Second Development and Governance working group held in Qal'eh-ye-Now

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.31.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan - The second meeting of the Development and Governance working group took place July 31, at the Spanish base "Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo" home to the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Badghis. The conference was facilitated by International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command West.

More than 50 distinguished representatives from the main organizations involved in the development process in western Afghanistan attended the meeting, including: GIRoA, ISAF, UNAMA, Herat´s provincial governor, Badghis´s provincial governor, representatives from Farah´s provincial government and international cooperation agencies such as USAID, AECID and Cooperazione Italiana.

The aim of the meeting was to find tools to leverage development and governance in western Afghanistan and to synchronize projects and develop strategies to fill critical gaps, especially in the fields of education, health and public works. Likewise, the meeting focused on solutions to the daily problems that the development and governance process is facing every day.

The meeting was not conceived as a mere delivery of speeches, but as an open forum to exchange projects, ideas and opinions. Several issues were brought up to be discussed, like road construction, water access, aid management and education.

Col. Gabriel Martinez-Valera, RCW chief of staff, chaired the meeting, and during his opening speech he stated: "this is a valuable occasion to exchange information and ideas to synchronize all the development efforts in the western region, where ISAF is playing an important role and is currently implementing - through its 4 Provincial Reconstruction Teams - 85 projects worth over $12 million".

During the first half of the meeting representatives from the ministries of education, finances and public works, as well as the provincial governors or their representatives briefed the attendees and answered questions. Afterwards, the participants split into working groups at the provincial level, where they dealt with specific provincial issues.

Eventually, every provincial working group shared their outcomes, solutions and suggestions for the incoming sessions of the DGWG.

Dr. Attaullah Wahidyar, ministry of education representative, highlighted the importance of partnering: "We have to plan, implement and take responsibility together. We have a lot to teach and learn from each other."

• Date Taken: 07.31.2010
• Date Posted: 08.01.2010 11:30
• Story ID: 53780
• Location: KABUL, AF