29 August 2010 - Empowerment of women and ensuring their equal participation in decision-making were among the key topics at a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) facilitated meeting last week between the provincial governors of Bamyan and Dai Kundi.

Qurban Ali, the newly appointed governor of Dai Kundi, the province which includes Afghanistan’s first female mayor, met with Bamyan’s Habiba Sarobi, the only female governor in Afghanistan.

In addition to women’s issues, the governors discussed ways to strengthen working relationship between the two provinces. Dai Kundi is one of the poorest provinces in the country and also one of the newest, created in 2004.

Meanwhile, UNAMA coordinated a special UN regional team meeting to focus on programme delivery and expansion of services into Dai Kundi “fully incorporated into the national development programme, like the Kabul Process,” said Heran Song, Head of the UNAMA Central Highlands Region, referring to the process of transition to Afghan leadership and responsibility.

The Dai Kundi governor thanked UNAMA for its support and said that he hoped that sustainability of such exchange programmes will help to improve good governance and strengthen Dai Kundi’s provincial administration and awareness.

By UNAMA