AnnualReport2016

July2017

AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization

www.appro.org.af 2

CoverPhoto:APPRO’sAnniversary(2016),byAbdulSamadEbrahimi

www.appro.org.af 3

Directors’Message

AstheDirectorsofAPPROandfoundersofAPPRO-EuropeandGRADInstitutewearepleasedtopresenttoyouour2016AnnualReport.Forthisfirstannualreportwehavelooked,withgreatpride,atourhumblebeginnings,numerouschallengesalongtheway,ourcollectivedriveandperseverance,andthegreatsacrificesbyourprofessionalandservicestaffoveranine-yearperiodtomakeAPPROtheleading-edgeappliedresearchandmonitoring,training,andevaluationnon-profitorganizationthatitistoday.Throughitsresearchandmonitoringprojects,evaluations,trainingcourses,andvariousdialoguesonsuchkeydevelopmentissuesasgendermainstreaming,economicdevelopment,andcorruptionAPPROhasfirmlyestablisheditselfasanindependentresearchorganizationthatstrivesto"speaktruthtopower"–toborrowfromthelategreatAaronWildovsky–basedonempiricalevidencegeneratedthroughsocialscientificresearchandclosemonitoringofconflictdynamics.TheestablishmentofAPPRO-Europein2015andtakingonprojectsinIndia,Kosovo,Turkey,andSouthAfricahavebeenthefirststepsinoureffortstoshareourlearningandaccumulatedknowledgefromAfghanistanwithdevelopmentprofessionalsandlocalresearchersandcommunitiesinotherconflictanddevelopingenvironmentsaroundtheworld.ThecollaborationwithresearchersinothercountrieshasbeenaninvaluablesourceoflearningforAPPRO’sresearchers.In2016,APPROstartedprovidinguniversitylevelcoursesinKabul,Afghanistan,cross-certifiedbyEuropeanuniversities.Buildingonthisexperience,APPROwillintensifyitseffortsin2017toestablishaninstitutethatoffersfull,cross-certifieduniversitylevelcoursesforAfghanprofessionalswhowishtopursuehighereducationaccordingtointernationalacademicstandardsinAfghanistanwhileprogressingontheirchosencareerpaths.Itiswithgreatpleasurethatwesharewithyouourfirstannualreport.AhmadShaheerAnilExecutiveDirector

SaeedPartoDirectorofResearch

www.appro.org.af 4

TableofContentsBackground ............................................................................................................................ 5StaffingProfileandStructure.................................................................................................. 6AreasofWork ........................................................................................................................ 7

ResearchandMonitoring ................................................................................................................. 8TrainingandMentoring.................................................................................................................... 8Evaluations ...................................................................................................................................... 8

OperatingConditions.............................................................................................................. 8Vision ..................................................................................................................................... 9Mission................................................................................................................................... 9Values:APPROasaLearningOrganization.............................................................................. 9Audience .............................................................................................................................. 10ObjectivesandPrioritiesfor2017......................................................................................... 11OperatingBudgetAllocation................................................................................................. 13RisksandOpportunities........................................................................................................ 14RiskRegister......................................................................................................................... 15

www.appro.org.af 5

Background

AfghanistanPublicPolicyResearchOrganization(APPRO)emergedinlate2007asaresultofeffortsbyagroupofindividualswhofeltstronglyabouthowappliedresearchinconflictenvironmentssuchasAfghanistanshouldbedoneandhowresearchshouldbethebasisforinformeddevelopmentpolicymakingbygovernmentsanddonorsalike.SomeofthekeyindividualsinvolvedintheformationofAPPROweredrivenbyidealsandadesiretocontributetothecommongoodwhileothersviewedtheneworganization,APPRO,asapotentiallylucrativesourceofmonetarygainandaninstrumentofsocialopportunity.APPROhashadtheprivilegeofworkingwithawiderangeofindividualsincludingthesociallyconscious,thecommitted,andtheaspiringresearchersanddevelopmentprofessionals.APPROhasalsohadthemisfortuneofworkingwithindividualswithgrosslyinflatedopinionsoftheirtalents,capabilitiesandentitlements.Wefeelwiserandstrongerbecauseofboththeprivilegeandthemisfortune.APPROwasformallyregisteredinJune2008withAfghanistan’sMinistryofEconomyasanationalnon-governmentorganization.Sincethen,APPROhasmanagedtoamasstogetheragroupofcommitted,hardworking,andhonestmalesandfemales,youngandnotsoyoung,individualsfromverydiversebackgroundsandexperiencesascolleagues.AlmostallofourprofessionalstaffmembershavebeenwithusfromthebeginningandhavechosentoremainwithAPPROdespitethelureofhighersalariesatthemanyinternationalagenciesinAfghanistanandelsewhere.Forthiswefeeltrulyblessed.Ourareasofworkhaveinvolvedintothreereasonablydistinctareas.Theseareappliedresearchandmonitoring,trainingandmentoring,andevaluations.ResearchiscarriedoutunderthecrosscuttingthemesofPoliticalEconomy,Governance,HumanSecurity,NaturalResourceandEnvironmentalManagement,andMigration.AllresearchunderthesethemesismadeavailableaspublicationsthroughAPPRO’swebsites(www.appro.org.af).Trainingmodulesonthepolicyprocessandevidence-basedadvocacyweredesignedtobuildontheabundanthumancapitalthathasemergedinAfghanistansince2001.Trainingisprovidedtogovernmentandnon-governmentorganizationsandresearchers.Since2015,APPROhasbeendevelopingfulluniversitylevelcoursesundertheheadingsofPublicAnalysis,PublicAdministration,Evidence-basedAdvocacy,PeaceBuilding/ConflictMitigation,TransitionalJusticeandPeaceNegotiation,AppliedEconomics,InternationalLaw,andOrganizationalManagementSystems(ISOandIATI).In2016,APPROsecuredapartnershipwithGhentUniversity(Belgium)forcross-certificationofindividualstrainedbyAPPROinPolicyandInstitutionalAnalysisinAfghanistan.APPROalsostarteddialoguewithRuhrUniversity–Bochum(Germany)andKULeuvenUniversity(Belgium)forsimilararrangementsforcross-certificationofcoursesdeliveredbyAPPROinAfghanistan.During2017,APPROwillapproachadditionaluniversitiesinEuropeandCanadaforpartnershipsindeliveringcross-certifiablecoursesinAfghanistan.Ultimately,theaccumulatedcreditsfromthesecross-certifiedcourseswillbeusedtoconstituteallorsignificantpartsofafullacademicdegree.

www.appro.org.af 6

ProgramandprojectevaluationsformthethirdpillarofAPPRO’sactivities.EvaluationsprovideAPPROwithprivilegedinsightsintoprogrammingchallengesandopportunitiesexperiencedindevelopmentaidandhumanitarianinterventionsbyawiderangeofactorsandanempiricalbasisforinformeddesigninappliedresearch.Since2011APPROhasincreasinglyturneditsattentiontomonitoringhowconflictaffectscommunitylifeingeneralandthefundamentalgainsmadesince2001insocial,economic,andcivicarenasinparticular.Theyears2015and2016wereextremelyactiveandproductiveforAPPRO.In2015ourinsistenceoncritical,yetconstructive,approachtodevelopmentpolicymakingandimplementationmaturedintoanumberofmulti-yearprojects–withastrongmonitoringfocus–ensuringshorttermsustainabilityandprovidingthemuchneededspaceforAPPROtostrategizeforthenextfiveyearsto2021andlongertermsustainability.WithconflictcontinuinginAfghanistanwhile,atthesametime,manyofthegainsmadesince2001becomemorerootedandinstitutionalized,theneedforongoingmonitoringofhowconflictaffectsthesegainsandin-depthresearchonissuesidentifiedthroughmonitoringislikelytocontinuetobefeltbytheGovernmentofAfghanistanandinternationaldonorsengagedinAfghanistanduringitstransformationdecade(2015-2025).APPRO’sstrategicapproachtoappliedresearchandtrainingis,therefore,likelytoremainrelevantinAfghanistanfortheyearstocome.

StaffingProfileandStructure

TheFigurebelowisanillustrationoftheinternalorganizationofAPPRO.

www.appro.org.af 7

Uniquely,APPROhastwoequalheadsoforganization,theExecutiveDirectorandtheDirectorofResearch.Therationaleforhavingtwoheadsistocreatebalanceandminimizethepossibilityoftheorganizationbeingtakenoverbythepreferencesorwhimsofonepersonalone.Thedivisionoflaborbetweenthetwoheadsisasfollows:• DirectorofResearchisprimarilyresponsibleforprogramdesignanddevelopment.• ExecutiveDirectorisprimarilyresponsibleforprogramdevelopmentandimplementation.• BothDirectorshaveequaldecision-makingandsigningauthorities.• MostoftheconsultationswithnationalcounterpartsaretheresponsibilityoftheExecutiveDirector• Mostoftheconsultationswithinternationaldonororganizations,insideandoutsideAfghanistan,

aretheresponsibilityoftheDirectorofResearch.• BothDirectorsmaybeinvolvedinconsultationswithnationalandinternationalcounterparts• ThedivisionoflaborbetweenthetwoDirectorsismuchmorefluidthanfixed.Thatis,theExecutive

DirectorcanbeinvolvedinprogramdesigntasksanddecisionswhiletheDirectorofResearchcanbeinvolvedinimplementationandoperationsrelatedtasksanddecisions.

• IncaseofadisagreementbetweenthetwoDirectors,theAdvisoryBoardisconsultedtoresolvetheissue.TheAdvisoryBoard’sdecisionisfinal.

Akeyobjectivefor2017istoformalizetheabovetermsofreference.Itmustbenotedthatsincetheestablishmentofthismanagementanddecisionmakingstructurein2012atAPPRO,therehavebeennocasesofdisagreementsordisputesbetweenthetwoDirectors,requiringafinaldecisionbytheAdvisoryBoard.Bytheendof2016APPROhadapproximately90staffmembers,withroughlyonequarterbeingservicestaffandthreequartersbeingprofessionalstaff.Allservicestaffmembers,includingthecleaners,aremale.Femalesmakeuparound45%oftheprofessionalstaff.Around50serviceandprofessionalstaffmembersarebasedinKabulattheheadofficewiththerestdividedupamongthefiveregionalofficesinMazar-eSharif,Herat,Kandahar,Jalalabad,andBamyan,allofwhichhave40/60percentfemale/maleratio.Withitscurrentprojectfunding,APPROislikelytomaintainitscurrentstaffinglevelsuntil2019.APPROhashadanumberofsmallerresearchprojectsinTurkey,SouthAfrica,India,andKosovo.Tobuildonthesesuccesses,APPROresolvedattheendof2016tointensifyeffortstoconductappliedresearchandmonitoring,evaluations,andcross-certifiedtraininginselectedcountriesintheMiddleEastandAfrica.BothAPPROandAPPRO-EuropeareregisteredwiththeInternationalAidTransparencyInitiative(IATI).

AreasofWork

Theareasofworkfor2016consistedofResearchandMonitoring,TrainingandMentoring,andEvaluations.

www.appro.org.af 8

ResearchandMonitoring

AppliedresearchunderthethemesofGovernance,PoliticalEconomy,HumanSecurity,NaturalResourceandEnvironmentalManagement,andMigrationwassupplementedfromlate2015withongoingmonitoringprojectsforthepurposeofguidingappliedresearchandprovidingimmediatelyusableandup-to-dateinputforthediscourseonaidprovisionduringthe2015-2025periodinAfghanistan.

TrainingandMentoring

Adhocbutregulartraininginpolicyanalysiswasincorporatedintoprojectproposalsfrommid-2015.ThisstrategicchangewasnecessarytosustainAPPRO’sabilitytocontinuetoprovidetrainingandmentoringinastructuredmannerandasameanstostrengthenitsrelationswithstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietyorganizationsasthebeneficiariesofAPPRO’strainingactivities.Further,toensuresustainabilityoftrainingandmentoring,APPROstartedtheprocessofexpandingitstrainingcapacitysothatitcoulddelivertrainingmodulesinanumberofareasinadditiontopolicyanalysis.Therevisedlistoftrainingmoduleswillbedeliveredbyadedicatedteamofqualifiedinternationalandnationaltrainersthroughatraininginstitutescheduledforbeingsetupbytheendof2017.TheinstitutewillhavereciprocalarrangementswithEuropeanuniversitiestoawardECTS(EuropeanCreditTransferSystem)creditstosuccessfulcandidateswhocouldusethecreditstowardpursuingafulldegreeatanyEuropeanuniversity.1

Evaluations

EvaluationshavebeenaninvaluablesourceofinsightsforAPPROsinceitsfoundingin2008,particularlyinitsearlyyears,byprovidingprivilegedaccesstoinformationthedesign,implementation,andimpactofawiderangeofprogramsandprojects.For2017,APPROhasreneweditsfocusonacquiringmoreevaluationprojectstomaintainthecurrencyofitsknowledgeonprogrammingimpact.

OperatingConditions

AswithallothernationalandinternationalactorsengagedinAfghanistan,APPROhastoaccountforhowchangesinsecurity,particularlytheperiodicdeteriorations,affecttheorganization’sabilitytocontinuetofunction.Tomitigatesomeoftheconstraintsimposedbydeterioratingsecurity,APPROutilizesatestednetworkoflocalresearchersspreadaroundAfghanistanwhocancollectdataunimpededbychangesinthesecurityconditions.Theconditionsfor2017areexpectedtoremainsimilarto2016andthusnosignificantchangeshavebeenmadetooperatingprocedures.

1OneacademicyearatauniversityintheEuropeanUnioncorrespondsto60ECTScredits,normallyequivalentto1500–1800hoursoftotalworkload,irrespectiveofstandardorqualificationtype.ECTScreditsareusedtofacilitatetransferandprogressionthroughouttheuniversitiesoftheEuropeanUnion.

www.appro.org.af 9

Vision

APPROstrivestobecomethepremierorganizationspecializinginpolicy-relevantresearch,cutting-edgeandappliedtraining,andcriticalyetconstructiveevaluationsinconflictandpost-conflictenvironments.

Mission

TheAPPRO’smissionistofacilitatecriticaldialogueondevelopmentpolicyforlessdeveloped,in-andpost-conflictcountries.Thismissionhastwocomponents.Thefirstcomponentistomeasuredevelopmentprogressagainststrategicreconstructionobjectivesandprovideinsightsintohowtoimproveperformanceagainstthemilestonessetbythenationalgovernmentsandtheirinternationaldonors.Thesecondcomponentistotrainandmentorapoolofnationalresearcherstoconductappliedresearch,providepracticaltrainingwithafocusonthepolicyprocess,andconductevaluationsconsistentwithinternationallyrecognizedstandards.FindingsfromAPPRO’sresearchandevaluationsaredisseminatedtoaddressexistingandpressingknowledgegapsinthepolicymakingprocessandtoadvancethelearningofresearchers,academics,anddecisionandpolicymakersatalllevels.

Values:APPROasaLearningOrganization

APPROstrivestobecomealearningorganization.Alearningorganizationcombinesfivedisciplinesasfollows:1. SystemsThinkingistheabilitytoseethebigpicture,andtodistinguishpatternsinsteadof

conceptualizingchangeasisolatedevents.2. PersonalMasteryinvolvesstriving,andbeingencouraged,tobecomethecreativearchitectofone’s

ownlife.Personalmasteryisaprocessofcontinuousgrowthanddevelopment.3. MentalModelsaresimplifiedimagesofthemuchmorecomplexreality.Alearningorganization

createsspacesforitsemployeestosurface,clarify,test,andimprovetheirinternalrepresentationsoftheworldandunderstandhowtheserepresentations,alongwiththeiraccompanyingimplicitassumptions,shapetheirdecisionsandactions.

4. SharedVisionistheproductofbuildingacommonsenseofpurposeandcommitmentbydevelopingsharedimagesofthefuturefortheorganization.

5. TeamLearningisaprocessofdevelopingtheabilitytocreatedesiredresults,haveacleargoalinmindandworktogetherwithothersintheorganizationtoattainit.2

Alearningorganizationiscommittedtoacycleofcontinuouslearningandimprovement,promotesaculturethatenablesandacceleratesindividualandgrouplearning,andcontinuallytestsassumptionsandtransformsnewknowledgeintoactions.

2Senge,P.(1990:10-13).TheFifthDiscipline:theArtandPracticeoftheLearningOrganization(NewYork:Doubleday).

www.appro.org.af 10

ContinuouslearningatAPPROisbasedonacquiringandaccumulatingknowledgeandinnovatinginatimelymannertoadapttoandthriveinarapidlychangingenvironment.LearningatAPPROoccursthrough:• Creationofaculturethatencouragesandsupportscontinuousemployeelearning,criticalthinking,

andrisktakingwithnewideas.• Allowingmistakesandvaluingemployeesandtheircontributions.• Learningfrom,anddisseminationof,newknowledgefromexperience,experiments,successes,

failures,andmistakestoinnovate,internallytoguideandimproveday-to-dayactivitiesand,externallytocontributetotheemergenceofalearningculture.

Workinginconflictenvironmentsnecessitatespayingparticularattentiontothemostvulnerableincludingwomen,children,minoritiesandthedisabled.Analysesofgenderrelationsandwomen’srightsconstituteakeyfeatureofAPPRO’sresearchandtraininginAfghanistan.Similarly,particularattentionispaidtocorruptionatalllevelsasakeydeterrenttopeaceandequityinconflictenvironments.Environmentalprotectionandsustainableresourcearealsoemphasizedascross-cuttingissues,particularlyinAPPRO’sappliedtrainingprograms.

Audience

APPRO’scurrentaudienceconsistsofthefollowing:• Nationalandinternationalpolicymakers• Communityleaders• Civilsocietyorganizations• Internationaldonors• Developmentprofessionals• Developmentacademics/academicinstitutionsAPPRO’sengagementwithnationalandinternationalpolicymakers,civilsocietyorganizations,internationaldonors,andacademicinstitutionsintensifiedin2015and2016.Also,in2016,APPROtookthefirstconcretestepstowardengagingdevelopmentprofessionalsmorebroadlybyestablishingAPPRO-Europeasaregisterednon-profitassociationregisteredinBelgiumwithanofficeinBrussels,toserveasavenueforregularoutreach,knowledgesharing,andpolicyadvocacyactivities.TheimpactoftheseengagementactivitieswillbemonitoredandreportedthroughwidelydisseminatedquarterlynewsletterswhichcommencedinSeptember2016.

www.appro.org.af 11

ObjectivesandPrioritiesfor2017

SincethetransitionoftheresponsibilityfornationalsecurityfrominternationalforcestothenationalsecurityforcesofAfghanistantherehasbeenasteadyriseininstability,insecurityandincreasinguncertaintyaboutthefutureofAfghanistan.Armedoppositiongroups(AOGs)presentmoderatetosignificantthreatsinanumberofAfghanprovinces.Theyear2015witnessedthemostlossoflifeamongAfghansoldiersandcivilianssince2001.Theeconomyhasbeenweakeneddue,toamajorextent,tothedepartureofinternationalsecurityforcesattheendof2014,areductioninthenumberandvolumeofdonor-supportedhumanitarianandaidprograms,andtherelatedlossofdemandforavarietyofservicesprovidedtotheseentitiesbyAfghansuppliers.Acontractingeconomy,dearthofemploymentopportunities,uncertaintyandinsecurity,andhighlevelsofcorruptionplaguethefulfillmentofmostbasicrights.Acrossallprovincesthereareincreasingnumbersofrelativelywell-educatedbutunemployedyouthandadults.Thoseemployedfeelinsecureintheirpositionswhileaccesstomanywellpayingjobsisthroughconnectionsorbribes.WithsomeexceptionsinlargerpopulationcenterssuchasKabul,professionaloccupationofwomenisconfinedtoworkingasteachersorhealthworkers,theonlytwoprofessionsdeemedasappropriateforwomen.Poverty,unemployment,andconflicthaveresultedinalarmingratesoffoodinsecurityandoutmigration.Theportionofseverelyfoodinsecurepeoplewhohavealreadyexhaustedtheircapacitytocopewithemergencieshasincreased,resultinginforcedsaleoflandandotherassets,earlymarriagesofgirls,andtakingchildrenoutofschoolandsendingthemtowork.Aswithallhardships,theseconditionsaffectwomenandchildrenthemost.For2017and2018,APPROwillfocusonmeetingthefollowingobjectives:1. Continuationofemphasizingtheimportanceofmonitoring,associatedin-depthresearch,and

certifiedtraining:TherealizationofthisobjectiveisthroughAPPRO’sapproachinproposaldevelopmentforlongertermprojectfunding.TheapproachiscontinuallyadaptedtofitwiththeprogrammaticprioritiessetbythegovernmentandtheinternationaldonoraidagenciesactiveinAfghanistan.

2. SystematicoutreachanddisseminationinAfghanistanthroughAPPROandinEuropethroughAPPRO-Europe:In2017APPROandAPPRO-Europewillhavetheirfirstdisseminationstrategytoensurethatlearningfromresearch,training,monitoringandevaluationsaredisseminatedwithmaximumimpactwithinandoutsideAfghanistan.

3. Formalizeddeliveryofcertifiedtrainingcoursesthroughatraininginstitute,basedinKabulandinpartnershipwithEuropeanuniversities,forqualifiedapplicantsfromstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietyorganizations:Thefirststepinthisdirectionwastakenin2016withAPPROandAPPRO-EuropesigningapartnershipagreementwithGhentUniversityinBelgiumfordeliveringacrosscertifiedcourseonpolicyanalysisbyAPPROinAfghanistanandcertifiedbyGhentUniversitythroughtheECTSsysteminBelgium.In2017,APPROwillregisteratraininginstituteinKabultospecializeinofferingcross-certifiedcoursesinpolicyanalysis,evidence-basedadvocacy,projectcyclemanagement,andanumberofothertopicscurrentlybeingdiscussedwithGhentUniversityandRuhrUniversityBochum(Germany).

www.appro.org.af 12

4. Strengtheningstate-civilsocietyinterface:Alltrainingandmentoringisdesignedtomaximizeinteractionbetweenstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietyorganizationstoincreasemutualtrustlegitimacyonbothsidesasapre-requisiteforgoodgovernance.

Tobuildonthesuccessesof2016,APPROwilltakeanumberofspecificstepsin2017intermsofoperationsandstrategicdirection.Thesestepsandtheirtimelinesaresummarizedbelow.StrategicPriority Whenandhowthiswillbemeasured1.Securesufficientfundingtomaintainthe2016staffinglevelsto2025

1.1.Bytheendofeachyear,startingwith2017,

2.Ongoingdialoguewithstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietyorganizationstoincreasemutualtrustanddependency

2.1.Bytheendof2017,byhighlightingthenumberandimpactofconsultationswithstateandcivilsocietyorganizations,separatelyandtogether.

3.Creationofacriticalmassoftrainedprofessionalsfromstateauthoritiesandcivilsocietywithexpertiseonthepolicyprocess,principlesofgoodgovernance,evidence-basedadvocacy,andlegalliteracy.

3.1.Bytheendof2017,bytheincreaseinthenumberofgovernmentandnon-governmentindividualshavingbeentrained.3.2.Formalizationoftheprofessionaltrainingbyfoundingatraininginstitutebytheendof2017.

4.IncreasetechnicalknowledgeofAPPRO’sprofessionalstaff

4.1.Bytheendof2017,byhighlightingthenumberofinternaltrainingcoursesandassessmentoftheimpactfromtraininginemployeeevaluationsatthebeginningof2018.

5.Intensifyengagementwithsouth,west,andcentralAsiannetworksandorganizationswithsimilarmandates

5.1.Bytheendof2017,bygainingmembershipofregionalnetworks.

6.Engageandprovideevidence-basedsupporttotheAfghanGovernmentandinternationaldonorsonmeetingthecommitmentstoSMAF,OGP,andanti-corruption.

6.1.Bytheendof2017,bydevelopingapracticalroadmapformovingtowardmeetingSMAFcommitmentsonfundamentalrights.6.2.ContinuetosupportthegovernmentauthoritiesintheireffortstodevelopandpresentthenationalactionplantoOGP6.3.Continuecollaborationwithgovernmentauthoritiesandinternationaldonorsonthenewanti-corruptionlaw;continueparticipationinandcontributiontoanti-corruptionworkinggroups.

7.StrengthenNAC-PPbyturningitintoapolicyadvocacyandreformforumandaplatformforchannelingcitizen’sdemandtoserviceproviderswhileworkingwithserviceproviderstoincreaseefficiencyandeffectivenessinservicedelivery.

7.1.Byendof2017,NAC-PPhavecarriedoutanumberofpolicyadvocacycampaignsthroughitsvarioussub-committees.

www.appro.org.af 13

OperatingBudgetAllocation

In2016,APPRO’soperatingbudgetwasallocatedtotheHumanSecurity,Governance,andPoliticalEconomythemesandrelatedactivities.2016OperatingBudgetAllocation

79%

11%

10%

HumanSecurity

Governance

PolihcalEconomy

www.appro.org.af 14

RisksandOpportunities

APPRO’sstrengths,weaknesses,opportunitiesandthreatsforAPPROin2016maybesummarizedasfollows.SWOTAnalysis–2016Strengths- HumanCapital:Ateamofversatileanddrivenresearchers.

- SocialCapital:Verylowturnoverinthelast5years/highsenseofcommitmentandloyaltyamongstaff.

- Organizationalagilityduetotheabilitytomobilizequickly.

- Flatorganizationalstructureandopen-doorapproachtomanagementhascreatedalivelyandvibrantworkenvironment.

- Establishedreputationasbeingauniquelycriticalyetconstructivevoiceamongnon-governmentdonorfundrecipientsinAfghanistan.

- Establishedreputationoftechnicalexpertiseinpolicyreformprocessesandstate-civilsocietydialogue.

- EstablishmentofAPPRO-EuropeasamediumtoincreaseAPPRO’sexposureoutsideAfghanistanandcontributetoeffortstowardmaintainingandincreasinginternationalfocusonAfghanistan.

Weaknesses- Humancapitaldevelopmentisprovidedbutinsufficientlystructuredduetoworkpressures.

- Flatorganizationalstructurecaninterruptefficiencyindecisionmaking.

- APPRO-EuropehasbeeninsufficientlyutilizedtoincreasethelegitimacyandreachofAPPRO.

Opportunities- Withthemovetowardestablishingaprofessionaltraininginstitute,APPRO’spersonnelarelikelytobenefitfromadditionaltrainingtheywillreceive.

- APPRO-EuropeshouldbeusedtoincreasethescopeofactivityforAPPRO,increaseAPPRO’slegitimacy,andincreaseAPPRO’ssustainability.

Threats- Deteriorationofsecurityconditions- Loweravailabilityandamountoffunding- LossofkeypersonneltomigrationduetouncertaintyinAfghanistan.

www.appro.org.af 15

RiskRegister

Therisks,mitigationpossibilities,andresponsibilitiesformanagingspecificrisksaresummarizedbelow.

RisksIdentified ControlsinPlace WhoisResponsible1.Reductioningrantand/orprojectfundingandresourcesarenotsufficienttocovertheoperatingcostsoftheorganization.

1.1.Maintainup-to-dateinformationonsourcesoffundingbyhavingadedicatedpersonorpersonsidentifyingnewsourcesoffundingandnewcallsfroproposals.1.2.Maintainongoingliaisonwithactualandpotentialdonors.1.3.Maintainseminar/workshop/disseminationactivitiesinsideandoutsideAfghanistan.1.4.Maintainrelationswithkeygovernmentministriesandcontinuetoprovidespecializedexpertiseinpolicymaking.Goodrelationshipswithgovernmentofficials.1.5.Diversityofincomesources.1.6.Downsizeoperations,keepingkeystaffwithover5yearsofservice.

1.1.1.CommunicationandGrantManager1.2.1.ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch,CommunicationandGrantManager.1.3.1.DirectorofResearch,CommunicationandGrantManager.1.4.1.ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch,Designate.1.5.1.AdvisoryBoard,ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch,CommunicationandGrantManager.1.6.1.ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch.

2.Unevendistributionoffundingsources.

2.1.Attemptstodiversifyfundingsourceswillbeintensifiedin2017.

2.1.1.ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch,CommunicationandGrantManager.

3.DeteriorationinSecurityunderminesfieldactivity.

3.1.Maintainup-to-dateinformationonareaswhereAPPROhasprojectactivity.3.2.MaintainongoingrelationswiththenetworkofnationalresearchersinareaswhereAPPROconductsregularfieldactivity.

3.1.1.ProjectandResearchManagers,ExecutiveDirector,DirectorofResearch.3.2.1.NationalProjectandResearchManagers.