I was hired a year ago to manage the ongoing project in Pakistan as well as the
forthcoming project in Afghanistan. My most recent trip was the inception mission for
that long-awaited Afghanistan project.
On previous trips, I'd seen poverty - in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, but I found
Afghanistan to be particularly desperate and sad. It struck me immediately upon arriving
in Kabul - there is a level of distress that I had not witnessed before. The beggars in the
streets were cold, hungry and very persistent.
The MEDA Afghanistan initiative is a four year project officially starting in April. CIDA
has funded it with $4.5 million and MEDA provides $500,000. In Parwan province, just
north of Kabul, we will be directly targeting 2200 women farmers with the focus on
raising their incomes.
These farmers often have small kitchen gardens and also work on family-owned plots.
The idea is to increase the quality and quantity of their yields so that, first of all, they
have improved food supply for their own families. But ultimately, we want to increase
their production so they have a surplus that, with the help of our program, they can sell in
markets in Kabul - where there is a tremendous demand.
We will be giving technical assistance to the women with regards to horticultural best
practices, and also training them in production techniques and post-harvest processing.
We will facilitate linkages to suppliers, connect with microfinance institutions and
develop relationships with buyers, wholesalers and retailers. We're still discovering who
these players are; our recent trip to Afghanistan uncovered many links.
Our reception thus far has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone I've met has been
welcoming, appreciative and full of hope. The Afghanistan people have a strength of
spirit, with pride and determination. They have had to survive in horrible circumstances
and they've developed a resilience that is remarkable. This determined spirit certainly
bodes well for a successful project - as well as hope for the country, in general.
The years of war are still top of mind for these people. When we were in the village of
Dashetopyan, an older woman greeted us at her home. She told us how honoured she
was to have us there. She told us that this was her 4th home. The previous 3 had been
bombed out.
My family voiced some concern when I took the job - in particular the Afghanistan
component. But they put their faith in me and trusted me to assess the situation.
The truth is, on this trip, I felt safe. We took precautions, the most important of which is
that we work closely with our partner, Afghan Women's Business Council, a local
organization with 20 yrs of experience - so they really have seen it all. And they've
experienced it from a woman's perspective.
But I admit, sometimes in the back of my mind when I was traveling from Kabul to
Charikar (Parwan Centre) there are stretches of road where my mind wandered to
thoughts of potential mishaps and our vulnerability.
I put a lot of faith in MEDA's experience and their track record. I know I would not be
put in a situation that was dangerous. MEDA has a comprehensive security manual for all
of our offices; we've received training on it. We have our additional Afghanistan-specific
security protocols in line.
Furthermore, we're registered with ANSO - Afghanistan NGO Safety Office. They
provide daily Kabul alerts via email, weekly security updates and they host a weekly
meeting at their site which happens to be just one block away from our office. In addition
to their briefings, ANSO's services include a full site inspection of our office with
recommendations on where things can be improved.
We dress appropriately with head scarves (not burqas) and we are respectful and sensitive
to the cultural differences between us.
I believe whole heartedly in what we're doing and I suppose my work in Afghanistan
affirms my 'new' career choice. I am very thankful that MEDA brought me on board.
This organization is really a wonderful place to work. I appreciate our business-minded
approach to addressing the plight of the poor. Our work is desperately needed and I'm
grateful to have the opportunity to contribute.
