Civil Society Empowerment

Center for Civil Society Empowerment

The United Nations Human Rights Charter demands for the independence and sovereignty of a nation and calls for unconditional opportunities for every nation to practice their ideas and culture freely.

At the time being the most urgent priority of democratization process and consolidation of democracy in Afghanistan is to strengthen and empower the civil society’s entities all over the country by providing virtual and financial support to those civil society organizations that are actively involved in promotion of the civil society values as per; freedom of speech, rule of law, social and economical justice freedom of press and etc…..

Considering this reality that the civil society organizations in every country play a key role in restoring and strengthening of the civil society values, genuine attempts should be made in order to encourage and provide all round supports for strengthening and empowering such organizations.

Capacity building of the civil society organization will enable them to play a better role in the post war recovery in Afghanistan and is a guarantee for their sustainability in the future.

As WASSA is committed to step forward moving to second generation NGO and works based-on international standards, transparency and accountability and more importantly, helps other CSOs in terms of organizational development and build CSOs network. To reach this objective, WASSA in partnering with Counterpart International and USAID is implementing 6-year program entitled Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society (I-PACS).

Building the capacity of civil society organizations (25) selected CSO under the I-PACS umbrella, establishing strong CSO network, supports individuals, communities, and institutions through access to partnership, knowledge and tools to build civil societies, based on individual initiative, civic consciousness and participation. Our key practice areas include institutional development (providing technical assistant to CSOs, building the capacity of civil society representative through organizing workshops on different aspects, advocacy, management, proposal writing and need assessment, gender, community mobilization, and conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution.

WASSA is functioning as Civil Society Support Center CSSC and is responsible to cover the south-west zone consisting of 5 provinces namely; (Herat, Farah, Ghor, Badghis and Nimrooz).

WASSA is partnering with 25 civil society organizations and is focusing to build their capacity and help them in the process of organizational development.

WASSA established network of its CSO and conduct monthly coordination meetings and discuss on hot issues of the month. More importantly, CSOs problems are discussed for further action and resolution if possible.

WASSA provides CSO representatives, students of universities and civil society activist and researchers with a resource center holds café net for internet research, library with more than 5000 books (Dari, English and Pushtu) and a focal point entitles support center officer to provide clients with technical assistance.

In 2007 WASSA provided its partners with 3 trainings on Introduction on Advocacy, CSO and Community and Project Design and Proposal Writing PDPW. Total number of 120 individuals from 25 CSOs has received the trainings.

In 2008, WASSA intends to conduct 6 trainings for its partner on Human rights, General Administration, Human Resource, Book Keeping, Advance Advocacy and Basic Fundraising. Total number of 216 beneficiaries from CSOs partner will receive the trainings in 2009.

Civil Society is the manifestation of empowerment of a nation.