4 April 2010 - The United Nations Environment Programme in Afghanistan has been honoured with one of the country’s highest awards.

President Hamid Karzai has awarded the Order of Malalai to UNEP’s Country Director Belinda Bowling, who has worked in Afghanistan for more than six years.

At a ceremony today Afghanistan’s Vice-President Karim Khalili, presented the medal to Ms Bowling on behalf of the President.

“I am greatly honoured and humbled by the award of this medal, which I accept with immense gratitude on behalf of the dedicated, hard-working and passionate UNEP Afghanistan team,” said Ms Bowling.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has had a country-level presence in Afghanistan since 2003.

During this time, UNEP has worked closely with the Government – especially the National Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock – to develop environmental and natural resource management capacity at the national, provincial and community levels.

Prince Mostapha Zaher, Head of the National Environmental Protection Agency said: “This is one of the highest Orders that a civilian can obtain for services rendered to the country by a Presidential Decree. You deserve nothing less than the Order of Malalai. Malalai was a legend in her own time. She is respected to this day as a courageous, visionary, humble yet tough, and above all, a pious Lady with great leadership and inspirational qualities. I believe that you have all of those qualities.”

“With minimal human and financial resources, the UNEP team has achieved in seven years much more than many ever thought possible” said Ms Bowling.

“The close and collaborative relationship with our Government partners has been a key factor in this success. After six and half years working here, hauntingly beautiful Afghanistan and its wonderfully kind, hospitable and generous people will always have a special place in my heart. This is not the end of my service to Afghanistan; it is merely the end of the beginning,” she added.

UNEP and its Government partners are acutely aware that the vast majority of the Afghan population, particularly in rural areas, is entirely dependent on an increasingly degraded natural resource base to survive and meet its basic livelihood needs.

Improved management of natural resources is a necessary precursor not only to poverty-reduction, development and longer-term prosperity; but also for peace, given that so many local level disputes are triggered by conflict over access to natural resources.

By Dominic Medley, UNAMA

Website: UNEP