KABUL - Enhancing the credibility of Afghan civil society organizations by certifying them against locally defined and internationally recognized standards is behind a new certification process launched in Afghanistan’s capital this week.

The voluntary certification initiative, backed by the Afghanistan Institute for Civil Society (AICS) and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), is expected to improve the organizational performance of civil society organizations and their credibility in policy debates.

AICS was a concept that emerged in 2007, and has been incubating in Afghanistan’s civil society community as a way to gain more formal recognition by government entities, the private sector and donors. In early 2014, AICS officially took shape and has been working toward several objectives, including the just-launched certification programme. The organization is supported through a partnership between the Aga Khan Foundation and Counterpart International under a wider USAID-funded Afghanistan Civic Engagement Program

More than 60 people attended the launch, including Minister of Economy Abdul Sattar Murad, Member of Parliament Fawzia Koofi and Afghan Civil Society Forum Managing Director Aziz Rafiee. Also attending were representatives of civil society organizations, civil society and legal activists, and representatives of the Agha Khan Foundation.

Mr. Murad called the launch of the certification programme an important step in the promotion of civil society: “Empowerment of civil society is a priority for Afghanistan.”

He said a stronger civil society can lead to several benefits for the country, including improved laws, stronger human rights, more transparency, better national unity, and additional momentum toward greater peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Ms. Koofi, who is also the Head of the Women’s Affairs, Civil Society and Human Rights Committee in the Lower House, welcomed the initiative.

“Previously, there was a misconception that only men are part of civil society, but now we witness the significant participation of women, which is a crucial improvement in this sector,” she said.

Mr. Rafiee highlighted the important role played by the international community in strengthening Afghan civil society: “We need improved civil society based on international standards to be able to help address the current problems in the society.”  

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party.

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