Volunteerism in Afghanistan (Situation Analysis)

In line with UN Resolution A/RES/70/129 “Integrating Volunteering into peace and development; the plan of action for the next decade and beyond” adopted by the General Assembly in 2015, the member states have already started efforts to undertake the situation analysis of volunteer infrastructure arrangement. This analysis is developed to asses’ volunteerism in respect of its integration to programs and SDGs in Afghanistan.

1.           Conducive environment

1.1      Volunteer related legislation, policies or other regulatory frameworks

There is a draft policy on volunteerism that I in my capacity as Country Coordinator of United Nations "UNV" Program developed/drafted to Deputy Ministry of Youth. It has been agreed by Ministry of Justice to have this law supported in getting it finalized sooner. It was developed to ensure volunteerism is integrated at the policy level and to have a clear plan of action for the volunteers and volunteerism in the country.

This policy provides a platform for the youth, volunteers both individual and organizations to streamline their activities on contributing to the plan of action for 2030 and also open the window to recognize volunteerism as key tool in contributing to peace and development in the country.

1.2      Incentives for volunteers for recognition and promotion of volunteerism

Afghan Governments since ages do observe the International Volunteer Day on 5th of December each year. The notion of volunteerism is not something new in the country, but do exist from so long with different names such as Hashar and Razakar.

The recognition which has been considered is as such that those who contributes are considered the change agent and have been awarded with prizes and other incentives such as food stamp, monetary prizes and appreciation of the Presidents and Most senior officials at the time in the country. 

In Afghanistan we have a huge number of volunteers and volunteers network and groups at Afghan Red Crescent and they do provide support in disaster circumstances. They have been part of the bigger campaigns in the country and are considered the real champion for the nation support and are awarded with many prizes and small incentives.

Famous sports man and women are volunteering to campaign for several activities in the country such as Afghanistan Cricket Board and Cricket Team volunteers for the campaign of elimination of Polio and Violence in the country.

1.3   Budget allocation for volunteerism-related national agenda

In Afghanistan, Deputy Ministry of Youth has a Directorate for Volunteerism. However, they don’t have a big budget only around 3000$ per year. There is no funding of any type to ensure volunteerism in promoted unless there is an aid agency to be able in spending their own budget. I have supported on behalf of UNV Program to ensure that online Volunteers Database is developed and functional and with all the effort in place we could get some budget to ensure that those who manage the database and those who voluntarily maintain and work for Volunteers Network such as Youth Mullah Karwan is supported and sustained; however, that is not the ultimate solution.

1.4     Reflections based on the above

When it comes to peace, the history of Afghanistan showed that it has always been solved through JIRGAs ( elders and head of tribes volunteers to come together to talk about the road map of the peace process and resulted many conflicts to be solved through this way), in addition, there has been a term used by name of HASHAR which means community volunteers to agree on a development plan and jointly work to achieve it and taking that even now many national priority programs such Afghanistan National Priority Programs (Citizen Chartered) urges volunteerism in the programs to ensure development taking in place at the rural areas. This strongly call for local councils at every local (zooming in to the district and village level) to voluntarily be established and plan for their development and contributes to its achievement. Since 2016 around 5000 + shuras (councils) were voluntarily established by people to design development projects and voluntarily support aid agencies and government to its implementation.

Functioning schemes and organizations

2.1: National volunteer schemes, organizations and plans

Hela Ahmar (Afghanistan Red Crescent), Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Directorate General of Local Governance along with Civil Service Commission worked all together for the national volunteer schemes as below:

-         Developing and Approving: Citizen Chartered National Priority Program with the budget of 300+ Million USD. In which 5000 shuras (local councils at the village level) were established voluntarily to contribute to the development of rural areas and brings trust between the people and government.

-         Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs has the directorate of volunteers which has the mandate to established volunteer communities across the country to contribute to peace and development of the country; in addition, they with the support UNV/ UNDP established National Volunteer Database to have more youth volunteers registered and support government in peace and development as and when needed.

-         Civil Service Commission, bring around 2000 interns and volunteers to support them in getting the chance to enroll to the civil service in the country.

Engagement of volunteers in the achievement of SDGs:

Since SDGs are new in Afghanistan, there is no much progress on the awareness of SDGs and Localization of SDGs due to the valid reason despite of UNDP outstanding investment and programs. Since 2016 a number of awareness sessions held at the national and subnational level on SDGs and to ensure these target audience play as volunteers in passing the message to others and to let the families and societies know on the goals of SDGs and how volunteers can contribute to each goal implementation.

Government and United Nations UNDP and UNV Programs worked on the indicators of the A-SDGs to ensure that volunteerism is integrated in the SDG Goals. Volunteers are part of the multi-stakeholder’s engagement and many CSOs were/are currently implementing many volunteer programs.

The notion behind SDGs "no one is left behind" everyone is responsible for the SDGs. Volunteer activities are not paid base and come from free well and thus the result is tangible, the reward you gain is only self happiness and contribution to peace and development.

Mechanisms and tools to collect data on volunteerism

Central Statistic Organization has not yet done any survey on volunteerism, but since now volunteerism is the main issue on SDGs there will be surveys by CSO Afghanistan to collect data. There has been many NGOs collecting data on this topic, but since they are all paid, and are project funded, they data has not been very well verified.

Volunteerism till now in Afghanistan doesn’t have any legislation which makes it a weak topic to be discussed and integrated in the programs and policy documents.

There has been no platform for this and no need since there was no follow up on measuring their contribution to peace and development. Since SDGs are now in discussion and that Afghanistan SDGs are considering volunteers as key stakeholders and tools for the achievements and implementation of SDGs there will be integration in NPPs.

Volunteer data

Afghan Red Crescent Society was established in 1934. Thus, the International Committee of the Red Cross officially recognized Afghan Red Crescent Society as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1954. On 11th November 1955, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies approved Afghan Red Crescent Society’s membership as its 83rd member of the Federation.

Afghan Red Crescent Society is the sole country-wide humanitarian organization that impartially and independently provides relief items to affected and vulnerable people in natural and man-made tragedies. Volunteers are the back bone of Afghan Red Crescent Society. The country-wide network of volunteers enables ARCS to render its services throughout Afghanistan.

To focus on volunteers, ARCS established the Youth and Volunteers Department in 1987. In 1999, ARCS established Organizational Development Department that works in close relation and collaboration with Youth and Volunteers Department. CBF program focused on volunteers’ training at provincial level in 1997. Accordingly, the training process extended to volunteers in district and village level. In addition, focus on volunteers motivate further locals to take part in humanitarian behaviors. Volunteers are the pillar of ARCS. It is estimated that ARCS has registered 46000 of volunteers throughout country.

Accordingly, ARCS can provide relief items to vulnerable people in the most remote areas of country through its wide network of volunteers. ARCS volunteers, in addition to their commitment for rendering services to affected and vulnerable population, are well trained humanitarian social welfare service providers that their goal is to prevent or alleviate human suffering.

ARCS volunteers are the chain of communication between affected people, ARCS and other Movement’s components. Basically, ARCS has five categories of volunteers that work under Youth and Volunteer Department framework.

Registered volunteer organizations and networks:

Afghan Red Crescent Society, Afghan Peace Volunteers, Afghanistan needs you, Alpha Afghanistan and Kara foundations are the famous Afghanistan registered organizations, the Deputy ministers of youth affairs is also the governmental entity for the volunteerism.

Besides, there are 1960 non-governmental, non-political and non-profitable mostly volunteers organizations with the ministry of economy which delivers humanitarian services in terms of  civil society support, rights of citizens, advocacy and good governance in the country.

Red crescent, APT, DMOYA, Municipality Volunteer Board, ACBAR, Champion Groups, Afghan Squads, UN Volunteers, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

The only International Volunteers in Afghanistan are through the United Nations Volunteers Program. We had 200+ in 2021 National and International UN Volunteers worked in Afghanistan according to the data received from UN and are based not only in Kabul but are currently working all the regions supporting UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, UN Mission.