This case study is part of a larger project that explores women’s participation in different development programmes and projects in Afghanistan. The research specifically explores women’s participation in the National Solidarity Programme’s (NSP) Community Development Councils (CDCs) as well as non-government organisation (NGO)- initiated groups for microfinance under the Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA). It examines the effects these forms of women’s participation are having on gender roles and relations within the family and the local community. The project covers communities in Balkh, Parwan and Kabul provinces. This Kabul case study is the third and final one in a series that focuses exclusively on women’s participation in the NSP.
The study used a qualitative research approach, collecting data from multiple sources for triangulation. The main method used was semi-structured in-depth interviews supplemented by focus group discussions (FGDs), informal conversations and observations. A total of 55 interviews were conducted with 39 informants for the first round and 16 out of these informants were re-interviewed in the second round. These informants represented male and female CDC members, their family members and community residents. Five FGDs (three for women and two for men) were conducted with a total of 23 participants. Two FGDs were conducted for the officials and members of the CDCs (one for men and one for women). Two FGDs were conducted for community members/household members of the female CDC officials/members, and one for female beneficiaries of the NSP-CDC project.
