Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP)

Title: Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP)

Auftrags-Nr: 81176295

Kurze Beschreibung des Auftrags oder Beschaffungsvorhabens:

The goal of the Technical Cooperation (TC) module is therefore: "Employment and income in the promoted sectors in the north have increased." Here, the project focuses on the six northern provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Kunduz, Samangan and Takhar.

The TC module adopts a value chain approach for five agro- based products (poultry products, cashmere, dairy products, wheat, almonds) and focuses on three areas of action.

In the first field of intervention the technical, organizational and business skills of the value chain actors and their linkages among each other are to be strengthened as well as market access. Public and private service providers and interest groups should also be able to offer more demand driven services.

The second intervention area focuses on the rehabilitation of rural infrastructure such as irrigation systems and locally adapted storages for field crops, including the respective operation schemes.

The third intervention area aims to improve the dialogue between public and private sector actors through various dialogue formats at various levels aiming to overcome hindrances blocking value chain development. These interventions will also help enhancing private sector development in general and increase the legitimacy of the Afghan state as service provider.

The specific needs of women are taken into account in all three fields.

The target groups are primarily the actors within the specific value chains - especially producers, local processing and marketing companies and distributors - in the six northern provinces. In this context, the project aims supporting those actors enterprises with the ability to generate employment for and increase income of the Afghan population.

The project will work closely with the sub-national partner structures. These include the governors at the provincial and district level, relevant provincial and district councils (Provincial Development Councils, District Coordination Councils) and the representatives of the line ministries. Other stakeholders include professionals and executives of private service providers (e.g. veterinary services), chambers and associations. At village level, the project is working with the Community Development Councils (CDC). This allows the local population to participate actively in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives.

The contract covers the intervention area 1 and partially elements of the other two fields. Fields of intervention 2 and 3 are implemented by giz. The three fields of activities are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Thus, efficient coordination and communication mechanisms will be set up. The starting point for all three intervention areas are value chain mappings based on which an upgrading strategy is agreed upon by all actors. This activity is also part of intervention area 1.