Case Study

Support to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled in Afghanistan

Client: European Union Delegation to Afghanistan | Sectors: Social Policy

With a team of 12 experts, Ecorys supported the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) in Afghanistan to improve service delivery to vulnerable groups by:

• Supporting the development of new policies and create the needed strategy for implementation;
• Supporting the Ministry in taking a more active role in coordinating services by mapping and collaborating with all NGOs;
• Improving the service delivery of social workers and social care workers.

At the grassroots level, donor funding is directed through NGOs via a multitude of grants and agreements which are difficult to track. The project aimed to support MoLSAMD to improve donor coordination across the social protection sector under the leadership of the Department for External Relations.

In order to strengthen the understanding of the Ministry and of Development Partners in relation to the policy context, we also conducted two studies: one study examined traditional forms of social assistance in Afghanistan and the other study examined the role and function of orphanages and children’s homes. Here there existed concerns about abuse and about “ghost” facilities as well as those which do not primarily focus on disadvantaged children.

We worked jointly with MoLSAMD staff to develop a Social Protection Strategy and accurately cost policy initiatives to ensure these are proposed to the Ministry of Finance and adequately budgeted. We supported the Ministry in taking a more active role in leading and coordinating the delivery of services through NGOs. Finally, we designed a national qualification framework for Social Care Workers and delivered pilot training sessions.