Kabul, Afghanistan − As part of IRI's democratic governance programs, Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney travelled to Afghanistan to meet with provincial governors and councilors, young political activists and newly elected women members of parliament.  Governor Romney spoke about government accountability and transparency, and the need to be responsible to constituent needs with the elected and appointed leaders.  He also gave a highly motivational speech to a group of youth, encouraging them to be the patriots of their generation and to work hard to ensure that the roots of democracy taking hold in Afghanistan are nourished and protected to build a stronger democratic country in the future. 

Governor Romney met with a group of governors and provincial councilors on January 10 as part of IRI’s democratic governance workshop.  These officials, both appointed and elected, represent provinces in the East and South of Afghanistan and represent some of the most volatile areas in the country.  Governor Romney and his Afghan counterparts participated in a high-level roundtable discussion during which Governor Romney shared best practices from his days as governor as well as from his time with business.  The program was a unique opportunity for the Afghan governors who seldom have the ability to share ideas and experiences with one another, and most especially with a representative of the United States.   

Governor Romney shared experiences from his tenure as governor of Massachusetts and asked each provincial governor to tell the group how they meet constituent needs, “in order to get the heart and trust of the people,” as the governor of Paktika said.  Governor Romney encouraged the governors to be good listeners to find out what mattered most to the people who elected them.  Many of the Afghan governors spoke of the dire security situation in their provinces and the challenges that this poses as they try to implement programs. 

The democratic governance roundtable was co-sponsored by Afghanistan’s Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), the agency charged with oversight of governance at the provincial level and below.  IDLG plays a critical role in providing technical assistance to provincial governors and councilors.

At the conclusion of the governance roundtable, Governor Romney next met with 40 newly-elected women members of parliament, representing each region of Afghanistan.  The women parliamentarians were elected in last year’s September 18 elections and bravely faced considerable security challenges in their campaigns.  Their enthusiasm for continued skills-building was reflected in their lively discussion earlier in the day when they participated in a dynamic training workshop with Former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey.  During the workshop the women discussed the history of women’s emancipation in the United States and reviewed important concepts for strategic alliance building as newly elected members of parliament.  Governor Romney joined the women at the end of the workshop and offered words of encouragement, telling the women that they hold the key to a peaceful and productive country. 

A highlight of Governor Romney’s visit was the speech he gave on January 11 to more than 130 young Afghans from throughout the country.  Entitled Afghanistan’s Next Generation, the program was an opportunity for Governor Romney to address an audience of students and young professionals and then engage in dialogue with the group.  In his remarks, Governor Romney encouraged the youth to be the patriots of their country, and to work and study hard to ensure that they continue to help build a stable, transparent democracy in Afghanistan.  He highlighted the importance of education in his remarks and the great sense of accomplishment that comes from service to one’s country. 

After his concluding remarks, Governor Romney invited a newly-elected young woman member of parliament from Herat Province to the podium and gave her the microphone to encourage her own colleagues to continue bravely fighting for a free and democratic Afghanistan.

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