BRD’s vision is of an Afghanistan where the entire population lives with improved livelihood, social justice, peace, prosperity, and improved
The on-going conflict has killed millions, and placed Afghanistan at the bottom of nearly every measure in the Human Development
In 2024, more than half of Afghanistan’s population will require humanitarian assistance. Afghanistan’s complex humanitarian crisis is among the most persistent and
BRD as rights-based organization and part of Swedish civil society will continue to be engaged and awareness raising on the situation of human right and development in Afghanistan, through improved communication through its social media platforms, organization events and information sharing through participation in the relevant meeting, seminars and conference both in Sweden and EU in order to generate more support for improving human rights and development in Afghanistan.
BRD has completed a comprehensive communication strategy and developed and action for outreaching to a broader audience. Effective communication with key actors and donors will facilitate better relation with BRD existing donor and partners within EU and can also create new opportunities for partnership and collaborations.
BRD is actively engaged and lobbying and advocacy as part of the Swedish civil society to increase support and encouraging more resources for addressing the key challenges in the way of human rights, peace and security and development in Afghanistan.
BRD has been actively participating in the civil society consultation process for the new 4 years strategy for Afghanistan by the government of Sweden, organized by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and Folk Benedetti Akademie (FBA).
BRD will soon join the CONCOD Advocacy Platform through which BRD will have access to the European Union. BRD is also engaged in advocacy and lobbying in Geneva, recently we have been engaged with ISHR and other key players for providing civil society prospective in the criteria and activities for the recruiting special reporter on Human Rights Defender.
Afghan diaspora program in Sweden
More than five million Afghan nationals are residing outside their country of origin, forming a growing number of Afghan diaspora organizations that implement activities in the fields of integration, awareness raising, human rights and humanitarian aid and aim to contribute to peacebuilding, reconstruction and the solution to the conflict4. There are many individual professionals as well as more then 134 organizations run by Afghan diasporas in Sweden. If mobilized they might have great potential for contribution to achieve sustained peace and development in Afghanistan. The lack of vertical and horizontal linkages, both among the afghan diasporas, Swedish civil society, development cooperation and non-existence of a mechanism or network that can improve and facilitate these linkages as well as mobilize, or and coordinate the engagement of Afghan diasporas in the development cooperation, identified as one of the key challenges by the participants. For raising awareness and increasing understanding of the added value of the afghan diasporas in humanitarian assistance and development cooperation, of the decision makers and afghan diasporas and gap of effective engagement of diasporas in the development cooperation can be addressed by awareness rising, advocacy and lobbying to decision maker in Sweden for including the Afghan diasporas as part of the development cooperation, where the networking for effective collaboration among diasporas and their engagement in both advocacy in the country of residence and humanitarian work and development cooperation will be addressed through establishment of the network of Afghan diaspora:
BRD at the Consultation Meeting on Afghan Diasporas Engagement Policy by the Government of Afghanistan
BRD was part of the consultation meeting on Afghan Diaspora National Engagement Policy with Afghan Government delegation at the side event supported by DRC in Copenhagen, BRD welcomed the development of ADNEF clearly highlighted the need for more support for facilitated diaspora both in Afghanistan and improvement of coordination and communication channels among the diasporas and the responsible people of the government at the Afghan embassies’ in European Countries.
The network can mobilize and facilitate the effective engagement of afghan diasporas in the development activities for Afghanistan, which can add extra resources to the development cooperation and will also provide real insight on issue related to Afghanistan in major policy dialogues and discussions, including media within Sweden. The network will also include a pool of Afghan experts, which can also be used as sources of information and expertise on issue relevant to Afghanistan. The Network of Afghan Diasporas in Sweden is envisaged to be a mechanism through which afghan diasporas in Sweden will be able to actively engage in development cooperation to contribute toward building sustainable peace, humanitarian work and socio-economic development of Afghanistan and serve as platform for effective lobbying and policy advocacy on issues related to Afghanistan in Sweden, in collaboration with other key actors.
Consultation:
In order to get clear understandings of the needs, interests for the network of key organizations, private sector, diasporas and know about the key challenges and lessons learnt from similar networks. BRD has conducted pre-assessment and consultation with key stakeholders, private sector as well as Somalian diasporas, who are the most active diasporas in Sweden, the result of the initial assessment an consultation has clearly stated the needs and interest for the establishment of Afghan diaspora network in Sweden.
Development of Network ToR;
The diaspora network TOR has been developed, outlining the purpose, objectives structure and function of the network. Consultation discussion, have been made with some diaspora organizations, Swedish organizations, such as Forum Syed, Ax Foundation, Mumtaz Integration, Danish Refugee Council. SIDA head of Unit was also informed about the initiative and also ToR was shared. where most of the responses and comments received were positives.
Next Steps:
Awareness Raising on the role of diasporas and consultation on ToR of Diaspora Network: For raising awareness of Afghan diasporas on their relative role in humanitarian work and development cooperation, including on the consultation on the ToR of the diaspora network to be established in Sweden. BRD has planned series of consultation meetings with diasporas in larger cities in Sweden, through its focal points in each city. This meeting will also facilitate the discussion on the ToR and also selection of organization who will participate in the meeting for lunching the diaspora network in Sweden.
Organizing Network Establishment Meeting: After completion of consultation and awareness raising the representatives of the diaspora’s organization from the different cities of Sweden will be invited to participated in a network meeting in Stockholm a long with key observers’ organization such Forum Syd, DRC, SIDA and other if interested. The purpose of this meeting will be finalizing the ToR, elect the coordination committee of the network and official launch the afghan diaspora network in Sweden.
Development of Network Strategy: After the establishment of the afghan diaspora network, the coordination committee will work to develop 3-year strategy, to direct the diaspora activities in the upcoming 3 years.
