BBC Afghan Education Projects (BBC AEP)  

After the presidential elections in October 2004, the situation in Afghanistan calmed down, at least that much that it lost its attraction for the international media. The next important step in the rebuilding of Afghanistan will be the parliamentary elections that are due to be held in September 2005. Much progress have been made but Afghanistan continues to suffer from the collapse of the social security net and infrastructure, mainly in health services and education. Decades of war and conflicts have had a huge impact on the Afghan society, causing destruction and poverty, and it is likely to take some time before the situation in Afghanistan stabilises. Afghanistan badly needs a reconciliation process for its people to live in peace and for building a nation. Both victims and perpetrators need to understand the causes of atrocities and conflict, and position themselves to move towards a peaceful future. For this reason, the BBC Afghan Education Project (BBC AEP) will put a focus in all its different broadcasting formats on reconciliation during the coming two years. In addition, the issue of HIV/AIDS will also be addressed during the same period. The goal of the BBC AEP is to contribute towards reconciliation among different groups of the society as well as towards the avoidance of an HIV/AIDS epidemic in Afghanistan, based on forward looking and socially acceptable solutions. The implementing partner is BBC AEP which is a part of the BBC World Service Trust that was established to promote development trough effective use of media. The Trust operates as a non-profit organisation within the BBC World Service. The Humanitarian Aid Department of SDC started supporting BBC AEP in 1993. In 2004, it was handed over to the South Asia Division of SDC's Development Cooperation Department. Today, BBC AEP produces its programs with about 340 full- and part-time employees. Its flagship program, the radio soap opera "New Home, New Life", is broadcast three times weekly in both Pashto and Dari. The target group are all Afghans in Afghanistan and abroad. A recent survey showed that about 50% of all Afghans listen to BBC AEP. The two priority topics, reconciliation and HIV/AIDS, will be integrated in all the formats produced by BBC AEP (drama, soap opera, educational features and cartoon magazine). As all BBC AEP programs are made in Kabul, there is a inherent risk as Afghanistan does not have an established tradition of media independence. Moreover, editorial judgement has to be very sensitive, as some themes could cause offence unless handled carefully. For example, if the topic reconciliation is not handled carefully, it could be counterproductive and cause new clashes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/mediadevelopment/story/2005/09/050914_projectafghan.shtml

National implementation:

Ongoing from

BBC World Service Trust , BBC Persian and Pashto Service , UNHCR , PSI , FCO , UNODC , EU , Department For International Development, United Kingdom,

* Access to information and knowledge
* Capacity building
* ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life
* Media
* Ethical dimensions of the Information Society

• Goal 3: Promote gender equality & empower women
• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5: Improve maternal health
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

• Programme