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Afghanistan

Afghanistan National Development Strategy 1387-1391 (2008-2013)

Attachments

Introduction

Background

Following almost three decades of war, the challenges facing Afghanistan's development remain immense. By 1380 (2001), the ravages of conflict had bestowed upon Afghan citizens and the incumbent administration an inheritance of debt not wealth. With the Taliban dominating the political landscape from 1375 (1996) onwards, Afghanistan had been moving backwards in all aspects. The results of war, the destruction of core institutions of state and a heavily war torn economy led to unrivaled levels of absolute poverty, national ill health, large scale illiteracy and the almost complete disintegration of gender equity. And yet, following six years of reconstruction, at a cost of billions of dollars, the path to prosperity from extreme poverty remains as distant as ever. Insecurity, poverty, corruption and the expanding narcotics industry signify that while the challenges facing Afghanistan have changed in nature, they have not necessarily changed in magnitude. Yet, the price of securing peace and freedom at this pivotal moment in history will be nothing compared to the long term costs of failure both for Afghanistan and the international community. Averting failure and establishing Afghanistan on a virtuous path towards peace, stability and prosperity are therefore the cornerstones of the new Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS). At the core of the ANDS is a policy of Afghanization, meaning that ANDS has been fully developed and owned by Afghanistan.

ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2001

In 2001 Afghanistan was certainly a thoroughly devastated country in virtually every respect. The political, social and economic structures of the country had been severely damaged or completely destroyed. Massive numbers of Afghans had left as refugees, had died during the conflict or were severely disabled. Every family had paid a price - many had to cope with the loss of main breadwinner. For the young people that remained, their education had been disrupted and in many cases, including for all girls and women, ended. Today Afghanistan has among the highest rates of illiteracy in the world. Yet despite these desperate conditions, since 2001 the country has had some remarkable achievements. The progress that has been made should be measured against the desperate conditions that prevailed at the time of the fall of the Taliban. While Afghanistan still faces many enormous challenges, the progress that has been made gives cause for some optimism that with the determination of the Afghan people to rebuild their lives and their country, the transformation to a peaceful and prosperous can be achieved.

The goals of the ANDS for the next five years ought to be viewed against what has been accomplished during the last six years. Only some of the most significant achievements can be mentioned here.

Political achievements:

- In 1380 (2001) the Bonn Agreement established a roadmap for the political transformation of Afghanistan to a legitimate democratic state. The targets set in the Bonn Agreement were fully met on time and included:

- The Transitional Administration was established to guide the process. It derived its authority through an Emergency Loya Jirga, the first genuinely representative Afghan national meeting in decades.

- In 1383 (2004) Afghanistan adopted its first constitution in 30 years, which laid the political and development foundation for the country and established legal protections for private property and a market economy.

- Free and fair democratic elections for President, the National Assembly and Provincial Councils were conducted. 76 percent of eligible voters participated in the presidential election. Women were elected to 27 percent of the seats in the National Assembly.

- After the successful completion of the Bonn Agreement, Afghanistan and the international community entered into a new partnership, based upon the Afghanistan Compact, which was agreed at the London Conference of 1384 (2005). The Compact set ambitious goals for comprehensive state building, setting benchmarks in all sectors of security, governance, and development, including the cross-cutting goals of counter-narcotics and regional cooperation.

- In 1385 (2006) the new National Assembly began its work, including the approval of a new cabinet; a new Chief Justice and other judges for the Supreme Court; and the National Budget. A new Attorney General with a new mission to fight corruption was appointed. New Provincial Governors were named.

- The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants has been completed. Today the national army and police forces are close to full strength. Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for terrorists.

Social and Humanitarian Achievements:

- Since 1381 (2002), more than five million Afghan refugees have returned home. In 1385 (2006) 342,925 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan and Iran and 1,004 from other countries. More than 150,000 benefited from the assistance package provided by UNHCR.

- The Government has so far distributed 30,000 residential plots of land to needy returning refugee families.

- From under one million in 2001 the school population has grown to 5.7 million in 2007 and new enrolments into Grade 1 have ranged between 12-14 percent per annum in the last 5 years. Two million of the children (or 35 percent) enrolled are girls - a 35 percent increase in five years. The number of schools has trebled to 9,062 in 2007 including 1,337 all girls' and 4,325 coeducational schools. Similarly, the number of teachers has increased seven-fold to 142,500 of who nearly 40,000 are female. Fifty thousand of these teachers have received in-service teacher training.

- Major advances have been made in extending health care services throughout the country and rebuilding a decimated educational system. The percentage of the population living in districts where the Basic Package of Health Services is being implemented has increased from 9 percent in 2003 to 82 percent in 2006.

- Over 2.5 million people have benefited from social protection arrangements covering (i) martyr's families; (ii) disabled with war-related disabilities; (iii) orphans and children enrolled in kindergartens; (iv) victims of natural disasters; (v) pensioners; and (vi) unemployed.

- Measurable progress has been achieved since 2003 in improving rural livelihoods. Almost 20,000 km of rural access roads (i.e., all weather, village-to-village and village-to-district centre roads) have been constructed or repaired, increasing access to markets, employment and social services. More than 500,000 households (36 percent of villages) have benefited from small-scale irrigation projects. Currently, 32.5 percent of the rural population has access to safe drinking water and 4,285 improved sanitation facilities have been provided. More than 336,000 households have benefited from improved access to financial services. Some 18,000 CDCs have been established and are implementing community-led development projects. Efforts have made to assist the poorest and most vulnerable.