ACBAR ADVOCAY Strategy
2009 to 2010

Aims:

• To foster an enabling environment for NGOs, particularly ACBAR members, working in Afghanistan
• To encourage and assist decision makers to ensure an appropriate, accountable, and transparent Implementation of Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) which reflect good aid effectiveness and is consistent with participatory, pro-poor and rights based approaches

Problem:
The resurgence of active conflict in Afghanistan since 2005 has seen security significantly deteriorate and humanitarian and development access decrees, with dire consequences for the Afghan people. In 2007, 89 NGO staff were abducted and 17 killed, with over 1, 5000 conflict-related civilian casualties. UN agencies are unable to operate in 78 districts of Afghanistan and much of the South, South East and parts of the East extremely difficult or largely inaccessible to aid workers. In 2008, over 110 NGO workers have abducted and 31 killed. With the predicated intensification of the conflict and Presidential elections in 2009, expectation are for a worsening security and access environment for NGOs.

There are misperception concerning the identity and activities of many NGOs, which often contribute to their security risks. NGOs identity and activities are of the mixed with for- profit private companies, UN agencies, the politics of the Government of Afghanistan and PRTs, if not being seen as directly linked to ISAF and the military efforts in Afghanistan.
This can contribute to a public perception of NGOs that is negative in some instances. NGOs have been accused by some Government officials of being corrupt, not cost effective, wasteful and self serving. NGO workers have also been of spying by foreign forces. This blurring of identities is not helped by UNAMA, the Government of Afghanistan and ISAF increasingly link NGO activities, especially development activities, into comprehensive and integrated approaches to promote stylization in conflict areas where NGOs are portrayed or become part of a counter insurgency or war effort.

Specific Objectives:

• To help foster an enabling environment of NGOs
  1. Secure a favorable and properly implemented regulatory framework for NGO in Afghanistan
  2. Improve appropriate, independent, and impartial funding to NGOs through recognized and proper channels
  3. Facilitate a positive image and clear role and identity for NGOs that is distinct from private for-profit companies, PRTs, the military, UNAMA and other non-NGO actors
  4. Improve security for aid workers undertaking humanitarian and development activities
• To ensure correct, accountable , and transparent implementation of ANDS
  1. Key actors to be engaged with and involve the NGO community in carrying out ANDS
  2. ANDS implantation at the sub-national level to be more participatory
  3. A better understanding of NGOs competitive advantages to assure that independent funding continues alongside the ANDS initiatives

ACBAR's added value:
ACBAR is known nationally and intermittently. It provides information relevant to different stakeholders- the NGO community, the Government of Afghanistan, the donors, the UN, media, researchers, and job seekers and so forth. It facilitates coordination. ACBAR hosts many meetings and sometimes provide and disseminate minutes. It is present at the field level. Give inputs about policies to the government, which APPPA result fed into the ANDS is a good example.
Give important statements on different issues relevant to the NGO community, the poor and civilians. ACBAR mediates between NGOs and military especially the international forces through proper channels. ACBAR is bridge between member NGOs and the government. It can influence the Afghan Government policy maker by direct indirect and indirect contacts through Parliamentarians.

ACBAR's main strengths and opportunities:
ACBAR's track record, reputation and credibility among the aid community have allowed it to voice the concerns of the NGO community with some success, and to coordinate effective response to issue of critical importance to NGO work in the country.

ACBAR plays a key role in providing information to members and to external stakeholders such as donors, multilateral organization and the media.

The NGO CoC is highly regarded by members and seen as a necessary step toward increased professionalism and accountability of NGOs in Afghanistan.

Coordination has been a core activity for ACBAR since its inception, and this function continues to be highly valued by its members.

ACBAR's presence in Heart, Jalalabad and Mazar-e Sharif through its regional offices has allowed for coordination activities to be carried out at provincial and regional level, in areas where there is a strong concentration of NGOs. ACBAR's presence at the sub-national level is an opportunity to expand its activities in the regions, thereby making it easier for local staff of the NGOs and for smaller NGOs based in the regions to benefit more broadly from their membership in ACBAR.