OWE implements programmes (and their component projects) at Afghanistan and Provincial levels through implementing partners, which include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Consultancies and Logistic Companies.

Programmes are developed through a consultative process with partners and stakeholders at Afghanistan and Provincial levels, depending on their geographical scope. The full agreement of implementing partners is essential in this process. A programme must be in line with the OWE Strategic Plan to receive final approval from OWE Executive Director.

OWE issues calls for proposals and calls for expressions of interest to identify and select, through a competitive process, suitable NGOs, academic institutions, and registered community-based organizations (CBOs) as implementing partners. A committee of technical evaluators scores submitted proposals against a set of criteria to establish potential partners’ technical capacity to deliver results, as well as their governance, management, financial, and administrative capacities. Selected implementing partners are those that score highest during proposal evaluation.