Awaaz Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s first nationwide humanitarian call centre, was officially inaugurated in Kabul.
A joint initiative between multiple UN agencies and partners, the UNOPS-implemented call centre offers a single point of contact for Afghans affected by conflict and natural disasters to receive critical information about assistance and support. Callers can also provide feedback on the humanitarian response and assistance they receive.
By dialling a toll-free number, any person in Afghanistan with access to a phone can speak with one of Awaaz Afghanistan’s eight multilingual operators – four of whom are women – who can provide callers with information they need to withstand a crisis.
To enhance transparency and two-way communication in Afghanistan, the World Food Programme initiated the call centre, identifying UNOPS as the implementing partner. UNOPS secured additional funding for the centre from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, European Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Operations, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“Awaaz Afghanistan uses traditional and new technologies to amplify the voice of Afghans, and to help identify issues and find solutions,” said Paul Cruickshank, UNOPS Director and Representative in Afghanistan.
Call centre operators have handled more than 14,000 calls from Afghans from across the country since the pilot phase of the project commenced in May this year.
Original source: UNOPS
Published on 18 September 2018
