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Afghanistan Institute
for Rural Development
:: AIRD ::
,,
Policy Improvement Through learning for Sustainable
Rural Development,,
The
Afghanistan Institute for Rural Development (AIRD)
is conceived and developed as a center
for excellence for policy formulation and capacity
development in the process of rural development. The
institute is structured on the basis of the twin pillars
of Policy Research and Educational Training.
The programs of the two pillars, having an inevitable
reciprocal relationship, are designed on the foundation
of a comprehensive and integrated approach to rural
development.
Background
As MRRD and Afghanistan
as a whole, is transitioning from the initial phase of
emergency relief and emergency reconstruction, many
experts within the Government of Afghanistan and in the
international community have come to the common
understanding that to build on the initial successes and
to carry out future rural development activities in a
sustainable and rational manner, a knowledge-based
mechanism is required so as to build policy development,
program design and implementation on continuous
research, analysis and training, as well as coordination
of research and training in the field of rural
development. The concept of an institute for rural
development (AIRD), therefore, was initially conceived
approximately two years ago. The formal establishment of
AIRD came after numerous discussions on the need for and
the nature of such an institute, commissioning of five
Concept Papers, and wide range of consultations with
stakeholders. In March 2006, a team of experts was
tasked to lead the process of transforming the concept
of an institute into reality. On 11 June, 2006, through
a Directive issued by H.E. Ehsan Zia, Minister of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development, the Afghanistan
Institute of Rural Development (AIRD) was formally
established. Based on the Minister’s original vision,
work began on developing the two main arms of the
institute, namely, Policy Research and Education &
Training, as well as its administrative structure and
governance details.
The goals and Objectives
set out by the AIRD establishment team can be divided in
3 general categories:
1. To prepare the long
term plan and program of AIRD and manage the process of
the establishment of the institute through producing a
Project Document. The AIRD Project Document, would
essentially describe the ways and means for
operationalization of the two major pillars of the
institute (policy research and training), also
containing the organizational structure, governance
arrangement and a business plan for the institute.
2. To undertake a
preliminary assessment of MRRD’s Capacity Development
activities for the purpose of assisting AIRD’s training
approach and curriculum development by clarifying
training needs of the Ministry, explore short-comings
and lessons learned, and building on success stories.
3. To Begin
the process of activating AIRD activities in modest
ways, with the view that instead of a grand opening, the
institute should evolve and expand through undertaking
some training and research activities that fit into the
larger mission of AIRD, as well as locating and
beginning recruitment of a core team for AIRD
administrative, research and training activities.
3rd Training of
trainers course by AIRD and GRM |
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