The Government of Afghanistan endorsed the Millennium Declaration as well as the MDGs only in March 2004. Afghanistan, however, having lost over two decades to war, has had to modify the global timetable and benchmarks to fit local realities. The rest of the international community defined the MDGs, to be attained by 2015, against a baseline of 1990. Because of its lost decades and the lack of available information, Afghanistan has defined its MDG contribution as targets for 2020 from baselines more...

'This paper outlines urgent action necessary to address immediate challenges in Afghanistan and to avert humanitarian disaster. It does not seek to address all issues of concern but focuses on essential policy change in development and humanitarian spheres.

While aid has contributed to progress in Afghanistan, especially in social and economic infrastructure – and whilst more aid is needed – the development process has to date been too centralised, top-heavy and insufficient.'

'Increasing insecurity and criminality is jeopardising progress in Afghanistan. With low government revenues, international assistance constitutes around 90% of all public expenditure in the country, thus how it is spent has an enormous impact on the lives of almost all Afghans and will determine the success of reconstruction and development. Given the links between development and security, the effectiveness of aid also has a major impact on peace and stability in the country. Yet thus far aid more...

'Afghanistan has achieved a great deal over the past six years. Even with modest capacity, strong leadership in the ministries of Public Health, Education, and Rural Rehabilitation and Development has begun transforming the country. The Health Ministry, outsourcing through nongovernmental organizations, is supplying basic services and has cut mortality for young children by 26 percent. It is saving 80,000 lives a year. New schools offer classes for 6 million students, the highest level ever, and more...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a $55 million loan to the leading mobile phone provider in Afghanistan, so it can extend its coverage to parts of the country that have little or no telecommunications infrastructure in place.

The loan to Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd, which trades under the name Roshan, will also support the rollout of a mobile banking system called M-Paisa. Using M-Paisa, subscribers can transfer money through their mobile phones without having to more...

UNDP has been present in Afghanistan for over 50 years and continued to operate from Islamabad during the Taliban régime. During that decade, UNDP delivered USD 200 million of assistance to communities throughout the country. UNDP re-established its offices in Kabul in early 2002. UNDP supports the people of Afghanistan as they face new challenges and move their country from recovery to development towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2020.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Kabul University (KU) entered into partnership in late 2005 to establish the Center for Policy and Human Development (CPHD). The first Afghan policy research institution of its kind, CPHD has become the focal point of human development and policy research, teaching, and advocacy in the country.
The CPHD based at Kabul University campus, provided a welcoming institutional home. A modern facility with a Human Development Resource Center accessi more...

This book is the outcome of a long process ofworking at one of the frontiers of governance studies and governance practice: the involvement of local governments in issues of peacebuilding. Published by VNG International on the occasion of the first World Conference on City Diplomacy, June 2008 in The Hague, the editors are: Arne Musch (principal editor), Chris van der Valk, Alexandra Sizoo and Kian Tajbakhsh. The publication's authors are Alexandra Sizoo, Arne Musch, Antonio Papisca, Martijn Kl more...

Since 2003 Switzerland has contributed around $2.5 million to support the renewed national Police force in Afghanistan. Its engagement falls under the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA), which was set up by the United Nations in May 2002 together with the Afghan Ministry of Finance as the executing agency and the Ministry of Interior as the implementing entity. The priority activities to be addressed are: the nationwide payment of police staff salaries, acquisition of non-lethal eq more...

Since the events of September 11, 2001 and the development of the ‘war on terror’, western powers have cited international terrorism as the greatest threat facing the world. This has diverted attention and resources from other, more serious, likely causes of future conflict. The root causes of global insecurity must be addressed. Source: Id21