Organization for Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development, Sustainable Future

Organizational Profile
2020
Table of Contents
Organizational Background .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Organization Details..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Our Vision .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Our Mission.................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Our Core Values ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Our Guiding Principles.................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Our Goals..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Our Geographic Presence ........................................................................................................................................................... 16
Our Work Experience .................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Organizational Background
Organization for Sustainable Development (OFSD) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-
governmental organization and was established in 2014 by a group of Afghans. OFSD participates
in the process of reconstruction and development of Afghanistan by working with and for people in
need in Afghanistan. We work to empower Afghans for reaching a better future. We do this by
designing, developing, and implementing projects across Afghanistan focusing on seven thematic
areas including: agriculture, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, gender
equality, infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance.

1
Organization Details

Organization Name: Organization for Sustainable Development (OFSD)

License #: 3168
Ministry of Economy of Government of Afghanistan
NGOs Department
Date of Registration: April 08, 2014
Main Office Address: Kart-e 3, Shora Street
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: +93(0)700 200 458
E-mail: amohammadi@ofsd.af
Web Site: www.ofsd.af

2
Our Vision

We envision a:

PROSPEROUS
INCLUSIVE
RESILIENT
PEACEFUL
SUSTAINABLE
AFGHANISTAN

Our Mission
OFSD’s mission is to make sustainable improvements in Afghanistan by helping Afghans
improve their lives.

3
Our Core Values

Passion for Mission Excellence Integrity

We come to work to foster We strive to maximize We are honest and
sustainable development efficiency, effectiveness, transparent, accountable
and advance human dignity and deliver meaningful for our efforts, and
in Afghanistan results across our work. maintain a consistently high
moral standard.

Commitment to Learning
Respect Inclusion We seek to improve
We demonstrate respect We value our differences ourselves and our work
for one another, our and draw strength from through reflection and
partners, and the people diversity. evaluation.
we service in communities
across Afghanistan.

4
Our Guiding Principles
To reach our strategic goals; requires guiding
principles to operations that combines a clear-
eyed understanding of the many challenges facing
Afghanistan and its people with a positive vision
for its future. Therefore, the guiding principles that
OFSD will consider are described as follow:
Client-focused – The ambitious sustainable
development agenda must be tailored to specific
local circumstances. Afghan people have
significantly diverse needs, institutional strengths
and weakness, and availability of resources. OFSD
will customize its approach to meet the varying
needs of its diverse client base. Under Strategic
Plan 2018- 2022, OFSD will enhance its policy
dialogue and analytical work, including on efforts
to achieve the targets of the Sustainable
Development Goals. The Strategic Plan 2018-2022
will continue to be the primary platform for defining
OFSD’s operational focus in Afghanistan and
provides customized solutions to development needs
and challenges of Afghanistan. OFSD will exercise
selectivity at the local level to ensure that its
resources are not thinly spread, while maintaining
scope for flexibility.
Programmatic flexibility – Is an integral part of our
guiding principles. We work where we can have the
greatest impact on Afghan people who are in need.
OFSD team will adjust to local conditions, take
advantage of opportunities, and maximize
programs efficiency. We will design and implement
programs that are specifically tailored for each
community, within its socio-political context and its
unique needs and challenges.
Consider the facts of Afghan society – Afghanistan
is affected by decades of conflict and the security
and political environment is volatile and uncertain.
OFSD operates in different provinces where
multiple interest groups compete around many
issues, with regional, ethnic, religious, gender, and
political tensions at every level of decision-making.
OFSD team will carefully consider traditional and
cultural norms, adapt best practices, and design
programs that meet the local conditions.
Value for money – OFSD will maximize the impact
of every money spent to improve Afghan people’s
lives. VfM does not mean to do the cheapest things.
OFSD understands that the hardest to reach people
and places that are in need could cost more. OFSD’s
VfM guiding principle is to get better understanding
5
of what the main drivers of costs are and how to get
the desired quality at the lowest price.
Enhancing Human Resources – OFSD will expand
its talent pool, hire experts in priority areas, and
streamline recruitment processes with the triple
objectives of speed, quality, and transparency. It
will invest in the training and development of its
staff (including operations, leadership, digital
technologies, and change management). Training
programs will support understanding and
collaboration between staff working on different
programs. OFSD’s performance management
system will be further strengthened to motivate staff
and enable a high-performing culture. OFSD is
committed to diversity in the workplace, including
promoting gender balance and a respectful work
environment for all.
Modernizing business processes and improving
operational efficiency – OFSD will pursue a
dramatic modernization of its business process by
taking advantage of available technology. It will
further increase its operational efficiency and
reduce the time for managing and administering
projects without compromising quality and integrity.
OFSD will streamline business processes for
consulting services, pilot testing, and the purchase of
equipment and services for operation and activities.
It will implement a robust organizational resilience
program to strengthen its business continuity and
crisis response capabilities.
Strengthening collaboration – OFSD will work with
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government
offices, donors, and other counterparts to tap their
unique strengths, such as local presence and
specialized knowledge. It will explore opportunities
for increasing their involvement in the design and
implementation of projects. Particular focus will be
on operations that use grassroots participatory
approach to target poor and vulnerable groups,
mobilizing women and young people, and monitor
project activities and outputs.
Operationalizing the strategic plan – Management
will begin implementing Strategic Plan 2018-2022
immediately after its approval by the Board of
Directors. Give the rapidly evolving development
needs of Afghanistan, OFSD will be flexible and
responsive during the implementation of new
strategy.
Monitoring results – A corporate results framework
will be developed to monitor and measure
implementation progress. The framework will
include results indicators and targets for Strategic
Plan 2018-2022 priorities. OFSD will update
corporate results framework at the end of each
6
year. It will continue to report on institutional
performance on a regular basis.

Our Goals
We have agreed on six strategic goals that we hope to achieve in the coming four years. These
goals are part of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is set by United
Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. By aligning to the SDGs, OFSD contributes
to sustainability of Afghanistan in a global context.

To end poverty in all its forms. Ensure inclusive and quality education To achieve gender equality and
for all and promote lifelong learning. empower all women and girls.

To ensure access to safe water
sources and sanitation for all.
To promote inclusive and sustainable economic Promote peaceful and inclusive
growth, employment and decent work for all. societies for sustainable
development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions
at all levels. 7
9
GOAL ONE

Today millions of Afghans are struggling to satisfy their most basic needs, such as health,
education, sanitation, access to drinking water and affordable as well sustainable energy,
and etc. The main causes of poverty are unemployment, social exclusion and the
increased vulnerability of certain populations to natural disasters and disease. All of such
generate inequality and, since growing disparity is detrimental to economic development
and undermines social cohesion, tension and conflict may arise.
While Afghanistan has made progress in reducing income poverty, much more needs to
be done to address the non-income dimensions of poverty and vulnerability in urban and
rural areas; promote social inclusion and development, particularly for vulnerable groups;
and build resilience. Our objectives are:
• Eradicate extreme poverty throughout the Afghanistan.
• Put appropriate social protection systems and measures into practice.
• Guarantee that every Afghan has the same rights to economic resources and
access to basic services.
• Foster resilience of those individuals in vulnerable situations and reduce their
exposure to climate, economic, social and environmental disasters.
• Guarantee a significant mobilization of resources through improved developmental
cooperation.

10
GOAL TWO

Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rate in the world, currently estimated at 31% of
adult population. Education, according to the UN, is a fundamental and enabling right. In
order to achieve universal literacy and a quality education system, it is necessary to build
and adapt educational facilities so that they meet all children’s needs and motivate and
professionally qualify teachers. They are one of the basic pillars of education. There is
also a clear need for a wider range of programs to facilitate access to education for
Afghans with few resources.
Access to quality education is the perfect starting point to break out of the cycle of poverty
and empower people to lead more sustainable and healthier lives. Educational also helps
to create more peaceful tolerant societies. Therefore, achieving inclusive, equitable, and
quality education, and promoting life-long learning opportunities for everyone is the fourth
of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN, approved in September 2015.
OFSD’s contribution to this goal will be achieved through the following objectives:
• To ensure that all children finish primary and secondary education, which must to
be free, equitable and of quality.
• To ensure that all young people and a considerable proportion of adults are literate
and have elementary numeracy skills.
• To increase the number of young people and adults who have the necessary skills
to access employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
• To ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for
vulnerable people.
GOAL THREE

11
In Afghanistan, women and girls represents about half of the its population, so they make
up half of the Afghanistan’s human potential. When their lives improve, when we achieve
gender equality, the while of society will reap the benefits, making the Afghanistan a more
peaceful, prosperous and sustainable. For example, granting women access to a decent
job and a regular income will not only help reduce poverty but will also help achieve better
results in the education, health and nutrition of women, girls and those who depend on
them. Inequality between men and women is seen in each and every dimension of our
lives. According to the UN Report Turning Promises into Action Published in 2017, it is
the women who are the first to go hungry when there isn’t enough food in the house. The
same study also states that they are the ones who are paid the least. It is also found that
50% of Afghan women experience physical or sexual violence. Despite significant
progress in the field of gender equality since the year 2001, it still isn’t enough. The
commitment and contribution of the OFSD to Gender Equality will be achieved through
the following objectives:
• Eliminate all forms of violence against women, such as human trafficking, sexual
exploitation, and child marriage.
• Recognize and value unpaid domestic work through public services,
infrastructures and social protection.
• Guarantee the full and effective participation of women and equality of leadership
opportunities at all decision-making levels of political, financial and public life.
• Introduce and strengthen policies and legislation to promote gender equality and
the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

12
GOAL FOUR

According to the UN, “Social development and economic prosperity depend on the
sustainable management of freshwater resources and ecosystems”. Water touches
nearly every aspect of development and of the SDGs. It drives economic growth, supports
healthy ecosystems, and is essential to food and energy production. More than 65 percent
of Afghans have clean drinking water – a marked progress from a decade ago when
drinking water reached only 20 percent of people. Rural areas of Afghanistan suffer the
most water shortages, both in terms of quality and quantity. However, although about 80
percent of families have toilets or latrines, only about 40 percent are improved and safe.
OFSD aims to tackle challenges related to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for
Afghan people, as well as to water-related ecosystems. Without quality, sustainable water
resources and sanitation, progress in many other areas across the SDGs, including
health, education, and poverty reduction, will be held back. Therefore, OFSD will focus
on the following objectives:
• Achieve equitable access to safe drinking water at an affordable price for
Afghans.
• Achieve equitable access to adequate sanitation and hygiene services for
Afghans and end open defecation.
• Improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing safe recycling and
reuse.
• Increase the efficient use of water resources in all sectors and ensure the
sustainability of freshwater extraction and supply.

13
GOAL FIVE

Jobs are key for economic growth and social development. Economies grow and
households escape poverty as more people work and jobs become more productive. Four
main challenges that Afghanistan face are: accelerating export-led economic growth,
creating more jobs in the formal sector; increasing the quality of informal jobs
(productivity, earnings, access to social insurance); and connecting vulnerable groups
(e.g., youth, women, and the poor) to jobs or better jobs.
OFSD will focus on improving economic growth that is sustainable through the following
objectives:
• Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for Afghans, as well as
equal pay for work and equal value.
• Eradicate forced and child labor and protect labor rights.
• Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all people,
regardless of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, and other status.
• Adopt tax, salary and social protection policies and progressively achieve greater
equality.

14
GOAL SIX

There is an inextricable link between poor governance and persistent poverty that is
compounded by fragility, conflict and violence. Advances in ending violence, promoting
the rule of law, strengthening institutions and increase access to justice are uneven.
Conflict in Afghanistan is holding back development progress and continue to deprive
millions of Afghans’ security, rights and opportunities and undermine the delivery of public
services and broader economic development.
OFSD’s activities under this goal will be focused on the following objectives:
• Reduce all forms of violence and put an end to abuse, exploitation and human
trafficking.
• Promote the rule of law and guarantee equal access to justice.
• Reduce illicit financial and arms flows, corruption, and bribery in all their forms.

15
Our Geographic Presence
OFSD has presence in the following provinces:

LEGEND: Focus Provinces

16
Our Work Experience
Project Name: Women Sport Outreach Program
Description: Construction of Sport Courts at Girls’ School
Locations: Herat, Kabul, Balkh and Nangarhar
Donor: U.S. Embassy in Kabul
Duration: August 24, 2017 to August 23, 2018

17
Project Name: Building the Capacity of Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics
Description: Provide Skills Training for Employees of Ministry of Counter Narcotics
Locations: Kabul
Donor: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affair
Duration: September 30, 2016 to June 08, 2018

18
Project Name: Enhancing Economic Opportunities for Afghan Women
Description: Provide Handicraft Skills Training
Locations: Ghor Province
Donor: Embassy of Republic of India
Duration: January 14, 2019 to January 13, 2020

19