A delegation of four Helmand Provincial Councillors visited the UK from the 4-11 June as part of an FCO sponsored visit.   The Chairman of the Provincial Council led the delegation accompanied by the Deputy Chairman and two Provincial Council members (you can find out more about Helmand's Provincial Council below).

The visit had been long-planned as former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had invited them to visit the UK after she met them during her February 2007 visit to Afghanistan.

The aim of the visit was to give the delegation a fuller understanding of our democratic processes and in particular how governance is delivered at a local level.

Throughout the visit we demonstrated to the delegation the important role they have to play in holding the Government of Afghanistan, through the Provincial Government, to account.  They can do this by:

• representing their constituents’ views to the provincial government and line ministries
• insisting on greater transparency in government decision-making, spending and project delivery.

We also used the visit as an opportunity to reassure the delegation of the UK’s long term commitment to Afghanistan and in particular to supporting governance in Helmand Province.

Visit Programme

The delegation undertook a busy visit programme. Among their calls were:

• A meeting with Lord Malloch-Brown (see photos on flickr)
• A visit to Al Manaar, a Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in West London.
  See BSN footage of both meetings.

Other calls made were:

• A meeting with Bob Ainsworth MP - Ministry of Defence, Minister for the Armed Forces
• A visit to the London Assembly
• A visit to the BBC Pashtu Service headquarters
• A visit to the Welsh Assembly
• A day with Birmingham City Council
• A visit to Al Hijrah School, Birmingham
• A visit to Sparkbrook Islamic Centre, Birmingham
• A seat in the gallery to watch Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons.

The Helmand Provincial Council

Helmand’s Provincial Council (PC) was elected in 2005 when Afghanistan held its first fully democratic Parliamentary and Provincial elections for over three decades.  The Council is composed of 15 members representing each of the districts in Helmand.

The PC’s role is still evolving and yet to be defined clearly. They are used as a consultative body to connect the central Government of Afghanistan, through the Provincial Government to the people of Helmand.

The current Helmand Governor, Gulab Mangal, has shown a willingness to engage with and consult the PC on a wide range of issues. This will be a good development for the people of Helmand as increasingly their voices will be heard.

The UK's Provincial Reconstruction Team engages with the PC on a regular basis and is providing financial, material and mentoring support to the council.