The National Maliks Association

NMA Current Activities

1. NMA district-level activities

The NMA hold one monthly meeting where the members discuss important issues such as conflicts among the residents of particular districts and try to find solutions while fully considering human rights. These decisions are recorded in their meeting books and reported to the provincial NMA shura and the district administration.

Each member of the district shuras participate in weekly public meetings, preferably following Friday prayers and disseminate relevant information and knowledge that they have mastered during their trainings. They also inform the participants regarding their conflict resolution roles (problems and solutions). They weekly focus is on topics that are the integral part of the Malik curriculum. They encourage the participation of communities in the socio-economic and political development of their district and to promote volunteerism for public works.

The NMA liaise monthly with the provincial shura and the relevant local authorities (district administration and the elected district councils) as well as with donors, relief and aid organizations and relevant government departments such as the Department of the of Rural Development and Rehabilitation in order to inform them about the needs of their constituents and actions to be taken to address those needs.

During their weekly meetings at community centers (Hujras) or mosques, they encourage their constituents to participate and to promote human rights, democracy, elections, and women’s rights, demobilization of combatants, drug control, peace and national unity.

2. NMA provincial-level activities

The provincial shuras convene every month and discuss all issues of interest with a particular focus on issues referred by the district shuras. Their proceedings and decisions should be recorded in their meeting books and reported to the regional NMA shura and the provincial administration.

The NMA provincial shuras call the heads of the district shuras for a meeting once in three months and discuss with them all issues of importance.

Each member of the provincial shuras participate in weekly public meetings, preferably following Friday prayer, and disseminate relevant information and knowledge that they have mastered during their trainings. They also inform the participants regarding their conflict resolution roles (problems and solutions). They weekly focus is on topics that are the integral part of the Malik curriculum. They encourage the participation of communities in the socio-economic and political development of their district and to promote volunteerism for public works.

They liaise monthly with the regional shura and the relevant local authorities (provincial administration and the elected provincial councils) as well with donors, relief and aid organizations and relevant government departments such as the Department of Rural Development and Rehabilitation in order to inform them about the needs of their constituents and actions to be taken to address those needs.

During their weekly meetings at community centers (Hujras) or mosques, they encourage their constituents to participate and to promote human rights, democracy, elections, and women’s rights, demobilization of combatants, drug control, peace and national unity.

3. NMA regional-level activities

The NMA regional shuras convene quarterly and discuss all issues of interest with a particular focus on issues referred by the provincial shuras. Their proceedings and decisions should be recorded in their books and reported to the NMA National Shura.

The NMA regional shuras call the heads of the provincial shuras for a meeting once in six months and discuss with them all issues of importance.

Each member of the regional shura participate in weekly public meetings, preferably following Friday prayer, and disseminate relevant information and knowledge that they have mastered during their trainings. They also inform the participants regarding their conflict resolution roles (problems and solutions). They weekly focus is on topics that are the integral part of the Malik curriculum. They encourage the participation of communities in the socio-economic and political development of their district and to promote volunteerism for public works.

They liaise quarterly with the National Shura and the relevant local authorities (regional administration and elected provincial councils) as well with donors, relief and aid organizations and relevant government departments such as the Department of Rural Development and Rehabilitation in order to inform them about the needs of their constituents and actions to be taken to address those needs.

During their weekly meetings at community centers (Hujras) or mosques, they encourage their constituents to participate and to promote human rights, democracy, elections, and women’s rights, demobilization of combatants, drug control, peace and national unity.

4. NMA national level activities

The NMA National Shura convene quarterly and discuss all issues of interest with a particular focus on issues referred by the regional shuras. Their proceedings and decisions should be recorded in their books and reported to the NMA annual national grand meeting.

The NMA National Shura call the heads of the regional shuras for a meeting once in six months and discuss with them all issues of importance.

The NMA National Shura call two meetings of almost 200 leading members of the Association (district, provincial and regional) for meetings in Kabul twice a year to discuss all issues of national importance.

Each member of the national shura participate in weekly public meetings preferably following Friday prayer and disseminate relevant information and knowledge that they have mastered during their trainings. They also inform the participants regarding their conflict resolution roles (problems and solutions). The weekly focus is on topics that are the integral part of the Malik curriculum. They encourage the participation of communities in the socio-economic and political development of their district and to promote volunteerism for public works.

They liaise monthly with the relevant national authorities (relevant ministries, departments, parliament, etc) as well as with donors, relief and aid organizations and relevant government departments in order to inform them about the needs of their constituents and actions to be taken to address those needs.

During their weekly meetings at community centers (Hujras) or mosques, they encourage their constituents to participate and to promote human rights, democracy, elections, and women rights, demobilization of combatants, drug control, peace and national unity.

The NMA National Shura supervise the activities of all their branches (regional, provincial, and district shuras) and provide necessary guidance. The NMA will serve as a watchdog association to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance and will cooperate with the government regarding all issues of national interests.

NMA is now registered with the Ministry of Justice and is on the verge of becoming an independent organization.

National Maliks Association Meeting - March 2009, Kabul:

On March 25, 2009, WADAN in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and in consultations with the executive board and regional networks of the National Maliks Association (NMA) organized the annual NMA gathering in Kabul.

The theme of NMA meeting was to discuss two important issues currently faced by the nation – 1) to deliberate on the expectations of the Afghan people from the next elected president, and 2) to pinpoint the ongoing pressing problems and lay out possible ways out from the crisis. The event was also aimed to build a common ground and enhance regional dialogues and greater cooperation through strengthening local involvement in initiatives geared toward peace, security, and conflict mitigation, as well as promotion of democracy and national unity through regional exchanges, and more direct links with the elected officials.

Around 426 local leaders and tribal elders from various parts of Afghanistan as well as members of the Afghan parliament and stalwarts from the civil society participated in the event and were actively involved in all discussions and plenary sessions.

At the end of the event, NMA elections were held and Mr. Mir Ahmad Qaseem from northeast part of Afghanistan was named the Chairman of the National Maliks Association to lead the NMA for a period of one year. Finally, a declaration was adopted unanimously that stressed upon the local leaders to play their existing roles as community leaders and actively promote the declaration and mobilize their communities to participate and work for the prosperity, national unity, peace and democracy in Afghanistan.

NMA Annual Meeting – Kabul (November 22 – 24, 2006)

The National Maliks Association annual gathering was organized by WADAN in consultations with the head and executive board of the NMA and its regional networks in Kabul from November 22 to 24, 2006. The theme of the National Maliks Association (NMA) annual meeting was: “What the citizens particularly the members of NMA can do for the country and its government NOT what the country or its government can do for them”. Around 425 NMA members from the various regions participated in the event and were actively involved in all discussions, elections for the head of the NMA and took part in the different group discussions, debates, plenary sessions, and question and answer sessions.

The regional head of NMA presented their achievements so far as well as highlighted their constraints and needs. They mentioned that they were actively involved in the promotion of peace, democracy, governance, conflict resolutions, human rights and drug control in their constituencies and are regularly in contact with their people through discussions, speeches, jirgas, hujras and mosques. Members of the NMA executive board spoke and shared their progress on similar issues and their future plans – more regional dialogues, more involvement in initiatives geared toward peace, resolution of tribal disputes, promotion of national unity through regional exchanges, and more direct links with the elected officials - with the participants and sought their support.

During the discussions, a working group was assigned to come up with a declaration that was adopted unanimously at the end of the event. Moreover, a committee was assigned to nominate around 200 NMA members to meet with President Karzai and some of his team to share the NMA declaration and provide suggestions and recommendations for the upcoming grand Loya Jirga to be organized by Afghanistan and Pakistan for the promotion of peace and stability and the prevention of extremists and terrorists.

Subsequently, more than 200 members of NMA met with the President for more than two hours on November 24, 2006 and discussed with him the NMA Declaration and provided suggestions and recommendations. President Karzai voiced his appreciation and vowed to promote the NMA Declaration. The President also thanked the NMA members and WADAN for their ground-breaking work at the grassroots level.

The following issues were discussed in detail and the participants were encouraged to actively participate and play their role in the political, social, economical and cultural rebuilding of their homeland. (For details, please refer to the attached NMA declaration).

• Security and the role of NMA members in promoting peace, stability, constituents’ conflict resolution, and vehement struggles against extremism and terrorism;
• The need for economic development and the role of the NMA members in improving the livelihood of their constituents;
• The need for effective governance and elimination of corruption in all its forms;
• The need to free the Afghan society form the menace of illicit drugs cultivation, usage and trafficking;
• The need for greater awareness and mobilization of the public to promote human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women;
• The need for intercultural awareness and support for those national and international players that are engaged in the promotion of peace, democracy, reconstruction and rebuilding of the country.
• The need to strengthen the NMA relationship with their elected officials and their constituencies.

Among the participants were some members of the administration, parliament, UN, NGOs and some businessmen. Some of them who also delivered speeches were:

• Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, Minister of Finance
• Dr. Farooq Wardak, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs,
• Mr. Nabi Farahi, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs
• Mr. Mirwais Yasini, member of Parliament
• Mr. Shahmahmood Miakhel, governance advisor of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA)
• Mr. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, Chairman, ANCB

At the conclusion of the event, members of the NMA vowed to actively promote the declaration and mobilize their constituencies to participate and contribute to the betterment of fellow Afghans and work for the prosperity, national unity, peace, democracy and development of Afghanistan as well as abide and promote the universal declaration of human rights.

The event was covered by national and international print and electronic media. Members of NMA and some WADAN field staff were interviewed by various media outlets regarding the event, the role of NMA and views and opinions on current challenges Afghanistan faces.

NMA Declaration - November 2006

We, all the local community leaders, elders, influential and religious scholars hereby explain and affirm the declaration of the National Maliks Association:

• We all follow and comply with all the precepts and commandments of Islam, and would like to live in a more peaceful and stable environment.
• We appreciate and advocate all the declarations and decrees issued by our government in order to bring peace and stability to the country.
• We all believe and support that jirgas are the key to promoting peace and stability in the country.
• We desire to have national unity, peace and solidarity in Afghanistan.
• We will constantly and persistently struggle for peace and tranquility in our communities.
• We want accountability, transparency and good governance in Afghanistan, and strongly discourage and will struggle against corruption.
• We want the parliament and provincial councils to stay closely in touch with their associated constituencies and other domains.
• We appreciate and strongly support those who assist us in strengthening and uplifting our economy, improving the livelihood and the living standards of our people, and alleviating poverty from the country.
• We will continue our struggles to bring and maintain security in our communities.
• We will continue our struggles to support and sustain democracy and the democratic principles in our country.
• We will strongly discourage and will struggle against illicit poppy cultivation, drug abuse and drug trafficking in our country.
• We will encourage our people to work voluntary and voluntarily in their communities, and will rally our support to eradicate tribal, religious, lingual and racial discriminations.
• We will consider the encouragement and persuasion of our people in strengthening our governance as our duty.
• We will avoid force marriages and will particularly avoid marrying of girls in a tender or premature age in our societies.
• We will struggle against the force marriages of widows in our communities.
• We will support the government and the organizations that are involved in the rebuilding and rehabilitation process.
• We will eliminate the illiteracy, spread the education and will promote effective community and institutional development practices across the country.
• We will struggle against those who violate human rights particularly those intimidating women.

Updated on: April 15, 2009