Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society Phase Two (I-PACS II)

The initiative focuses on increasing citizen participation in Afghan civil society through four core objectives. The first objective is to ensure informed policy and equitable resource allocation decisions concerning civil society and civil society organization (CSO) development in Afghanistan. This involves assisting in the development and enforcement of a comprehensive legal framework to strengthen the CSO sector. The second objective is to build the capacity of CSOs to design, implement, manage, monitor, and evaluate their activities and achieve organization objectives with transparency and accountability. I-PACS II's Community and Regional Policy Dialogues provide opportunities for civil society organizations and leaders to share knowledge and information on issues of common concern, set goals for policy action, and collaborate on activities that address community needs. The initiative works with 7 leading CSOs that serve as Intermediary Service Organizations (ISOs) and 12 CSOs that serve as Civil Society Support Centers (CSSCs). Each ISO collaborates directly with 76 CSOs in its region to build skills, enhance their ability to engage effectively with governments, and establish links between community needs and policy action. Counterpart awards capacity-building grants to its partners and to all registered Afghan CSOs, focusing on institutional strengthening, community and constituency development, conflict resolution and peace-building, human rights, legislative monitoring, women reintegration and reconciliation, and CSO engagement in Afghan national development initiatives. Counterpart's civil society development model is unique in Afghanistan, focusing on building the capacity of local civil society organizations. The involvement of Afghan civil society in the political arena is remarkable, with increased participation never seen before in the history of Afghanistan. I-PACS II's partners include leading CSOs such as the Afghan Civil Society Forum Organization, the Afghanistan Center for Training & Development, and the Assistance to Defend Women Rights Organization, among others. The initiative's work is centered around the provinces, with a focus on building the capacity of local civil society organizations to participate in the political process and demand good governance from their leaders. Through its Community and Regional Policy Dialogues, I-PACS II provides a platform for civil society organizations and leaders to come together and address common concerns, set goals for policy action, and collaborate on activities that address community needs.