DUSHANBE, December 21, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The University of Central Asia’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (UCA IPPA) celebrated the second cohort of Afghan graduates of its Certificate Program in Policy Analysis (CPPA) in Kabul, Afghanistan on December 20.

According to UCA, the course was delivered through an ongoing partnership between UCA and the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“CPPA has been an effective and tangible program contributing to our civil servants designing and formulating better policies in the Ministry of Finance as well as promoting good governance in Afghanistan,” said Mr. Musa Kamawi, Director of Human Resources, and Ministry of Finance.

Eleven graduates received their Certificate in Policy Analysis at a ceremony at the Ministry attended by Acting Deputy Minister of Policy, Mr. Amin Habibi, Ministry of Finance; Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi, Chief Advisor to the President on Infrastructure Human Capital and Technology; Mrs. Nurjehan Mawani, Diplomatic Representative, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Afghanistan; Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko, UCA, Director General; and Mr. Musa Kamawi, Director of Human Resources, Ministry of Finance.

“UCA’s partnership with the Ministry of Finance continues to bear fruit.  These graduates join a highly motivated team of civil servants, armed with the skills and knowledge they need to advance evidence-based policy making at the Ministry,” said UCA Director General, Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko, welcoming graduates and guests.

CPPA is an executive program designed for civil servants, independent analysts and staff at think-tanks and non-governmental organizations. It includes four modules, on Policy Process in Government, Economics for Policy Analysis, Methods of Policy Analysis and Policy Monitoring and Evaluation.  Each participant also developed a policy paper and defended it before an expert panel.  The course is a 25 credit European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) program.

CPPA was taught by an international team, including Dr. Paul Brown and Dr. Kaireen Chaytor of Dalhousie University, Ms. Madina Junussova of Carleton University and Dr. Roman Mogilevskii of UCA IPPA.  The program was delivered in a flexible modular format that enabled the Afghan participants to travel to UCA in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for sessions.

In addressing the graduates on successfully completing the IPPA Program, Mrs. Nurjehan Mawani, AKDN Diplomatic Representative, encouraged the graduates to continue building and strengthening the civil service institutions of Afghanistan and to apply the high standard of skill and knowledge gained from the Program to become catalysts for the generation of new ideas for maximizing economic growth.  She added, “In our increasingly interconnected world, the exchange of knowledge has significant multiplying potential for regional growth and stability.”

Since 2014, UCA IPPA has delivered CPPA to civil servants from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan under the framework of its Research and Public Policy Initiative, supported by the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region.  The International Treaty and Charter establishing this private, secular University was signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by the parliaments of the founding states and registered with the United Nations.  UCA is the first internationally chartered university in the world. UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future.  UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The University of Central Asia’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (UCA IPPA) was established in 2011 to strengthen public policy in Central Asia.  It provides in-depth analysis on current and emerging policy issues facing the region, and improves the analytical capacity of governments and civil society to use evidence in decision-making processes through professional development.  The Institute has produced a series of peer-reviewed research papers on social and economic issues, public administration and public policy as they relate to Central Asia and Afghanistan.