Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA):
The Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) is an independent and impartial umbrella organization which has been established by a number of civil society organizations to:
1. Monitor elections to ensure that they are free and fair
2. Promote democracy in the country
3. Promote public participation in electoral affairs
4. Help consolidate public trust and faith in democracy and elections
The FEFA was registered with the Ministry of Justice on 12 June 2004 and began its practical work in the second half of August 2004. Its first observation experience was that of the presidential election of 9 October 2004 during which it observed the elections in 100 districts inside the country and outside of it (Pakistan). Its second experience was observing the National Assembly Elections during which FEFA covered 217 districts containing 65% of all polling cent.
http://www.fefa.org.af
 
Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA):
Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) was established in 2009 as an independent electoral observing organization aiming to observe the electoral processes to ensure the credibility and transparency of elections. Considering the significant role of the independent civil society organizations in the democratic process, TEFA believes that neutral observation missions help to boost the transparency of the electoral process.  Democratic processes continue to be nascent in Afghanistan which requires committed contribution of civil society and government institutions to make it sustainable. Absences of visible local electoral observations have remained a challenge over the past four elections in Afghanistan. Hence, TEFA’s establishment has been an endeavor to fill in this gap and to encourage active civil society participation in every stage of the electoral process. TEFA conducted observation mission of the 2010 parliamentary and provincial council elections. Its observation covered 17 provinces of the country and released the results of its observations.
http://www.tefa.org.af
 
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU):
The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research institute based in Kabul. AREU's mission is to inform and influence policy and practice through conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research and actively disseminating the results, and to promote a culture of research and learning. To achieve its mission AREU engages with policymakers, civil society, researchers and students to promote their use of AREU's research and its library, to strengthen their research capacity, and to create opportunities for analysis, reflection and debate. As an impartial Afghanistan-based voice dedicated to research excellence, AREU aspires to contribute to the development of inclusive and transparent policymaking processes, driven by the priorities of the Afghan people, which give rise to better informed policies and programmes that improve Afghan lives. AREU was established in 2002 by the assistance community working in Afghanistan and has a board of directors with representation from donors, the United Nations and other multilateral agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
http://www.areu.org.af
 
The Asia Foundation (TAF):
The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our programs address critical issues affecting Asia in the 21st century—governance and law, economic development, women's empowerment, environment, and regional cooperation. In addition, our Books for Asia and professional exchange programs are among the ways we encourage Asia's continued development as a peaceful, just, and thriving region of the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, The Asia Foundation works through a network of offices in 17 Asian countries and in Washington, DC. Working with public and private partners, the Foundation receives funding from a diverse group of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. In 2012, we provided nearly $100 million in direct program support and distributed textbooks and other educational materials valued at over $30 million. Since The Asia Foundation’s Kabul office re-opened in 2002, the Foundation has assisted Afghan efforts to rebuild the country and accelerate development. Our programs focus on governance, law, and civil society, including support for the development of a new constitution and national voter registration, civic education, and government-media relations. The Foundation provides long-term support and technical assistance to key governmental institutions responsible for the executive branch, parliamentary affairs, agriculture, sub-national government, and foreign affairs. Other programs focus on women’s empowerment and education.
http://asiafoundation.org/country/overview/afghanistan
 
Democracy International, Inc (DI):
Democracy International, Inc. (DI) designs, implements, and evaluates democracy and governance programs worldwide. Founded in 2003, DI offers expertise in election processes and election monitoring, political party organizing, local government and decentralization, legislative strengthening, civil society development, strategic communications, and rule of law programming. The firm has extensive experience with assessments, evaluations, project designs, and survey research. DI is based in the United States and is an SBA-registered small business. DI has been a prime holder of a USAID indefinite quantity contract (IQC) for Democracy and Governance Analytical Services since 2004 and a USAID IQC for Elections and Political Processes since 2005.  
http://www.democracyinternational.com
 
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES):
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) supports citizens’ right to participate in free and fair elections. Our independent expertise strengthens electoral systems and builds local capacity to deliver sustainable solutions.  As the global leader in democracy promotion, we advance good governance and democratic rights by:
Providing technical assistance to election officials
Empowering the underrepresented to participate in the political process
Applying field-based research to improve the electoral cycle
Since 1987, IFES has worked in over 135 countries – from developing democracies, to mature democracies.
http://www.ifes.org
 
The National Democratic Institute (NDI):
NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization that has supported democratic institutions and practices in every region of the world for more than two decades. Since its founding in 1983, NDI and its local partners have worked to establish and strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. NDI arrived in Afghanistan in early 2002 and has conducted programs to promote the participation of Afghan civic groups, political parties, women, and government bodies in the country’s political and electoral processes. Currently, NDI has a country office and seven provincial offices throughout Afghanistan. These are in Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Kunduz and Mazar-i-Sharif. Its operations are staffed by more than 100 Afghan employees.
http://ndi.org/content/afghanistan
 
Afghan Civil Society Forum-organization (ACSFo):
Afghan Civil Society Forum-organization (ACSFo) was established in partnership between Afghan civil society actors and “Swisspeace” (a Swiss private foundation for the promotion of peace) at the request of 76 participants of the first Afghan Civil Society Conference in Bad Honnef, Germany in 2001. This conference was facilitated by Swisspeace parallel to the meeting of political representatives organized by the UN at Petersburg near Bonn. The goal of the conference was to involve Afghan civil society in the peace and reconstruction process of their country in order to achieve a more sustainable post-conflict reconstruction than a simple top-down government approach. The Afghan Civil Society Forum-organization began its activities in February 2002 after initial funds were secured from the Swiss and German governments. The ACSF Office in Kabul was opened two months later in May 2002. ACSFo having one decade of tremendous achievements and experiences, it is committed to its mission” to facilitate the process of citizen building and state building through advocacy, capacity building and coordination”.
http://www.acsf.af