ACDO is dedicated to prioritizing the needs of individuals and assisting in humanitarian efforts by considering their perspectives and aspirations. This approach ensures that its services and assistance are more effective, relevant, and appropriate.
Mission and Purpose
ACDO aims to improve the standard of living of rural communities throughout the country by providing education, capacity building, public outreach, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and income generation support interventions. ACDO also strives to eradicate poverty through project implementation in close coordination with Donors, GoIRA, society, peer NGOs, and the private sector while utilizing resources in a transparent manner.[i] [1]
The organization's main objectives are to improve and sustain literate, well-developed, independent, and prosperous communities. Additionally, their aim is to promote a positive impact on communities by offering essential humanitarian and development assistance to build and strengthen their resilience.[ii] [2]
[i] Job.engo. Asia Community Development Organization. https://job.ngo/organization/asia-community-development-organization
[ii] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
Origins and Development
Asia Community Development Organization (ACDO) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit humanitarian organization based in Afghanistan. It was founded in 2014 and registered with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy.[i][1]
ACDO is active in most parts of Afghanistan and intends to expand its operations to the remaining provinces. The organization aims to become a leading and developed entity that delivers assistance and support to many people affected by long-protracted and sudden on-set emergencies in the country. To achieve success, it is vital to build local trust by offering solutions acceptable in a male-dominated society while complying with traditions, customs, and Islamic values. Additionally, ACDO is committed to empowering women, a significant yet marginalized group in society, by enabling their active participation in civic life and decision-making. The organization maintains close coordination and contact with relevant ministries, departments, and stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels. Local bodies and institutions, including Community Development Councils (CDCs), District Development Assemblies (DDAs), and project beneficiaries, are involved in the project management cycle. This includes initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and closing phases to promote sustainability and ensure an efficient exit strategy. It also helps to establish local ownership of project interventions. Despite the challenging circumstances in Afghanistan, ACDO has delivered humanitarian and development assistance in several provinces, including Nangarhar, Herat, Balkh, Kabul, Kandahar, Bamyan, Wardak, Jouzjan, Paktia, Kunduz, Takhar, Laghman, Daykundi, and Farah during the past seven years. ACDO always adheres to the four fundamental humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality, and impartiality.[ii] [2]
[i] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
[ii] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
Organizational Structure, Membership, and Funding
The organization's activities are overseen by highly qualified staff who work under the guidance of the Executive Director. Their efforts are aligned with the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of ACDO through the implementation of yearly operating plans that are consistent with the organization's strategic plan. The Executive Director is responsible for managing five key departments, which include Program Management, Finance, Human Resources, Administration, Supply Chain, and Monitoring and evaluation. Moreover, The ACDO has affiliations with public NGOs in Afghanistan and receives funding from international organizations like UNICEF, OCHA, and UNESCO.[i] [2]
[i] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
Specializations, Methods and Tools
ACDO is governed by a Board of Directors (BoD) comprising individuals with diverse professional backgrounds, including academics, business executives, and activists from civil society. The members of the BoD are nominated by the General Assembly (GA) based on their skills in management and program implementation, as well as their academic qualifications and experience. The primary responsibilities of the BoD members include ensuring that internal control policies are in place, monitoring the auditing procedure, developing conflict of interest prevention protocols and procedures, monitoring the budget, and reviewing performance. [i] [3] Furthermore, ACDO has a hierarchical structure where employees report to their department head, who reports to the Executive Director. ACDO has 183 paid and volunteer staff members working in Kabul and other provinces. The organization is designed to run multiple projects simultaneously across the country. Each province is managed by a Provincial Coordinator (PC) or Focal Point (FP), who is responsible for overseeing project implementation, representing ACDO and managing activities in their respective province.[ii] [2]
ACDO maintains close coordination with donors, funding agencies, partners, government and local authorities to benefit crisis-affected individuals, local communities, coordination agencies, umbrella organizations, and networking groups. ACDO also shares information and lessons learned from its projects through its Communication Policy.[iii] [4]
[i] Asia Community development org. Board of Directorate. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/about-us/board-of-directorate/
[ii] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
[iii] ACDO. Annual Report. (2022): https://acdo-af.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ACDO-2022-Annual-Report.pdf
Major Projects and Events
The consolidation and expansion of community-based education (CBE) in Laghman Province: This project aims to consolidate and expand community-based education (CBE) in Laghman Province from June 2022 to December 2023.
Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy proficiency rates in the world, with over 12 million adults being illiterate. Although formal education has gradually improved, the literacy rate among adults remains at 34.8%, with vulnerable groups especially excluded. Only 24% of women are literate compared to 52% of men. As a result, 4.2 million learners in the priority group (aged 15-35) urgently need youth and adult literacy and primary education, including pre-vocational skills training. These vulnerabilities have been further exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 and the political transition that took place in August 2021.
ACDO has partnered with AABRAR Support to improve education in Laghman province, Afghanistan's Dawlatshah, Alishang, and Alingar districts. The main goal is to provide education to 3710 boys and girls, with an emphasis on promoting education and gender equality by enrolling 73% of girls. The project involves the establishment of 106 learning centers and the recruitment of 111 qualified teachers. These teachers underwent a 14-day training program that covered topics such as core pedagogy, classroom management, child safeguarding, child protection, psychosocial support (PSS), social and emotional learning (SEL), protection against exploitation and abuse (PSEA), inclusive education. They were also trained in child-centred protective and interactive methodologies, the characteristics of a good teacher and their responsibilities, different teaching methods, types of plans, lessons, and supporting materials, and classroom management.
The project also includes the establishment of 48 School Management Councils (Shuras) (SMC) and training and coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders. Additionally, minor rehabilitation of 106 classes will be carried out as part of this initiative. This partnership is a strategic move towards advancing education in the region and ensuring a brighter future for the children of Afghanistan. Moreover, The project will positively impact 3,710 girls and boys, 111 teachers, 15 staff members directly and an estimated 26,432 people indirectly. Its main aim is to increase literacy rates, create awareness about the importance of education, and contribute to the development of more robust and informed communities. The direct beneficiaries will have access to quality education and the necessary resources to excel in their studies, while the project will provide a stable source of income to more than 120 people, with an average of seven members of families. UNICEF is providing financial support for this initiative, and ACDO is receiving regular guidance and instruction from them to ensure its successful implementation.[i] [4]
Basic General Literacy Program - BGL: The Basic General Literacy (BGL) project began in October 2022 and will conclude in October 2023. The Asia Community Development Organization (ACDO) is responsible for implementing the project to provide quality education to youth and adult individuals in need. Beneficiaries of the project will receive learning materials, including classroom and student hygiene kits, winterization supplies, and learning kits for students. In addition, teachers will receive training aligned with BGL standards, policies, and Literacy Cluster requirements to ensure their capacity to provide inclusive and gender-sensitive education.[ii] [2]
In addition, ACDO has undertaken several notable projects, including the "Providing Emergency Assistance and Community-based Education (PEACE) project" in Takhar province. This project has profoundly impacted the community by providing educational opportunities to 3,000 girls and boys, thereby increasing literacy rates. It has brought about a brighter future for the children and families in the target area, and its positive ripple effect will be felt for generations to come.
ACDO is currently implementing the Basic General Literacy Program, funded by UNESCO, in three provinces of Afghanistan - Samangan, Parwan, and Paktika. The program aims to establish 267 BGL classes in a total of 16 districts in these provinces, catering to 4000 youth and adults over the age of 15 years old. The program is community-based, with a focus on maximizing community outreach and responsiveness. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve adult literacy rates from 34.8% to at least 40%, especially among women and girls, thereby supporting SDG 4.6 targets. Through this intervention, ACDO aims to increase the quality, equity, and inclusiveness of education and literacy opportunities for Afghan youth and adults.
Humanitarian and Emergency Response: To effectively and transparently provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in Afghanistan through long-term interventions.
Development and long-term interventions: To effectively assist vulnerable populations in Afghanistan by creating sustainable, self-sufficient communities with ample opportunities for social engagement, recreation, and a high standard of living.[iii][4]
[i] ACDO. Annual Report. (2022): https://acdo-af.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ACDO-2022-Annual-Report.pdf
[ii] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
[iii] ACDO. Annual Report. (2022): https://acdo-af.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ACDO-2022-Annual-Report.pdf
Analysis and Lessons Learned
ACDO has accomplished numerous milestones by promoting education, literacy, humanitarian activities, and facilitating employment opportunities through various community programs. The organization has established an internship program to enhance the capacity of its employees and new graduates. In 2022, ACDO provided soft skills training for 11 interns. Additionally, the organization has trained and skilled more than 450 community and school shura members in dealing with their children and community members.
In addition, all project activities proceeded smoothly without significant challenges, except for the ban on women. ACDO firmly believes that transparent, safe, impartial, and non-discriminatory humanitarian and development aid is only possible with the participation of women in national and international NGOs. Women's full involvement in all aspects of aid delivery is a principled response and essential for operational effectiveness. The ban on women will have devastating consequences for men, boys, women, and girls in Afghanistan. ACDO, along with all other I/NGOs, demands the immediate and complete revocation of this order. If the ban is not lifted, it will have a catastrophic impact on the provision of assistance to millions of Afghans in urgent need of support, and it will contribute to an increase in the number of people in need.[i] [4]
[i] ACDO. Annual Report. (2022): https://acdo-af.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ACDO-2022-Annual-Report.pdf
Publications
https://acdo-af.org/resources/publications/
See Also
References
[1] Job.engo. Asia Community Development Organization. https://job.ngo/organization/asia-community-development-organization
[2] Asia Community development org. ACDO. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/
[3] Asia Community development org. Board of Directorate. official website page: https://acdo-af.org/about-us/board-of-directorate/
[4] ACDO. Annual Report. (2022): https://acdo-af.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ACDO-2022-Annual-Report.pdf