Building Bridges in Afghanistan – Insights from Daniel Endres
During an internal Lunch & Learn session, cinfo staff had the opportunity to listen to Daniel Endres talk about his work as a United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan. Endres spent around seven years in Afghanistan during several significant periods in history. He highlighted four key issues he had to deal with during his assignment and discussed his role in addressing them.
About Daniel Endres
Daniel Endres is a member of cinfo’s foundation board. He started his career in international cooperation as a Swiss JPO in Pakistan, and worked for more than 30 years with the UNHCR and later in senior positions. From June 2023 to January 2024, he served as the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative (a.i.) and as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (a.i.) at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Afghanistan's tumultuous history spanning over four decades of conflict has deeply affected its social, economic, and political landscapes. The Soviet invasion (1979-1989), the subsequent civil war, the Taliban's rise to power, and the NATO-led intervention from 2001 have left the country with a fragile infrastructure and a struggling economy. The situation took a dramatic turn in August 2021 with the rapid withdrawal of NATO forces and the Taliban's takeover, prompting a shift in focus from development to urgent humanitarian aid. During his seven-month-long assignment, Daniel Endres faced four key issues.
Ban on Female UN/NGO Workers
The Taliban's ban on female workers in UN and NGO roles, effective from late 2022, has significantly disrupted humanitarian efforts, particularly those aimed at women and girls. The response involved negotiating flexible arrangements with the Taliban and creatively reclassifying women's centres to continue essential services. By mid-2023, most organisations resumed 80-90% of their activities despite the restrictions, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the humanitarian community. Daniel’s role was to coordinate the development and humanitarian assistance and act as a liaison between the various actors, such as national and local authorities, the international humanitarian community and local organisations.
Climate Change: Drought and Flash Floods
Afghanistan is extremely vulnerable to climate change, facing severe droughts and flash floods that devastate agriculture, the backbone of its economy. These conditions have forced many Afghans to relocate internally or to migrate to neighbouring countries. International support is urgently needed to develop sustainable water management systems, crop adaptation strategies, and better climate forecasting to mitigate these impacts. Daniel stressed the importance of the local/regional organisations and the people who live and work in the affected areas. As they know their land and agricultural needs better than anyone else, they must be handed the lead in these projects.
Herat Earthquakes (October 2023)
The devastating earthquakes in Herat in October 2023, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, caused widespread destruction, affecting 50,000 families and resulting in over 1,000 deaths. The immediate humanitarian response was effective, but long-term reconstruction poses significant challenges, particularly in securing necessary funding. Coordination between the new regime and humanitarian agencies was crucial during this crisis.
Massive Returns of Afghans from Pakistan (October-December 2023)
The forced return of 500,000 Afghans from Pakistan created immense challenges, with many returnees arriving without assets and facing harsh conditions. The rapid response involved setting up a consortium for medical care, social counselling, food aid, and return grants at the border. Constructive cooperation between the local/regional Taliban and humanitarian organisations was essential in managing this crisis. One of Daniel and his team's main tasks was to bring people together during this time, including the authorities. Indeed, the authorities were at the border, warmly receiving the returnees, providing them with social and trauma counselling, medical care, and a substantial return grant, along with issuing necessary documents. This proved to be one of the successful forms of collaboration since the takeover. It worked well and showed that humanitarian work is done no matter who is in charge.
Daniel Endres' Role in Coordination
Daniel Endres played a pivotal role in coordinating the international humanitarian response to Afghanistan's multifaceted crises. His efforts focused on ensuring flexible and adaptive strategies to navigate the complex political and environmental landscape. Endres emphasized the importance of creative solutions, such as adapting the way of support to women and girls and negotiating with the regime in place (Taliban) to continue essential services. He also highlighted the need for international collaboration on climate change mitigation, sustainable support for displaced persons, and securing funding for long-term reconstruction projects.
Bridges for the future
The humanitarian and development work faces significant challenges in Afghanistan – from political restrictions and climate change to displacement and natural disasters. The resilience of its people and the coordinated efforts of national NGOs and international agencies are critical in addressing these issues. Continued support, innovative solutions, and flexible approaches are essential to provide effective and sustained humanitarian aid in this complex environment. Daniel Endres' coordination actions underscore the importance of adaptive strategies and international cooperation in navigating Afghanistan's ongoing crises.
