PHOTO FEATURE: A day in the life of Nicholas Haysom, UN deputy chief in Afghanistan
Peace and Security
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a special political mission established by the Security Council in 2002 at the request of the Government to assist it and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development in the country.
The Mission has adopted a comprehensive approach to address Afghanistan’s security, economic, governance and development challenges as it was felt there is no “purely military solution” to ensure stability. The Mission focuses on two main areas of activities: political affairs and coordination of development and humanitarian issues, both of which fall under the responsibility of a Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
UNAMA’s Deputy Special Representative for political affairs is Nicholas “Fink” Haysom. With presidential and provincial council elections scheduled for April 2014, the principal concern is how the United Nations can be of greater assistance in national efforts to bring about a stable and transparent political transition, by building confidence and promoting national reconciliation. Mr. Haysom’s spectrum of tasks includes listening to the concerns of community representatives, political parties and traditionally marginalized groups, such as women and youth, as well as contributing to human rights protection and promotion, including monitoring the situation of civilians in the armed conflict.
This photo story provides a behind the scenes look at how UN officials work to support the process of peace and reconciliation. Mr. Haysom’s visit to Faizabad in the northeast province of Badakhshan bordering Tajikistan, Pakistan and China took place in July 2013.
The flight from the capital, Kabul, to Faizabad in the remote province of Badakshan takes about an hour by airplane, or two hours by MI-8 helicopter. Mr. Haysom uses the travel time to go over the latest information from the ground and reviews his briefing notes ahead of the day’s meetings. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
The flight to Faizabad involves crossing over the 800 kilometre-long Hindu Kush mountain range stretching between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The difficult terrain and growing insecurity hamper access to parts of the region for UNAMA staff, but the Mission retains contacts through its political and civil society partners. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Upon arrival in Faizabad, Mr. Haysom is met by staff from the local UNAMA office. The head of the UNAMA office, Tomoko Kubota, briefs Mr. Haysom on their way to their car, where the rest of his day will be tightly scheduled. The region, a centre for lapis lazuli and pomegranates, is served by improved road connections which has brought hopes for improved market opportunities for local residents. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Without delay, Mr. Haysom is whisked to the UNAMA office for his first meeting of the day - a group meeting the provincial office’s 35 national and three international staff members. He outlines current challenges facing the Mission and answers questions from staff. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Next, Mr. Haysom meets with representatives from a range of political groups in Badakhshan. During this meeting, female representatives assure him that women plan to participate in the elections. As one of the regions with the least health infrastructure, maternal mortality rates are among the highest here. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Visits to the regions involve high-level meetings with local authorities who are key partners for the UN agencies. Mr. Haysom’s visit to Badakhashan includes a meeting with provincial governor Shah Wali Adeeb, shown here greeting the UN official at the governor’s compound. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
At the meeting with Governor Adeeb and senior government officials from throughout the province, Mr. Haysom hears that the geographic remoteness of several districts and expected snows could hinder voter participation. Discussions also focus on security concerns and ongoing poppy eradication programmes. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
After a quick meal, Mr. Haysom and his team speed back to the airfield for their return flight to Kabul. Often in the field, he stresses that “while Kabul is the capital and, in many ways the centre of Afghanistan, Afghanistan is much more than Kabul.” Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Up since the early morning, Mr. Haysom will continue his workday at the UNAMA headquarters in Kabul, responding to emails and signing off on reports, followed by evening work meetings and a media interview about current political developments in Afghanistan. Photo: Fardin Waezi/UNAMA
Mr. Haysom, a proponent of meeting people directly in the regions, has visited almost all of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces during his 16 months so far with UNAMA.
“While Kabul is the capital and, in many ways the centre of Afghanistan, Afghanistan is much more than Kabul – the meetings held during these visits are a key part in garnering the views and thoughts of the UN’s various interlocutors throughout the country,” he said.
In addition to Faizabad, UNAMA has 12 other provincial and regional offices across Afghanistan charged with carrying out political outreach, the promotion of peace, development coherence and human rights. In addition, some of the UN agencies with a presence in Afghanistan include UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN World Food Programme (WFP), addressing the spectrum of development challenges faced by the Afghan people.
Each office is also responsible for analyzing the political and security situation, monitoring security sector reform and the transition process, and promoting regional cooperation. These activities involve going out to the provinces districts. In 2012, UNAMA staff from Badakhshan visited 15 of its 27 districts.