IDS International Partners With No One Left Behind

Partnership Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IDS International 9 February 2022

IDS International Government Services LLC (IDS) partners with No One Left Behind (NOLB) to assist former employees and subcontractors with evacuating from Taliban-led Afghanistan. IDS continues to be an advocate for the safe evacuation of at-risk Afghans and among other things, we are providing assistance with employee verification documents, maintaining a communications channel for employees to reach out to for assistance, established a HR support system to assist with SIV follow up requirements and have now partnered with NOLB as an additional resource for former Afghan employees.

IDS, headquartered in Arlington, VA and NOLB, headquartered in Merrifield, VA, announced today that the companies have entered into a joint strategic partnership that will enhance evacuation and resettlement services to both current and former IDS staff and subcontractors in Afghanistan.

The agreement brings together two well established organizations that have strong reputations working within Afghan communities through their respective industries. IDS has been providing innovative training and mission support services for defense, civilian, and inter-governmental agencies since 2006, most notably in conflict-affected countries. NOLB is the only nationwide nonprofit committed to ensuring that America keeps its promise to Afghans and Iraqis eligible for Special Immigrant Visa programs. NOLB’s mission includes advocating for the Special Immigration Visa programs as well as evacuating and resettling SIV recipients and their families.

IDS assisted all of its former and current employees with their SIV applications, which is essential to giving them a chance to evacuate from Afghanistan and immigrate to the United States. The collaboration between the two organizations serves as model for many other organizations demonstrating the moral imperative when it comes to providing support and the necessary resources to aid in evacuating at-risk Afghans and implementing an actionable plan to bring Afghans and their families to safety.

Nick Dowling the Chairman of the Board for IDS stated the following. “We are heartbroken by recent events in Afghanistan and the fate of our friends and employees in country. This is why we are proud to partner with NOLB to support all our current and former staff beginning with navigating the SIV process through resettlement efforts here in the U.S. for Afghan Refugees.

IDS is committed to providing resources to help hundreds of former staff and subcontractors seeking to  get out of Afghanistan, who are now faced with a deepening economic and humanitarian crisis in addition to a precarious security situation following the U.S. withdrawal. As a part of this effort IDS will also be undertaking a fundraising effort in support of Afghan refugees.”

Chris Bauer the CEO for IDS welcomed the partnership, “There are some tangible actions that organizations can take to support the ongoing evacuation efforts. It’s not often we have the opportunity to display our gratitude to the staff that literally supported our operations halfway around the world. But as Afghans continue to make their way to safety in the U.S. and other places with this partnership, we can do just that. IDS will continue to work to ensure that those people who have helped us have the opportunity to leave the country if they have the desire.”

Phil Caruso, the Chairman of NOLB’s Board of Directors underscored the importance of partnerships like this, stating “We must move quickly together as the humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in Afghanistan — by committing to provide essential support for current and former employees navigating exceptionally challenging times, IDS is showing what meaningful leadership looks like.”

Mohammad Aman Shadab is an Afghan National and current employee of IDS, working as Country HR/Admin Manager for all IDS subsidiaries in Afghanistan. Shadab stated. “Because of my employment with IDS supporting U.S. government programs I have received, and I am currently experiencing ongoing serious threats.  I am very happy and very grateful from IDS that the organization has recently signed a partnership with a prestigious organization who supports Afghan citizens who are under serious threat and seeking evacuation. I see this partnership as a golden opportunity and testament to IDS’s willingness to continue support for all the former staff and subcontractors. The partnership between these two organizations provides hope for all Afghans who really worked with U.S. Government programs in Afghanistan. I appreciate both IDS and NOLB for this valuable partnership and cooperation with Afghans.”

Sayed Najeeb is an Afghan National and current employee of IDS and working as the Director of Operations. Sayed was one of a few employees that was safely evacuated out of Afghanistan under the SIV program and arrived safely to the U.S. He provided his thoughts about the partnership between IDS and NOLB; “At a time when anxiety and uncertainty is at all-time high in the country, this will have a positive impact on the morale of the staff that remain in country at this time. This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to bring hope to the remaining Afghan staff reassuring them that organizations are working on their behalf to bring them to a safe and secure living environment.  I trust that people will appreciate this initiative growing partnership between IDS and NOLB aimed to help the people who put their lives at risk while helping the US mission in Afghanistan for years.”

IDS has been a prime and subcontractor on several programs in Afghanistan, most notably for the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, United States Agency for International Development, and the United Nations. Prior to the Taliban transition to power, IDS Hamkaar (“IDS-H”) was the prime contractor on the United States Army Corps of Engineers ANDSF O&M program, maintaining critical infrastructure on 50+ Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) bases. IDS-H was also the United States Army Corps of Engineer’s largest and most trusted blanket purchase agreement holder, in support of Afghan infrastructure, throughout the country.  IDS also performs on a variety of assessment and monitoring, construction, and capability building contracts in Afghanistan, at our peak IDS employed over 1,100 local national staff.

It is now IDS’s mission to continue supporting the safe and timely evacuation of IDS’s current and former staff and remain dedicated to supporting the safe relocation of Afghan refugees and evacuees.

The IDS and NOLB partnership will facilitate the continual coordination efforts that will be required for continued SIV processing for Afghan nationals and will allow both organizations to accomplish their objectives. These objectives tie directly into the mission of NOLB which is to protect SIV applicants and assist SIV recipients and their families with the challenges of resettlement in the United States, fulfilling America’s moral obligation to our allies. This partnership was not only the right thing to do but it is also a win -win scenario for all stakeholders, especially former Afghan staff and their families, IDS, NOLB and the U.S. government.

Thank you to our partners at NOLB who are helping SIV recipients achieve the American dream.