Development Governance Working Group meets to shape Afghan health infrastructure and education

The 5th Development Governance Working Group (DGWG) took place today in Camp Arena, Herat province, western Afghanistan.

The RC-West Development and Governance Working Group (DGWG) was established by ISAF Regional Command-West to provide Provincial Governors, Key Development stakeholders, and Regional Command – West Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) a tool to synchronize projects and develop strategies to fill gaps within the RC-W area of responsibility.

The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Fazel Rabani, Minister of Public Health office representative, Dr. Abdul Ranaf Sherzad, Director of Water and Irrigation, Abdul Hadi Kashif, Vice Minister of Transportation and Civilian Aviation (MoTCA), Eng. Said Mehdi Saidi, and Minister of Education, Abdul Wassay Arian.

Herat province was represented by Herat Provincial governor, Dr. Daoud Saba, Gohr provincial Governor, Dr. Abdullah Haiwad, Badghis Governor, Delbar Jan Arman, and Farah Director of Economy Zahir Khadem.

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was represented by RC-West Commander, Bg. Marcello Bellaccico (ITA army), RC-West Chief of Staff Col. Ibaňez (ESP Army), RC-West Deputy Commander for Stability Col. Tessaro (ITA Airforce), and the 4 PRT,s Commanders.

“This is the fifth edition of this DGWG with the aim to synchronize Ministers and local authority’s efforts to develop partnership programs. We have a lot of potential but it is our responsibility to achieve results” said Ibaňez.

Colonel Tessaro explained the 5 main goals of the DGWG: first is to expand and improve transportation infrastructure. Second is to increase local supplies and availability of electrical or any other sources of power, starting with electricity. Third increase access to and delivery of water for domestic, agricultural and sanitary needs. Fourth is to increase and guarantee availability of health centers, and the fifth is increase and guarantee availability of schools.

Dr. Said Mehdi Saidi explained the Education Strategies and Development Programs for the 4 different western provinces during the year 2011. The program will cover the general and Islamic education, the teacher education and improve literacy in each province.

Dr. Saba addressed individually to each of the GIRoA representatives. “This is a very important meeting for us to share experiences; Herat’s security depends on security in the other three provinces; a road for Gohr it is also a road for Herat” said Saba.

“I am a little disappointed with the policy of the Minister of Education. We have the same number of schools as the province of Gohr, but Herat has 3 million inhabitants while our neighbors are only 800.000. This is an example of a bad distribution of funds and projects,” said Saba.

“I am really thankful with the International Community for the project they are developing in the Herat international airport. I expect the same cooperation from the MoTCA respecting the Highway one project. This project can not wait, because the transition project will start soon and Herat is going to be one of the first provinces to achieve it, “continued Saba. “Some of our districts have great potential, like the agriculture in Obeh. But in order to take benefit of them, we need a competent communication plan”

The Governor of Gohr province was the most critical towards the central government policy. He stated that his province has a great lack of electricity despite access to three big rivers. “The quality of the projects done by Kabul in my province it is really poor. Roads in Chagcharan are full of holes, our airport it is not even paved, and 149 of our schools have been provided only with 4 walls” said Haiwad. “I will not permit this kind of contractors to enter in my province any more. I am not searching for fish, what I am requesting here is help to start improving the development in my province,” continued Haiwad.

“I am really thankful to the kindness of Dr. Saba, always hosting these kinds of meetings and activities, but I also believe that next time you we should meet in Gohr in order to see a different picture” said Haiwad.

After representatives spoke, two working groups were established in order to develop partnership programs concerning governance and development. One group consisted of Farah and Badghis Governors together with their respective PRT commanders. The second group was made of their counterparts from Gohr and Herat.