The Meeting Chart

For the Good of the Country

On my first assignment in Afghanistan in 2004 I met a high spirited Afghan expatriate who had been given a central role in the government’s civil service reform. His young family had remained in the US while he was running between donors and government, dancing his way through project deadlines and stepping in as translator when business couldn't take place otherwise. With 9 and half hours ahead of his home town, he would “Skype” his family daily very early in the morning and end his day quite late in his office working on a few select pet projects. On rare occasions he would agree to attend a picnic just outside Kabul with his close friends. Only then would he take the time to relax a bit. Shortly after the last plate of food had been emptied and carried away, he would sit back on his cushion and have a cigarette or two with his green tea. It is at about that point when he would somehow find a brilliant place in the conversation to say: “For the good of the country!”

I often think about the commitment and energy displayed by the people who work for Government organizations in Afghanistan. In Kabul, an entire department will often be given a small office to accommodate its employees. Many of these offices have no heat, no cabinets to put papers, very few free chairs, no computers, little lighting, broken windows and no guarantee of electricity. Yet, everyone in that department will begin their work week Saturday morning and end it Thursday afternoon to enjoy their 1 and a half day weekend. Yes, it is indeed an honor to work with these people against all odds for the “good of the country”.

The Journey

On occasion, we have colleagues who share their experiences working in the more secluded regions of Afghanistan. Panjsher (The Valley of Five Lions) is one of 34 provinces in Afghanistan. It is known for its valley which joins the eastern and western borders of the province. Home for more than 300,000 Afghans Panjsher has the potential of becoming a major center of emerald mining as well as a unique experience for those who enjoy the awe inspiring peaks of the Hindu Kush.

In the months of January and February this region is marked by extremely cold temperatures. Nevertheless, you will find that people walk in sandals with no socks, throw snowballs with no mittens and wear the traditional light cotton pants. It would appear that living in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan not only requires extreme resourcefulness but also remarkable resilience.

In effect, it is truly bewildering how the Afghans manage to cope with this harsh climate and the poverty that surrounds them. The experiences shared by my colleague of the people living in Panjsher is but a simple wintry example of how very little we understand these people and their ability to survive. Clearly, a journey in this country only truly begins once you understand that you don’t.


Photos taken by Mr. Robert Aguirre January 20, 2008.

Taking the Plunge

Most of us have heard of interval training – especially at this time of year when gyms are filled with people who seek to lose the extra pounds amassed during the Christmas season. Wikipedia defines interval training as repetitions of high-speed/intensity work followed by periods of rest or low activity. Interval training is not just for people who wish to get fit or lose weight – but also for organizations who wish to progress or eliminate inefficiencies.

Oftentimes organizations intuitively adopt interval training approaches to development. It is as though people need to catch their breath between “high intensity” periods of change in order to whet desired results. The period of rest or low activity most often occurs between getting on the plank and taking the plunge; or more specifically, between the development work and the implementation.

An interesting true story was shared recently demonstrating that continuous long term high intensity change can be quite counterproductive. A Senior Official of a prison department made a public commitment to move inmates to a new prison on a specific date. Although the construction was not completed he stood by his promise and relocated the inmates to their new abode. Unfortunately, the Correctional Officers could not tell the difference between the hammering of construction and the hammering of inmates pounding a hole. Guess what happened next….


Photo: Taking the Plunge - Scuba Diving in Cancun 2007