A JOURNEY WITH NOVE
Report of the Vice President’s field visit to Afghanistan
October 20 – November 10 2024

The mission took place in Kabul and in four provinces: Kapisa, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar.
The NOVE team led by the Vice President Susanna Fioretti had 17 meetings with representatives of the Taliban Emirate and it has supervised ongoing projects on the field.

 

MAIN ACTIVITIES

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN KABUL

• Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), which agreed to launch the “SEEDS OF REBIRTH” NOVE’s project for the distribution of hundreds of livestock and technical-financial tools for food processing and start-up of small family businesses for families in poverty; and to which the new project for vulnerable women “GARDENS AND FARMING FOR THE SUSTAINMENT AND AUTONOMY OF AFGHAN WOMEN” (focusing on poultry farms and family gardens) was presented.
• Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) to discuss and obtain the greenlight of the Ministry for the implementation of the “RENEW AND RESTART” NOVE’s project, which support women entrepreneurs through sustainable business development and cash transfer; and to talk about the ‘WOMEN ENTERPRENEURSHIP AWARD” initiative, which support women in difficulty and small entrepreneurs.
• Meeting with the Director of Kabul Economy Directorate (DOEC) to obtain its approval to implement the second phase of the “BREAD FOR WOMEN” NOVE’s project.
• Meeting with the Director of Kabul Traffic Department to discuss about women driving licenses.
• Meeting with the Director of the National Authority Disaster Management (ANDMA) to present the “SAFE COMMUNITIES” NOVE’s project, focused on disaster risk reduction through the construction of boulder walls and the community awareness; and to request its preliminary authorization, which was granted by ANDMA.

 

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN KAPISA PROVINCE

• Meeting with the Kapisa Director of the Public Orphanages and with the Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs (DOLSA) to discuss the extension of the “INVISIBLE CHILDREN” NOVE’s project for the support of the public orphanages.
• Meeting with the Kapisa Director of the Economy Directorate (DOEC) to discuss the “VEGETABLE GARDENS AND POULTRY FARMING FOR THE LIVELIHOOD AND AUTONOMY OF AFGHAN WOMEN” NOVE’s project, which will offer tools and training to women to start poultry farms and home gardens.

 

GOVERNEMENT MEETINGS IN NANGARHAR, LAGHMAN AND KUNAR PROVINCES

• Meetings with the Governors of the three provinces, the Director of the Directorate of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL) and the Director of the Directorate of Ministry of Economy (DAIL) to launch the activities of the “SEEDS OF REBIRTH” NOVE’s project and ensure the safety of personnel.

MEETINGS WITH TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES

• Meetings with Shuras and District Councils to agree on how to implement the “SEEDS OF REBIRTH” NOVE’s project in their areas.

MEETINGS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

• Meetings with UN Women and the European Union Delegation to discuss possible partnership and funding opportunities.

I-NGO AND NGO

• Meetings with international and national NGOs to sign agreements, set up partnerships and explore collaboration options.

 

WOMEN ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS, WOMEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BUSINESSWOMEN

• Eleven meetings in Kabul and in the provinces to explore women’s constraints, difficulties and perspectives.

NOVE’S PROJECTS EVALUATION ON THE FIELD

• Supervision of monthly cash distribution to women beneficiaries of the “DIGNITY” project;
• Home visits and interviews to assess the socio-economic conditions of women beneficiaries of the “NOURISHING AND NURTURING” project;
• Interviews with children from the Kapisa orphanages assisted by the “INVISIBLE CHILDREN” project;
• Evaluation of the English Language Institute and the Kabul Women’s Centre where the teaching activities of the project “EDUCATION, TRAINING AND FOOD SAFETY FOR VULNERABLE AFGHAN WOMEN” take place;
• Five working groups for the planning and implementation of the “SEEDS OF REBIRTH”, “BREAD FOR WOMEN” and “SAFE COMMUNITIES” projects;
• Home visits and interviews to assess the socio-economic conditions of women beneficiaries of the “FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR DISPLACED AFGHAN WOMEN” project.

 

INSPECTIONS IN THE PROVINCES

• For NOVE agro-pastoral projects: oil mill, dairy farms, milk collection center, women’s poultry enterprise.