About ODS
Organization for Development Solutions (ODS) is an Afghan-Australian led, non-governmental, non-political, and not-for-profit organization established in 2020 and registered as an NGO with Afghanistan's Ministry of Economy and as an incorporated association in Victoria, Australia. ODS takes bottom-up and rights-based approaches to development. In adopting these approaches, ODS aims to meet the specific needs of Afghan communities and identify and address inequalities and work towards promoting the rights of the most vulnerable and isolated groups in society to essential services. Its projects are context-specific and based on consultation with the local people as they know best their communities' specific needs. By taking this approach, ODS aims to empower local voices, ensure their participation in development activities, and enhance local capacity-building efforts. By focusing on local voices and participation, ODS aims to promote public awareness and participatory democracy. Moreover, ODS conducts professional training, project evaluation, in-depth research, and analysis based on fieldwork data and locally-produced project outcomes to fill in the niche in the literature about bottom-up approaches to development and peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
The team behind ODS is Afghan nationals with work experience in development and peacebuilding in different capacities, nationally and internationally, and government and non-government sectors. As a local organization, ODS is supported by international experts from the Afghan diaspora and friends of Afghanistan to fill in the expertise gap. As a non-political entity, ODS provides an opportunity and platform for young Afghans worldwide to contribute to their homeland in the development and peacebuilding sectors.
ODS has a physical presence in two key provinces, Balkh and Kabul. The main office is located in Mazar-e-Sharif city and a regional office in Kabul city.
Our Logo represents organic and grassroots development.
ODS stands for preserving the resilience for sustainability in peace. Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been washed in a bloodbath, empires from across the world and, over time, constructed and deconstructed its political and social landscapes. Yet, between all continuity and change, its blue turquoise and soil endured, and the struggle remained in the grassroots. Development and peace, sometimes shattered, sometimes absent, appeared in unfamiliar shapes and colours. The ODS logo represents the endurance and resilience of Afghanistan and her people.
Logo Design © Samea Shanori
Two key objectives that inspired the founders in establishing ODS are:
First, to bridge the gap in development and peacebuilding efforts to contribute towards an endurable and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. A fragile economy and aid-dependent, Afghanistan faces significant political and security challenges between war and peace; there is a critical need to prioritize the fundamental aspects of development that utilize peacebuilding.
Second, to apply the lessons learned from the last two decades on development and peacebuilding in Afghanistan for better outcomes. ODS believes bottom-up approaches from community-inspired initiatives, development and peacebuilding will have a more organic growth necessary for its durability and sustainability. Further, there is immense knowledge and experience in development engagements in Afghanistan. However, there has been little reflection and critical evaluation of the experiences to boost productivity, identify and prioritize local needs, and address the most critical issues that could contribute towards sustainable peace in Afghanistan and move beyond political and deadline-driven projects.
Core Values:
Innovation and creativity: to embrace and promote innovation and creativity inspired and enhanced from organically local perspectives and knowledge.
Human dignity: to promote respect for human dignity in every organizational endeavour.
Respect local cultural practices: to identify and respect local cultural practices, traditions, customs and norms at planning, implementing and evaluating initiatives.
Learning and improvement: to learn from successes and failures of the past lessons on development and peacebuilding accordingly improve the present and future engagements.
