Ayenda conference 2014

Our impact & achievements

Demonstrating the measurable impact of advocacy work is difficult.  But the quotes of those we’ve worked with shown on this page demonstrate the value they place on us.

 

‘BAAG is in a good position to bring out the voices of technical people on issues of Afghanistan and make it heard in the decision making circles’ – Afghan government representative

 

‘The Afghan human rights activists I met [through BAAG] were both inspiring and impressive. They told me about the daily struggles they face, including threats to their lives, as they try to secure a better future for women and girls in their country.’  - Secretary of State for International Development, the Right Honourable Justine Greening

 

In addition, BAAG’s expertise is regularly sought by policy makers, civil society leaders and the media.  Recent examples include:

  • Providing written and verbal evidence, both public and private, to various Select Committees (Foreign Affairs, Strategic Defence, Development and Violence against Women & Girls)
  • Providing advice on the development of DFID’s Gender Strategy
  • Panellist at a Chatham House seminar on Protecting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
  • BAAG Director interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on the BBC Newsnight programme

 

Moreover, BAAG has driven real change.  We influenced the approaches of the PRTs – Provincial Reconstruction Teams – after urging them not to jeopardise the critical neutrality of civil society organisations working in clinics and schools and to avoid visiting these, especially when armed. 

Our Peace Building activities, including the 4 day workshop we held in Dublin in 2012, saw the bringing together of 5 long standing Afghan peace organisations and their subsequent formation of the SALAH consortium. SALAH members collaborate to ensure the views of rural Afghans are an integral part of the peacebuilding processes in Afghanistan. 

'BAAG has been playing an excellent role in bringing up the priority issues of Afghanistan’ - Afghan civil society representative