Progress report strengthening the national statistical system of the islamic republic of afghanistan

3. Issue and recommendation of implementation

It is important to indicate that some of the actions are not applicable for CSO and MoF due to the discrepancies in our financial system although if CSO could have a chance to use at least 50% of its income for its own purposes the interest of making income would be increased tremendously.

Briefly, we can reach to this conclusion that the financial, budget and accounting affairs of both countries are based on international standard and resemble each other.
4. Annexes

As all the financial and statistical materials of Statistic Agency of Tajikistan had been written by Russian Language and they were not applicable, therefore, we could not brought all the above-mentioned material with us and took only the most important materials . At the same time MoF staff members also shared their documentation with the MoF of Tajikistan which describes the activities of MoF of Afghanistan.

Manager of Budget, Saied Khalil Rahman Hashemi Manager of Office Affairs Dur Mohammad Harooni Manager of Salary Mohammad Masoom Qanay Member of Goods Saied Mohsen Managment Manager of Special Payments of MOF Hameedullah Azimi Manager of Economic Sector of MoF Habibullah Habib Financial Oficer of SRF Sayed Wahid Sadat

Annex 3

Minutes

of the MCMC Meeting held on at the 2 floor of the CSO office on July 27, 2011 at 10.00 AM

Participated: Mr. Zurmati - Head of Planning Dep. of CSO/Proj. Director (in Chair)

Ms. Fletcher - DFID Statistics Adviser

Mr. Rajabekov - SRF, PICT Project Coordinator

Mr. Faqiri - CSO, Head of Economic Statistics Dep.

Mr. Naimi - CSO, Head of SNA and Price St. Dep.

Absented due to other activities:

Mr. Ramzi - CSO, Adviser of the President General

Mr. Nabi - CSO, Head of Field Operation and Sample Dep.
Meeting agenda:

1. 
   Opening remark – Mr. Zurmati
   
2. 
   SRF activity implementation - Mr. Rajabekov
   
3. 
   MCMC subcommittee issue – Mr. Zurmati
   
4. 
   AOB
   
5. 
   Conclusion
   

1. Opening remark

Mr. Zurmati welcomed all participants to the MCMC meeting and mentioned that according to the legal covenant of the SRF project it has established the MCMC on May 17, 2011 and was not able due to very intensive actions of CSO to conduct its meeting. At the same time he mentioned that the actual work of the MCMC will start with the activities of the twinning partner and for the time being SRF does not have so much to be monitored, but nevertheless it was agreed to conduct the first meeting and discuss several general issues that will help us to set up some tasks and requirements.

2. SRF activities implementation

Mr. Rajabekov updated all the participants in regard to the SRF actions that have been taken so far and pointed out the following:

• 
  PICT was involved at the initial stage if its activities with preparation of POM and FMM that was one of the requirements of the SRF project effectiveness that was done by the end of February;
  
• 
  Getting the official project effectiveness from the WB as per the Grant Agreement for the entire amount of $14 million over five years from March 24, 2011;
  
• 
  Preparation of the project work plan according to the ANSP and its detail analyses that was presented and discussed thoroughly with the CSO management staff with the presence of Lead donor;
  
• 
  Approval of all the relevant project accounts by the MoF, Da Afghanistan Bank and Kabul Bank for all the financial transactions;
  
• 
  Organizing of the procurement of all project related equipments for the PICT daily activities;
  
• 
  Establishment of a Budget committee for the SRF project budget development its discussion and consequent approval at the CSO level;
  
• 
  Establishment of the MCMC according to the PAD and POM for monitoring of the SRF project activity to check to what extent it is bringing to the statistical capacity building and improving the situation of the CSO;
  
• 
  Discussion of the training activities with the framework of the project for the local staff on basic mathematics, computer skills and English language;
  
• 
  Discussion on the training courses with Kabul University for the staff that have gone through 14 years of study and are eligible to get their bachelors degree in two years of additional study;
  
• 
  Arrangement of training courses for the PICT staff of the project and IT staff CSO in Tajikistan to become familiar with the project activities and Network system development of the Agency on Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan;
  
• 
  Working on the user satisfaction survey with CSO and finalization of the questionnaire as per CSO requirements.
  

Discussion

After the reporting of project coordinator the discussion and some additional question went on the following issues were raised:

• 
  Initially the SRF plan had some courses for the SNA staff members on CPI that will be arranged by CSO and the department only require the cost for the trainees round trip to Kabul and back with the daily allowance (Naimi);
  
• 
  Actually PICT is aware of the training that you have mentioned, but it needs to get your idea in regards to the time of its conducting and all the required cost in detail that needs to be submitted to WB and subsequently it will be organized (Rajabekov);
  

3. MCMC subcommittee issues.

Mr. Zurmati indicated that in order to conduct more thorough analyses of the wide range of SRF activities that will start with the involvement of the twinning arrangement it will be better to organize required subcommittees that can check the conducted activities and missions in detail. At the same time he asked the members to point out their ideas in this regard.

• 
  Creation of subcommittees was an idea that was offered by Jill during the discussion of General project plan for the next five years was developed based on the ANSP which was discussed with all the relevant departments of CSO (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  Actually the subcommittees will be required when the twinning activities will be in place and if there will be a need for any particular issue (Ms. Fletcher);
  
• 
  The idea of establishment of subcommittees is only for better monitoring of the project activities and checking the actions will be done by the twinning partner and some other institutions involved in the project (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  I presume that the subcommittees can act in the period of their needs and will be closed after completion of their duties ( Ms. Fletcher);
  
• 
  Exactly, this is the approach that SRF also thought of and hopes it will be agreed with all the MCMC team members (Mr. Rajabekov);
  

4. Any Other Business

It was agreed that the main activities of the MCMC will start when the Twinning partner will be on board and now it can meet once per quarter or if there is a need.

5. Conclusion

MCMC made a final conclusion that for the time being the project activities are satisfactory and the actual monitoring of the project will start from the time of twinning partner contract signing and the result matrix also will be discussed with them and finalized accordingly.

Annex 4

Minutes No 1

of the SRF Meeting held at the TICA office on August 08, 2011

at 2.00 PM
Presented: Mr. Mustafa Zurmati - Head of Planning Dep. of CSO Mr. Safdar Rajabekov - SRF Project Coordinator

Mr. Ehson Bustonci - TICA Coordinator in Kabul

Mr. Khalid Noori - Sr. Coordinator Assistant
Meeting agenda

1. Opening remarks

2. TICA support on statistical courses for CSO

3. TICA action on the construction of Statistical Training Centre (STC) for CSO

4. Conclusion

1. Opening remarks

Mr. Bustonji welcomed CSO staff members to the TICA office and pointed out some activities that have been implementing by his organization. At the same time he emphasized that during some mail exchange with Mrs. Ayse Ozcan she outlined her discussion with Mr. Rajabekov and asked him to meet with the SRF project coordinator to discuss the project issues and its needs.

2. TICA support on statistical courses for CSO

During the meeting SRF project's coordinator submitted to TICA coordinator an official letter from CSO that indicates CSO requirements for some short-term courses which were initially discussed with Mrs. Ayse Ozcan. During the discussion the following issues were pointed out:

• 
  According to the offered letter CSO wants from TICA to organize some statistical related courses in Turkey (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  Actually it is not only in Turkey, we do think that some courses can be done in Turkey and at the same time for some of them TICA can ask TUIK staff members to come to CSO office where more people will be involved (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  It would be good if CSO will give to TICA the approximate number of participants in each of these courses, which will make it easier to arrange with TUIK (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  CSO has decided that the number of participants will be clarified by TUIK along with their requirements, but if TICA asks it from the CSO side, so it considers that each course can have approximately 10 staff members (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  It can be even 15 if it is possible, as long as CSO has a great deal of needs for some of these courses and TICA support is very important for CSO to upgrade its personnel skills (Mr. Zurmati);
  
• 
  It is much better if we will think of 10 staff members for each of these courses bearing in mind that this requires huge amount of investment from both sides. The intention is that those costs that are required for the team in Turkey can be funded by TICA and the international travel and some pocket money will be provided by SRF project. Turkey cost should include the food as well, as far as it was experienced in Tajikistan with the similar project (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  TICA does not know how usually it works with TUIK and does think that it can provide accommodation, transport, breakfast and dinner (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  It would be very good if TICA could arrange the lunch as well and then some pocket money that project will give the participants can be spent for their other urgent needs (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  This issue need to be raised and discussed with TICA office and clarified with TUIK as well, to know do they have this kind of support or not (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  CSO and the SRF project do think that TUIK must check these courses and provide us with possible timetable for arranging them. By receiving this, SRF with the support of CSO can prepare each course requirement and CSO staff needs and present it to TUIK through TICA which will enable them to outline it and subsequently by the end of the course CSO wants to present TICA short report on how the course was took place and what positive results were obtained by CSO staff and how it can be used in their daily activities (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  Getting report from CSO side will be great for TICA to present its actions results, as long as it did not get any report from over $100 000 USD supported during the current year for different actions (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  Actually the report is essential first of all for SRF to see and check what has been done and to what extent these courses are in line with other training activities planned by SRF. The project intends to provide you with the reports and hopefully positive results of organized courses as well (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  It seems that CSO is taken serious steps to develop its staff’s capacity and Insha’Allah will have good results in the years to come (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  Frankly speaking SRF in its actions is approaching the training issue from three angles, twinning arrangement, TICA and Kabul University and hopes that each one of them will have their own impact on the project and on the capacity building and allows the project to achieve the targets has been set up (Mr. Rajabekov);
  

3. TICA action on the construction of Statistical Training Centre for CSO

Mr. Bustonji indicated that the CSO official letter emphasize the timeline for the construction of STC based on the Mrs. Ayse’s information as of August which he thought is not possible at the moment, although STC construction issue is still in the agenda. Regarding to the STC these issues were discussed:

• 
  TICA has got from the CSO an architectural composition of the building supposed to be built with its support and the design was checked out by its staff members and it can be mentioned that TICA has some suggestions for its further improvement and even can ask some other organizations to prepare better plan for this building, but knowing that this steps will delay the construction process and will not be acceptable for CSO (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  Any further delay will deeply affect the CSO activities and will not allow to implement the plan it initially indicated in the SRF project (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  According to approximate calculations the cost of this building will be around $600 000. This information will be send soon to TICA office in Ankara for their checking and further actions. There is a possibility that this cost will go down when the tender will be announced. For the time being TICA Kabul did not get any direct instructions with regard to this building, although it can confirm that the plan of STC is still on the TICA agenda (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  CSO realize the importance of this centre which will really support the organization with capacity building and provide them more room for action (Mr. Rajabekov);
  
• 
  Recently, several months ago TICA president was substituted by a new person and some changes took place and the Kabul office needs to approach the new person with this action and does hope by 80% that it can be solved. Moreover this issue is still in TICA’s plan and we need to address it and start the construction this year, as long as moving to another year will bring more problems (Mr. Bustonji);
  
• 
  CSO hopes that TICA will convince its headquarter and the activity will start soon which will develop the relationship of these two organizations and make them much closer for their mutual benefits (Mr. Rajabekov);
  

4. Conclusion

Both sides agreed that TICA will submit the list of offered courses to TUIK and tries to get their idea and inform CSO about. At the same time TICA will proceed with the constructions plan with its headquarter and put all its strength to start the construction activities this year.

Annex 4.1

Minutes No 2

of the SRF Meeting with the TICA engineers on the STC site held on

August 22, 2011 at 12.00 AM
Presented: Mr. Mustafa Zurmati - Head of Planning Dep. of CSO

Mr. Safdar Rajabekov - SRF Project Coordinator

Mr. Ahmad Can - Sr. Engineer of TICA

Mr. Farid Shams Baharistani - Engineer of TICA

Mr. Khalid Noori - Sr. Coordinator Assistant, Eng.

Mr. Abdul Wahid Sael - Head of Fin and Admin of CSO.

Mr. Mir Ahmad - CSO Electric Engineer
Meeting agenda

1. Initial meeting planning.

2. STC Site seeing by the TICA engineers

3. Clarification of STC connections at the site

4. Other issues

5. Conclusion
1. Initial meeting planning

TICA Sr. Coordinator Assistant gave a call for arranging a site seeing by the SRF project and CSO to check some important issues and its appropriateness for construction. Mr. Rajabekov informed CSO and the visit was arranged at short notice by noon of the same day.

2. STC site seeing by TICA engineers

TICA team consist of three members has arrived by noon and directly went to the site where STC building supposed to be built. TICA team made sure that all the required standards will be met and the future building will met all the modern and especially possible earthquake requirements. During the meeting and discussion the following issues were raised:

• 
  How far the potential building is going to be according the plan from other surrounding premises and to what extent it meets the engineering standards (Can);
  
• 
  It needs to be indicated that the offered architectural part of this building was prepared by Government engineers and was approved officially and it meets all the standards (Mir Ahmad);
  
• 
  If the construction will be build in this site it means that this canvass supposed to be removed from here and your parking also need to be taken somewhere else (Can);
  
• 
  The car parking is here for the time being and it can be easily removed knowing that the construction will start. CSO can arrange it very quickly (Zurmati);
  
• 
  According to the engineering standards the building must be minimum 1,5 or 2 m out form the wall that exist and it needs to be taken into consideration for people to pass by (Can);
  
• 
  During the preparation of the architecture it was considered that the building will be only one meter out of the wall and it might be indicated in the plan (Mir Ahmad);
  

3. Clarification of STC connections at the site

Mr. Can mentioned that becoming familiar with the site and knowing that this building is planned to be set up in this place TICA wants to know some other related issues. He pointed out the following:

• 
  TICA team is interested to know what kinds of arrangement was planned for the sanitation, electricity and water supply issues and from where it is going to be connected to the proposed building (Can);
  
• 
  CSO has separate place for all of them and it is situated on the West part of site not so far from the building (Mr. Zurmati);
  
• 
  As TICA was checked the building plan it find out that some architectural issues were not taken into account and during the construction, if it will be approved by TICA head office, it will try to change them and bring to the required standards (Can);
  
• 
  The plan of the building was designed by the Government official architects and as it can be seen from the documents it was signed by all of the team involved in this. CSO can make a suggestion that when the construction will starts it can asks the team to come and discuss the plan (Zurmati);
  

4. Other issues

During the discussion Mr. Rajabekov and Mr. Noori discussed the proposed letter and minutes that was submitted to TICA by the SRF project and sate of play in this regard. The following issues were raised in this discussion:

• 
  TICA has prepared a letter for its head office regarding the proposed courses and is going to send it tomorrow and along with this it wants to submit relevant information on the STC as well (Noori);
  
• 
  CSO is deeply interested in the relationship with TICA and wants to improve its cooperation further and these offered courses and STC will be an explicit indication of this action (Rajabekov);
  
• 
  Actually TICA has done a lot of activities in Afghanistan and it is happy that CSO is the type of organization that is deeply interested in its relationship with TICA which was already shown clearly during the first meeting (Noori);
  
• 
  SRF intends to bring the training and the STC building issues to the next level and it already raised this with CSO and CSO is going to invite TICA officially to its office and discuss it once more to make sure that things are developing on the right track (Rajabekov);
  

5. Conclusion

Both sides agreed that TICA will submit the STC plan and submitted courses to its headquarter and inform CSO on the results of these actions.

Annex 5

Minutes No 1

of the SRF Meeting with Kabul University held on at the University premises on August 6, 2011 at 12.00 AM
Presented: Mr. Hamin Hamidullah - Chancellor of Kabul University Mr. Yadgary Mohammad Ashraf - Dean of Economical Dep. of KU Mr. Rajabekov Safdar - SRF Project coordinator Mr. Bawari Mir Afghan - Head of Learning Center Dep. of CSO
Meeting agenda:

CSO collaboration with KU and the possibilities of organizing BS degree course for the 14 years education staff member of CSO and line ministries

Opening remarks

Meeting was opened by Mr. Yadgary who presented first of all the internal University issue of the meeting that was organized by MHE where some of KU staff members’ took part and then he presented the CSO staff members to the Rector and pointed out the issues they came for.

Collaboration of CSO with the Kabul University

Mr. Yadgary pointed out that during the last four months CSO had already approached KU several times with close cooperation and creating some economics and statistics related courses for its staff. One of the main issue that CSO intends to discuss is the special course for those staff member that have obtained their 14 years education and are eligible for the additional two years of study and obtaining there Bachelors degree from the Kabul University. This issue was openly discussed and the following was pointed out:

• 
  Kabul University is able and ready to organize this kind of courses for the CSO and line ministries staff and has all the required facilities for (Amin);
  
• 
  CSO has got a WB project that is ready to pay for the students’ training and they would like to discuss the possibilities of this training with KU (Yadgary);
  
• 
  From the KU side we do not have any problem and ready to cooperate, but it needs to be discussed with the MHE (Amin);
  
• 
  CSO has over 40 staff members that have obtained the 14 years of education and it wants to help them and some of the line-ministries' staff that are involved with statistics to obtain there bachelor’s degree in statistics during two years of study (Rajabekov);
  
• 
  KU is ready to offer it and I think the Economic Department has all the needs to organize it, the only issues that we need is to check the required documentation of the potential student to make sure that they are really obtained their 14 years of education and are eligible for two years of study (Amin);
  
• 
  CSO has all the list and can provide you with all the required documentation to prove this fact, it has got all information ready by now (Bawari);
  
• 
  Yes, this documentation should go first to the MHE and they will send it to KU and KU will act accordingly (Amin);
  
• 
  CSO’s intention is to enroll all the eligible staff members for this course without the enrollment examination that KU provides every year (Yadgary);
  
• 
  The enrollment examinations are for those who wants to study on the Government budget and CSO is ready to pay for its students and that is why KU will not go through this procedure and enrolls all of them and at the end will get the final examination and provide with diploma only those who have passed it successfully (Amin);
  
• 
  Yes, actually this was the intention of the CSO as well, and those who will not be able to obtain their diploma they will also at least improve their capacities (Rajabekov);
  
• 
  CSO needs to contact with the MHE and discuss this issue as the procedure requires. It has to go to the minister first and he will send it to his deputy of academic affairs² and from him it will come to KU, so the procedure needs to be followed (Amin);