13 August 2009

Eastern Afghanistan: Every few days, UNV volunteer Azita dons her headscarf and makes for the Afghan provinces to assist the Independent Election Commission in their preparations for Thursday’s elections.

With the election date approaching, she continues to work 12-hour days supporting the work of IEC officials in the region, ensuring follow-up and checking on reporting processes. Azita laughs at how even the late afternoon weather is a hardship: “When I leave for work in the morning, it’s already 31-32 degrees out. Now, it’s close to 42 degrees!”

Azita is a Regional Public Outreach and Training Advisor in eastern Afghanistan.  As part of the UNDP-supported Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT) project, she works closely with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to advise them on organizing civic education activities and disseminating public information on the electoral process.

The UNV volunteer is an old hand at providing support during elections. Prior to her recent UNV volunteer experience as an electoral advisor in Nepal, she helped prepare elections first in her native country and later in Jordan while with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). “It is during this time that I got into helping and travelling while working in an international, multicultural environment,” she explains.

Based in Afghanistan for the past 10 months, the UNV volunteer acknowledges that her experiences in Afghanistan have tested her resolve. Security concerns greatly restrict her movements and contacts. She would love nothing more than to explore the city’s bazaar, but must instead send a driver to do her shopping.

Other than her colleagues in the office and at the IEC, Azita does not meet too many Afghanis. However, even coming from a country with comparable attitudes, she believes her most difficult challenge is still a cultural one. Many in Afghanistan view foreigners warily and men’s dominant position in society is rarely questioned.  Azita is working to build a rapport with her male Afghani counterparts, so they may readily accept guidance from a foreigner, and a woman no less.

Despite these difficulties, Azita considers working toward the 2009 elections a great experience. She is encouraged in her work by seeing changing attitudes, growing cooperation and contributions from her Afghani partners.

But most of all, she says, she appreciates the team. “I am very thankful to my supervisors and colleagues at UNV in Afghanistan,” remarks Azita. “Their positive support and their positive attitude, in and outside the office, has been essential to my duties as a UNV volunteer.”

For security reasons, the full names and locations of the people mentioned are not disclosed.