Founded in 2003, The Liaison Office (TLO) is an Afghan non-governmental organization (NGO) that emerged from a Swiss peace pilot project (supported by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung) on good governance after the organization was approached by southeastern province community elders requesting assistance for participation in the peace and reconstruction process. TLO has since evolved into an independent Afghan NGO registered under number 611 with the Ministry of Economy of Afghanistan.
GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE: Currently, TLO is based in Kabul with regional offices in Paktia, Khost, Hirat, and Nangarhar, and additional field offices across Afghanistan. The organization employs more than 100 staff, though in prior years more than 250 staff have worked at TLO’s main office, regional, and field offices. TLO expanded from its original 2003 operations in Southeast Afghanistan (Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Logar) into the South (2005) and East (2008). In 2009, TLO began working in the Northern and Central provinces; and in 2011 started to research and analysis in Western Afghanistan.
The organization has worked in almost every province, except Badghis and Bamyan, though its presence has been strongest in the 15 provinces of Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Kabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Faryab, Kunduz, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Nimroz, and Helmand.
Mission
To facilitate the formal integration of communities and their traditional governance structures within Afghanistan’s newly emerging peace, governance, and reconstruction framework.
Goal
To improve local governance, stability, and security through systematic and institutionalized engagement with customary structures, local communities, and civil society groups.
Objectives
