National Center for Policy Research

The Participation of NCPR Representative in a Symposium in Bahrain
The head of Law and Political Sciences department of NCPR, Associate Prof Hakimi, attended a symposium on Cross Border Security Concerns for Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan in Manama, Bahrain 23-25 March, 2009, arranged by RUSI (Royal United Services Institute).
Mr. Hakimi presented his paper on ‘’How to Manage the Problems of Porous Border with Pakistan and Iran’’. The symposium concluded with proposals of delegations regarding to cross border security.

Participation of NCPR Representative in International Seminar in New Delhi
Prof. Dr. Alaf Shah Zadran , Social Sciences Department head of NCPR had a trip to India in order to participate in an International Seminar “Indigenization of Afghan Reconstruction: Challenges and Opportunities”, and read his paper. It was organized by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian students, Kolkata in collaboration with Jamia Milia Islamia University of New Delhi. The seminar was for two days (18-19 March). The focus of the Seminar was on reconstruction, peace building, reconciliation and security in Afghanistan.

Participation of NCPR Representative in the Second Astana Economic Forum
Associate Prof. Halimi, the head of the department of Economics of NCPR, attended the Second Astana Economic Forum a high profile international event that focused on ‘Economic Security in Eurasia and the system of Global Risks’ from 11-12 March 2009.
The CAREC institute had an inaugural meeting with research institutes of CAREC’s participants as well as NCPR. The aim was to seek and foster a network of researchers, to collaborate with regional and leading global research institutes and experts on an ambitious research agenda focused on issues related to regional cooperation among CAREC countries.

Capacity Building Seminar at NCPR
NCPR, the partner of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in cooperation with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Financial Assistance of Dutch Government had started a 10 days Capacity Building Seminar (Management, Working Skills and Accounting) for 13 Governmental staff of Uruzgan Province.
In inauguration ceremony of this seminar on 10th of March, the representatives of KAS, GTZ and Dutch Embassy in Kabul and Senator Hanafi the representative of Uruzgan province in Parliament as well as the NCPR staff were attended.

Workshop on Oral History

The Peace Studies department of NCPR held a workshop on the 3rd and 4th of December on Oral History at the University of Balkh for 22 lecturers of the faculties of education and literature.
Oral History looks for insights into the process of memory to learn more details about history: not about facts and figures but to learn about personal experiences and emotions and the way how people remember the past. Oral history is a method to interview people with the aim to listen to their stories by asking them questions about their lifes and experiences e.g. during the time of war or emigration.
Regarding to the contribution of Oral History to the peace process the participants of the workshop discuss especially the needs of:
• Analyzing the causes of war to understand the past and to find approaches for changing the future
• Teaching the benefits of peace and discuss the impacts of war and violence on people and society
A follow-up workshop for further discussions and training will be held at the end of December.

The Winners of Manfred Wörner’s Award in 2008, Finished Their Research Projects
The winners of Manfred Wörner Award in 2008, that were selected from young lecturers and talented students of Kabul University by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division office and NCPR, have successfully finished their research projects on Drug Awareness, Why Private Investment: Internal or Foreign?, The Role of Human Capital in Economic Development, The Study of NATO’s Role in Afghanistan, Assessment of Civic Education Situation in Afghanistan, Gender Issue, Narcotics and Terrorism, Research on Security Situation in Afghanistan, and Mediation among Ethnicities in Afghanistan at the end of October 2008. The mentioned research projects have been conducted by nine young lecturers and students of Kabul University under the direct supervision of NCPR and have been sent to the office of public diplomacy division of NATO for further judgment.

Closing of Training Program in Social Sciences Faculties on Monograph Writing and Seminar Presentation
The NCPR launch this program per annum for all senior students of social sciences faculties of Kabul University. The program of this year ended successfully after ten intensive lectures days individually in each faculty on 6th November 2008. In the program, which had been taught by expert trainers and lecturers of Kabul University in the faculties of Journalism, Languages & Literature, Sharia, Economics, Psychology and Educational Sciences as well as Social Sciences, participated more than 269 students of the mentioned faculties. It is expected that the certificates of mentioned program will be distributed through special ceremony to participants.

The Third GARF Program for Students
The German-Afghan Research Forum (III) was started for 35 talented students of the Faculties of Social Sciences on October 19 and it was ended on November 13 of this year. Six lecturers from the Faculties of Economic and Social Sciences taught research methodology course to the participants. At the end of the Workshop, the participants were divided into five different groups. Each group has selected a research topic about problems and issues of Afghanistan. They will carry out their research projects under the supervision of NCPR and will apply their knowledge and skills they obtained in the workshop.

Peace Building and Peace Studies at Afghan Universities
On 18th of November a workshop with 20 female teachers and students of Kabul, Polytechnic and Education Universities was held to discuss the question: How to support the Peace Process in Academic life?
The discussions show the importance of a trustful and open atmosphere for discussion at university, to teach tools how to analyze causes and effects of conflicts on the society and to conduct researches to understand the chances and obstacles in the development of a durable peace.

Conference on Strengthening the Afghan Higher Education in Management and Economy
There was a conference and few working sessions regarding the Strengthening of Scientific Management and Economy of the Higher Education in Afghanistan from 19-21 of November in Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB). In this program, the chancellors of Kabul, Nengarhar, Heart, Khost and Balkh Universities, Deans of Economics faculties of five universities of Afghanistan and the Director of NCPR, Dr. Noor Ebad participated.
The aim of this program was to observe the cooperation of RUB since 2002 for the economic faculties of Afghanistan and implementing of the curriculum of these faculties regarding the contemporary conditions as well as the NCPR’s cooperation with the young lecturers who are doing their master degree studies in RUB (selection and processing of the thesis topics of master studies).
faculties regarding the contemporary conditions as well as the NCPR’s cooperation with the young lecturers who are doing their master degree studies in RUB (selection and processing of the thesis topics of master studies).

KAF Representatives Visiting the NCPR
Mr. Winzer and Ms. Tan from KAS main office of Berlin will visit the NCPR in Kabul on 1st & 2nd Dec 2008. This foundation is the founder and the sole donor of NCPR.
The KAS representatives will have a final discussion on the contract of cooperation with NCPR. After singing this contract, NCPR will cooperate with KAS as the partner and may operate its budget independently in 2009. Furthermore, the representatives will assist and provide information to NCPR accountants on reporting lines to Berlin.
The trip and signing the contract is initiated by Dr. Babak Khalatbari, the Country Director of KAS in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Department of Peace Studies Program for November /December 2008
The Peace Studies Department is going to focus its activities during the last months of 2008 on dissemination of the concept of Peace Building and Peace Studies at Kabul University. On the basis of exchange of ideas with Deans, Professors and Students possible steps should be developed on how to bring Peace Studies into practice in academic life. In workshops and round tables the following ideas should be discussed:
• How to teach meaning and methods of Peace Building in an academic manner?
• How to discuss topics referring to peace e.g. Social Change or Resource Management within
the different fields of study as well as from an interdisciplinary perspective?
• How to create an open space for discussions at university?
• What is the social-political responsibility of universities to support the peace process?
At the end of December 2008, participants of these workshops and representatives of Kabul University are going to discuss the possibilities to support Peace Studies in the academic life of Afghanistan.

The Trip of Afghan High Ranking Delegations to Korea
Upon an invitation from Korea, some high-ranking Afghan delegation, consisting of 18 persons including the deputy Ministers of Economics and Higher Education, Voice Chancellor of Kabul University, the Chancellors of Kabul Polytechnic and Khost Universities, the head of the department of economic of NCPR and some other lecturers of economics and agriculture faculties of Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Bamyan, Kandahar and Nangarhar universities traveled to Korea on 4th October.
This official trip continued up to 17th October 2008. That was designed to exchange of views and ideas on “Economic Development strategy for Afghanistan’s rehabilitation”. The core and important economical issues such as Monetary Policy, Trade Policy, Fiscal Policy, International Financial Policy, Industrial Policy, Development of Human Capitol Policy, Agriculture Policy and
Policy related to the Social Overhead Capital in accordance to the Korean experiences and successes in mentioned fields were discussed comprehensively.
At the end of the program, each two members of the Afghan delegation separately prepared and presented a country report about the Afghan economy. In addition, this program included visits from industrial areas and famous companies in Korean and global industrial firms, as well as visit of some cultural sites that included good experiences to the Afghan delegation.

The Certificates Distribution for Student of Arts College
On 12th October, 2008 there was a ceremony to admire the students of Fine Art Faculty for their artistic activities that they carried out for the International Peace Day.
On the International Peace Day, that the lecturers and Kabul University students attended the event, Prof. Hamidullah Amin, the President of Kabul University was also present. This program was launched by NCPR’s Peace Studies Department and Kabul University Research Center.

NCPR's Scientific Research Projects for 2008
According to its policy and goals, NCPR each year carries out a series of research projects about Afghanistan's very important issues and problems. Based on this policy three very important research projects are launched by the departments of Law and Political Sciences, Economic and Social Sciences during the current year. The mentioned projects are as follows:
• The Role of Law in Afghanistan and How to Improve it.
• Reconstruction of the Agriculture sector in Afghanistan and Its Impact on the Afghans.
• Social Criteria of Durable Peace and Security in Afghanistan.
The first project activities are in their third phase. The second project is in its relevant literature review phase. The third project activities are progressing very well. The researchers and their assistants collected all their relevant data and they are working on their data analysis in this project. When the researchers finish their work then the reports of these three research projects will be published and we will hand them over to relevant agencies, readers and scholars who are eager and desirous to read them.