliban controlled/influence areas. The NSP had its challenges and problems

Yet, it ws instrumental n creating work, comunity assets, capacities, representation & women engagement @ the vilage level. Due to its success, the WB replaced it with the  Citizens' Charter, a largely similar program although with less perceived reliance on the implementing NGOs

and more reliance on the government capacities at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD)  and elected Community Development Councils (CDCs). The Charter committed to incrementally provide every village with basic services, as part of minimum services

I.e clean water, power, health & education. Since 2016, over 13 million Afghans hav benefitd frm aprxmtly 4,000 subprojects in over 12,000 comunities, creating millions of work hours in villages. The Charter had a rural component led by the MRRD & urban component, led by the IDLG

With the collapse of Ghani Administration, the fate of the Charter is up in the air. I understand MRRD staff working for the Charter are not paid & it is safe to assume the NGOs and CDCs dont get fund 4 community projects. Effectively, this affects the whole of rural 🇦🇫

In the past,literature on counter insurgency has shown that decreasing economic activities are likely to force people take less thn optimal & highly undesirable routes. A vst rural population, most young, is likely 2 serve as a breeding ground 4 the insurgency narrative/funding.

Othr undesirable outcomes R significant influx of Afghans & humntrian crisis. Partly, tis can b mitigatd by continung the Charter, & 2 find middle ground btwen suffering communities & donor community's stringnt rquiremnts.Time 2 hlp z now #AfghanistanDisaster #afghanishtancrisis