Afghans, in anti-corruption drive, challenge village authorities
By Anand Gopal | Christian Science Monitor – McClatchy.
Kalan Gazar, Afghanistan – In this remote area amid the rough-hewn mountains of northern Afghanistan, a man gingerly steps forward at a village assembly.
“Why did you spend so much money on cement?” he asks village leaders – the first time he has so openly questioned authority.
They check their records and reply: “The cement is high quality, and it was the best deal we could find.”
The man sits back down, apparently satisfied.
This bland exchange – one of many at a meeting where local officials must defend their use of public funds – is part of a ground-breaking program to bring accountability to a nation ranked one of five most corrupt by Transparency International, a corruption watchdog. The problem extends from top officials to local village leaders, and it’s fueling anger at the government and building support for the insurgency.
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To help build Afghans’ capacity in dealing with such problems, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) introduced the idea of social audits – meetings that scrutinize the books of the village council – in hundreds of villages.
The villagers select a “social audit committee,” made up of those whom the community deems the most honest and industrious. AKDN then trains the committee on how to inspect the shura’s financial transactions – the training is needed because many villagers are illiterate or have never examined financial dealings before.
Committee members follow the money trail, tracking down receipts, interviewing laborers, and grilling shura members. Their efforts culminate in a village-wide assembly where committee members present their findings, then invite members of the community to ask questions of the shura or levy allegations. The assembly closes after the village votes on whether they are satisfied with the shura’s dealings.
“This process is crucial to bringing a vibrant democracy to Afghanistan,” says Sujeet Sarkar, head of the AKDN’s Local Governance Program.
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Ismailimail 
It gives me immense pleasure to introduce and implement the idea of social audit. I was one of the luckiest person to work on social audit under the direct =guidance and supervision of MR.Shoaib Sultan Khan (SSK), who have a worth name in rural development. I would like to add that the social capitals (social activists0 should be given opportunity and priority to participate in capacity building workshops, such as, book keeping, documentation, basic accounting, knowledge and skills in social mobilization. Ghulkin a village in Hunza-Gojal is one of the catalyst, where many professionals and volunteers within the country and abroad got insights the theory and practices of social audit. It is the best way to ensure transparency in financial discipline, good governance, democratic approach and accountability, which leads to sustainable development.
Thanks and regards
Sharif Khan
R/o Ghulkin Gojal Hunza
Northern Areas-Gilgit
Pakistan
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