Strengthening Community Engagement and Women’s Participation in Herat

On March 2026 ActionAid, Afghanistan  held a full-day training on Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) under the DAWAM Project in Herat. The event brought together 50 community representatives from Adraskan, Shindand and Gulran districts to boost awareness, participation and accountability within WASH interventions.

Delivered in the local language, the training covered ActionAid’s interventions in the west region, an overview of the DAWAM Project, AAP principles, practical CFM channels and complaint handling, participatory discussions, and role-play exercises to practice raising concerns at community level. Special emphasis was placed on meaningful women’s participation in WASH activities and their role in household hygiene, water management and sustained behavior change.

Fifteen women members of WMCs, IPCs and CBMCs attended together with 25 male representatives including elders, youth and healthcare workers, an inclusive mix that encouraged diverse perspectives and collective ownership. Transportation costs and per diems were provided to remove financial barriers to attendance.

Participants responded positively, sharing experiences and recommendations and reporting increased confidence in using feedback channels and engaging in local decision-making.
“The training showed us clear ways to share concerns and hold projects accountable, this will improve water and hygiene services for everyone,” said a community elder from Shindand.

“Understanding the feedback channels and complaint handling helped me see how women’s voices can be recorded and addressed, I feel empowered to use CFM to improve WASH services for my community,” said Shakilla khusrawy a WMC member from Adraskan district.

This initiative reaffirms ActionAid’s commitment to empowering communities, promoting gender inclusion and strengthening accountability to ensure development efforts are responsive and effective.