Theories of Change

• Doing small, quick, strategic projects in an area will help stabilize it, i.e. build support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) rather than insurgents, so longer-term traditional development projects are possible.

• When we do projects that make it look like GIRoA is responding to the grievances of a community, the community will have more confidence in GIRoA and will therefore be less likely to support and/or join the insurgency.

• Counterinsurgency (COIN) operations will increase people's confidence in GIRoA and decrease support for insurgents, therefore contributing to peace in Afghanistan by reducing support for and the capacity of violent groups.

• As a Field Program Assistant (FPA): By providing administrative, operations and program support to both Field Program Managers (FPMs) and the Regional Representative (RR), I free and enable them to do their jobs  better, which results in a great number of and more effective projects, which results in stabilizing and building peace in Afghanistan. 
• Cash-For-Work (CFW) projects will help to get community buy-in and work as "entry activities" for new OTI areas, making a way for us to later do more strategic projects.
• Incorporating training into CFW activities means workers will gain skills that will help them be more employable and efficient - this makes CFW more than just short-term income generation.