More Post-2011 Mission in AFG Dribbles

This, from the Canadian Press:

Canada’s role will shift from the war room to the classroom after troops leave Afghanistan next year. A decade-long involvement in Afghanistan will last up to another 10 years as Canada oversees the training of Afghan teachers. The Canadian International Development Agency is seeking firms to help Afghanistan certify its teachers and the schools that prepare them. Contained in the recent call for proposals are hints at how Canada’s function in Afghanistan will change after its soldiers come home in 2011. Chalkboards and classrooms and curricula will replace the bombs and bullets and bloodshed of Kandahar province, where the bulk of Canada’s 2,800 troops are based ….

This, from MERX:

…. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant to do the Design and implementation of the Teacher Certification and Accreditation of Teacher Training Institution in Afghanistan. The project goal and objectives are to establish a system for the certification of teachers and the accreditation of teacher training institutions in Afghanistan The purpose of this notice is to invite formal costed proposals from eligible Consultants.

On the basis of the formal proposals, one Consultant will be invited to negotiate a contract for the provision of services. CIDA reserves the right to refuse any or all proposals received. The amount allocated to this contract will not exceed ten million Canadian dollars (CAN$10,000,000) excluding GST. The initial contract will be for up to five (5) years with the intention to extend up to ten (10) years in order to support the maintenance of the long-term partnership ….

(Terms of Reference from bid document available here.)

Good on CP for digging a bit to find and share this one.

Good on whoever in government wants to take on this sort of long-term investment in the future of Afghanistan.

Shame on those who are SUPPOSED to be communicating Canada’s future mission for a situation where taxpayers have to learn about the mission by subscribing to MERX and reading tea leaf readings in the papers and on blogs.