Afghanistan and Germany start new policy forum in Kabul

A new initiative started in the capital, Kabul, to foster cooperation in the governance sector between the German and Afghan governments and development stakeholders. Designed as a think- and do-tank, the Governance Forum Afghanistan “Govern4Afg” was launched by German and Afghan partners to establish a joint platform for policy dialogue on governance topics in Afghanistan. Researchers and policy-makers from both countries will provide input to encourage talks and an understanding between stakeholders aimed at strengthening cooperation in developing the governance sector.

Based on requests from partners involved in Govern4Afg, Afghan-German expert teams will together develop policy papers on specific research questions related to the needs of Afghan-German cooperation in the field of governance. Various events for dialogues and exchanges will connect stakeholders throughout the process and lead to two annual high-level Afghan-German symposiums in 2015 and 2016, with up to 100 senior representatives taking part.

Mr. Gerhard Sippel, Deputy Country Director of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Afghanistan started the rounds of talks by stating, “Afghan-German Cooperation considers good governance a key priority, running different projects with various partners. Today’s event marks a new period of coordination among all stakeholders towards establishing good governance in Afghanistan.”

Mr. Mir Ahmad Joyenda, deputy director of Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) highlighted the importance of this Afghan-German initiative, saying “The Governance Forum Afghanistan “Govern4Afg” was launched by German and Afghan partners to establish a platform for policy dialogue on governance topics in Afghanistan. It brings together Afghan and German experts, practitioners, academics and decision-makers to jointly develop evidence-based policy papers that promote dialogue between Afghan and German policy-makers.”

The Afghan policy-making entities involved in the forum are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Independent Directorate of Local Governance and the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission. On the German side, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and all governance programs managed by GIZ and KfW Development Bank are involved in cooperating on policy topics. More than 30 representatives of these organisations participated in yesterday’s kick-off event and took the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics relating to good governance.