AFCAC conducted Zero AFN Note campaign during the month of October in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. AFCAC team, community mobilizers and its volunteer members went to various governmental and non-governmental entities and conducted the effective campaign in Second, Third and Fourth zones of Jalalabad, Khewa, Surkhrod, Haska Mena, Momand Dara, Goshta and Darai Noor Districts in Nangarhar; Districts #6, #7, #3, #17 & #15 of Kabul, Population Registration Office, Lesa Maryam Hospital, NEMA Institute of Accounting, Directorate of Passport, Office of Electronic IDs, District #3 Afghan Post Office, Directorate of Traffic, Directorate of Power & Electricity, Justice Court Office, Human Resources Office Kabul Municipality and Esteqlal Hospital of District #6 in Kabul; Mehtarlam City in Laghman; and Narang, Narhai & Watapoor districts and Tesha Village in Kunar. This campaign aimed to give people sense of fighting against corruption and wanted people to raise voices, stand and fight for their legal rights.
During the campaign, people felt happy and understood if an employee does not proceed his/her legal process ahead and is trying to pave the way to the illegal act of bribing, Zero AFN Banknote exists to help him/her and solve the problems. Zero AFN Banknote is a crucial tool in fighting against corruption by which people say NO to corruption.
During the month of October, 2020 AFCAC conducted a number of activities as IEC Material Campaigns, Social Media Mobilization, Provision of Legal Aid and Consultation, Advocacy Initiatives for System Reform, Mass Media (Radio Ads and Anti-Corruption Video Broadcasting), Corruption Hunting Societies Meetings and University Students Anti-Corruption Groups Meetings.
AFCAC team conducted these activities in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. The purpose of the activities conducted is to make common people understand what corruption is and how to stand and fight against corruption. In addition, AFCAC legal team provided free legal aid and consultation to the victims of corruption and conducted various advocacy meetings for system reform in order to address all those complaint cases the legal team received during Zero AFN Banknote Campaigns. AFCAC also conducted monthly coordination meetings with Corruption Hunting societies and University Students Anti-Corruption groups in order to review their monthly findings in terms of complaint cases, campaigns, advocacy meetings and make plans for the next month.
Corruption Hunting Society Meeting, Nangarhar
The activities conducted by AFCAC in Kabul, Nangarhar , Laghman and Kunar provinces are highly appreciated by the common people and governmental employees. As an inclination, AFCAC’s Motto which states that “Neither I give bribe nor I take bribe” perfectly matches the scenario AFCAC is currently working in. For the reason that AFCAC’s activities are for the welfare of common people in addition to government employees. AFCAC has encouraged many people for fighting against corruption and has given them the courage of raising voices against corrupt officials.
AFCAC conducted Zero AFN Banknote campaigns during the month of October in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces. AFCAC team, community mobilizers and its volunteer members went to various governmental and non-governmental entities and conducted the effective campaign in second and third zones of Nangarhar; Department of Passport, Directorate of Traffic, Ministry of Electricity and Power, Sayed Jamaluddin University, Ministry of Human Resources, Pooli Baghi Omomi, Kabul Governor House, Kabul University, Sarai Shamali and Abraham Lincoln Library in Kabul; Directorate of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs and Laghman Regional Hospital in Laghman; and Assad Abad and Sarkano Districts in Kunar. This campaign aimed to give people sense of fighting against corruption and wanted people to raise voices, stand and fight for their legal rights.
During the campaign, people felt happy and understood if an employee does not proceed his/her legal process ahead and is trying to pave the way to the illegal act of bribing, Zero AFN Banknote exists to help him/her and solve the problems. Zero AFN Banknote is a crucial tool in fighting against corruption by which people say NO to corruption.
Afghans Coordination Against Corruption – AFCAC officially launched Zero AFN Note campaign for the first time in Afghanistan through a press conference on April 11, 2019 at Panjshir Hall, Intercontinental Hotel, Kabul, Afghanistan. Mr. Sadaqat Ali Executive Director, Mr. Ehsanullah Hikmat, Project Manager, Ms. Salima Siddique Complaint Officer and Ms. Zuhra Kalangari Kabul based volunteers representative spoke to the participants and media about the Zero Note campaign. The panelists responded the questions of the media representatives as well. About fifteen media representatives covered the event, including, Tolo News, 1TV, Kabul News, Pazhwak News Agency, Azadi Radio, etc.
Zero Note Campaign
Corruption is global phenomenon; it exists almost in all countries. In some countries it has been controlled, while others still try to mitigate and eliminate corruption. Both the governments and the citizens are equally responsible for striving for the mitigation and combating corruption. Various governments and citizens of different countries have taken certain measures to tackle corruption. One of such effort is the “Zero Note”, The Zero AFN Note is a simple currency-like looking tool designed to resemble the AFN 1000 currency in Afghanistan, but made larger than the AFN Thousand note, with an Anti-bribery Pledge replacing the Reserve Bank Governor’s pledge of the actual money’s tender. The front of the ZAN has “I PROMISE TO NEITHER ACCEPT NOR GIVE BRIBE” printed on the front bottom center. The organization’s contact info and an anti-bribery appeal (“If anyone demands a bribe, give this note and report the case”) is also printed on the ZAN.
Launch of Zero AFN Note Campaign
The moment a corrupt government employee receives the note, he or she is shaken up a bit and immediately responds to the situation in a friendly and helpful manner simply to avoid getting into the bribe-radar and therefore the ZAN proves to be a simple, strong and effective “Non-violent weapon of Non-cooperation” giving voice to the “voiceless” and power to the “powerless”.
Martin Luther King once very famously said, “The silence of the good people is more dangerous than the brutality of the bad people”. Realizing what man could achieve if corruption was to be completely eliminated from our day-to-day lives. The Zero AFN notes will be printed to empower the common man – those who suffer the most, those who are often oppressed by corrupt officials. The idea of the note is to tell people that they no longer needed to be afraid of those in power, and to make them realize that they had nothing to lose and that for the first time; they were not alone in the fight. This will also give people the chance to register a grassroots protest against low-level corruption.
Involving the citizen is key in fighting corruption effectively; and the Zero Note is one of the best tools to mobilize and involve the citizen to “Say No to Corruption” by combating corruption in all levels. They will be informed and satisfied that they are not alone; AFCAC will fully support them whenever they face the corrupt officials. By reporting the case AFCAC will fully cooperate with the person through its legal team.
AFCAC has vast experience in public mobilization and providing legal assistance and consultation.
AFCAC registered with Ministry of Economy as an independent organization. AFCAC visions a transparent, accountable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan base on social justice and rule of law in the country. In view of wide spread corruption in Afghanistan there is need for serious cope against corruption. Corruption in Afghanistan has spread all over the country so it has to be tackle by the CSOs, Community Members/Elders, Scholars, Professors etc.
AFCAC has launched Annual General Meeting to elect board members and chairman for one year.
Eng. Amanullah Aman, Ms. Leena Shinwari, Eng. Meera Khan Afghan, Ms. Karima Rahyar, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Mohmand, Mr. Mohammad Qasim Zamani, Mr. Najibullah Habibi, Ms. Malika Qanih, Ms. Suraya Yosufzai successfully find the way for advisory board.
After the successful conduction of General meeting, in which the new AFCAC Advisory Board members were selected; the first Board meeting was held on February 14, 2018. In the beginning, AFCAC Executive Director congratulated the new elected board members and hoped that with the new board AFCAC programs will be improved and the fight against corruption will be intensified. Followed by the opening remarks of the Executive Director, there was the introduction. The members introduced themselves in detail.
AFCAC General Assembly – 2018
One of the agenda points of this meeting was to select the Board Chairman and vice chairman. After a long and comprehensive discussion, Eng. Amanullah Aman was selected as the board new chairman and Ms. Leena Shinwari as the Vice chairman.
The next discussion was on how the board will operate. All the members expressed their views. It was unanimously decided that the board meetings will be held quarterly. It was also said that the board will assist AFCAC in strategic planning and fund raising.
As a final point they promised that the board will fully support AFCAC in all important issues and whenever required.
