Sep 19, 2011

On 07 September 2011, Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue, a senior advisor with the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations- a US Secretary of Defense initiative to promote long term economic development in Afghanistan and Iraq- visited the Centre for Conflict and Peaces Studies (CAPS). The director of CAPS, Mr. Hekmat Karzai, introduced Mr. O’Donoghue to the CAPS research team after which Deputy Head of Research Mr. Halim Kousary briefed Mr. O’Donoghue on CAPS activities and projects.

Prior to his placement in Afghanistan, Mr. O’Donoghue worked in Iraq to jump-start the decimated Iraqi economy from 2006 onwards. He gave a brief background to the overall aims and focus of the Task Force including its emphasis on long-term sustainability and sense of corporate social responsibility. He stated that the Task Force is now 100% focused on the Afghan context.

During the CAPS’ meeting with him, various possibilities for economic development in Afghanistan were discussed. Including the establishment of publishing houses in Afghanistan, the exporting of Afghan fruits, and the development of IT infrastructure in Afghanistan. Mr. O’Donoghue said that Google already launched its activities in western Herat city of Afghanistan.

Mr. O’Donoghue stated that the goal of his organisation was to develop local firms at the village level, as well as enhance the legal and transparent focus of economic development in Afghanistan. This, in turn, benefits the local economy and encourages long-term economic sustainability.
Mr. O’Donoghue emphasised the need for the standardisation of the quality of Afghan products. Whether this comes from the Afghan government or other organisation standards will be necessary in order to successfully, and widely, export Afghan products.

Areas for collaboration between the Task Force and CAPS were also identified. For instance, CAPS offered to facilitate the Task Force’s on-the-ground research in the provinces as well as offer an Afghan perspective to the economic needs of the Afghan people.