ANEC: Geneva Conference on Afghanistan

Geneva Conference on Afghanistan

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Government of Afghanistan & United Nations - Conference on Afghanistan
27-28 November 2018

ANEC as part of Afghan CSOs delegate to Geneva Conference on Afghanistan (GCA) held on 27-28 November 2018 in Geneva is delighted to present the Afghan and International Civil Society Synthesis paper. The paper summarizes the key views and recommendations made by Afghan and international civil society organizations in position papers prepared for the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan (GCA).

The Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United Nations, was attended by delegations from 61 countries and 35 international organizations, and representatives of civil society, the private sector and the media. H.E. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and H.E. Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered keynote addresses. The conference was co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Salahuddin Rabbani, Minister of Finance Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Tadamichi Yamamoto. H.E Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the National Unity Government, concluded the conference

Civil society views are focused on seven major areas of sectorial development in the country: (i) peace and security; (ii) citizen’s rights and protection; (iii) displacement and integration; (iv) governance and corruption; (v) the economy; (vi) development in health, education, agriculture and livelihoods; and (vii) a new way of working: the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.

Given the mutual challenges faced by the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), the international community and civil society in achieving their common goal of developing Afghanistan and improving the wellbeing of its citizens, the following overarching recommendations are offered by Afghan and international civil society:

Government of Afghanistan should acknowledge the importance of civil society — Afghan and international — in furthering Afghanistan’s development, and engage civil society organizations in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and support;
Government of Afghanistan should abide by international conventions and treaties entered into, and strive to fully implement ratified legislation and official policies;
Donors should deliver long-term support to Afghanistan, dependent upon the Government of Afghanistan’s implementation of reforms and attainment of short-term deliverables; and
All actors should realize the humanitarian–development–peace nexus; enabling and supporting the adoption of collective, needs-based and people-centered programming