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USAID/OTI Afghanistan Field Report

October 2002

Program Description

USAID/USAID/OTI's program goal is to support the process of recovery, rehabilitation and political development in post-conflict Afghanistan. Working with a number of local and international partners, USAID/OTI's program is building citizen confidence in the progress of political development, empowering citizens to address basic community needs, and building an alliance between legitimate government structures and citizens. In addition, USAID/OTI supports efforts to strengthen independent media. USAID/OTI's estimated budget for FY2002 was $26,869,476. USAID/OTI's current planned budget for FY2003 is $22,500,000.

Country Situation

The security situation in Afghanistan remained stable in October, with a number of skirmishes, rocket attacks, and other incidents reported throughout the month. The Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) has been cooperating with donor organizations to provide rapid and visible support throughout the country.

On October 7, TISA issued new banknotes to replace the old currency. The exchange marks the beginning of an extensive reform of Afghanistan's financial systems. On October 12, international donors met with TISA in Kabul to streamline distribution of more than five billion dollars in pledges to reconstruct the war-damaged country. Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani reported that despite the disbursement of two billion dollars of aid so far, the country "...still faces huge budgetary shortfalls in its efforts to feed, clothe, educate and connect its people."

In September 2002, TISA requested all donors to consider the southeast region of Afghanistan a priority for reconstruction support. In response, USAID/OTI local staff and USAID/OTI partner IOM-ATI (International Organization for Migration - Afghanistan Transition Initiative) staff, in coordination with the UN, international NGOs, and one local NGO, undertook a rapid assessment of Khost, Paktia, and Paktika provinces. The team found that people in the three provinces along the southeast border with Pakistan are beginning to doubt the commitment of the TISA and the international community. The situation has been complicated by military efforts to dislodge warlord Patcha Khan from his claim that he is the rightful governor of Khost Province. Primary conclusions of the assessments indicate that even a small amount of reconstruction work and public relations outreach in the 3 provinces could help minimize the influence of Khan and Al Qaeda in the area. Priorities for assistance in the region include the reconstruction of schools, potable water, irrigation systems, clinics, roads, and bridges. OTI is in the process of establishing a sub-office in Gardez, Paktia Province, is moving forward with 3 projects (2 schools and 1 potable water project), and working with local government and communities to rapidly identify other projects.

OTI Highlights

A. Narrative Summary

USAID/OTI's goals are to promote political stability and economic recovery in Afghanistan. By improving commercial and public infrastructure, recovering links between the community and governmental authorities, and establishing links between the provinces and Kabul, OTI projects strengthen economic recovery by providing essential goods and services that individuals and the market cannot provide on their own.

USAID/OTI's overall program strategy is to build government capacity through the process of planning and implementing projects that are guided by community priorities, and by creating and/or strengthening linkages among the national, provincial, and district governments. USAID/OTI is also improving the communication infrastructure and implementing a comprehensive media strategy.

USAID/OTI's main implementing partners in Afghanistan are the International Organization for Migration - Afghanistan Transition Initiative (IOM-ATI), Ronco, and Internews. Through IOM-ATI, USAID/OTI funds or is planning projects in Badakshan, Baglan, Balkh, Bamyan, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Herat, Hilmand, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangahar, Nimroz, Nangahar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktya, Parwan, Samangan, Sari Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, and Zabul.

Highlights of USAID/OTI's Afghanistan program during the month of October include:

• Ministry of Finance/Central Bank. USAID/OTI staff worked with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Afghanistan to provide training for nine staff on the use of the recently-installed SWIFT system. SWIFT is an international electronic system to transfer funds between countries. USAID/OTI is also training an IT technical staff member in the Ministry of Finance who will maintain the SWIFT system.
  
  
• Ministry of Finance. USAID/OTI is working with the ministry to advertise position openings for 31 financial officers in the provinces and 8 financial officers in Kabul. These new staff members will provide critical linkages between the Departments of Finance in the provinces and the ministry in Kabul. Currently there is little to no coordination between the provinces and Kabul. This activity will support USAID's new Economic Governance Project.
  
  
• Ministry of Education. In mid-October, a two-week training program began for 46 employees of the Ministry of Education in Kabul on needs assessment and project planning.
  
  
• Assessments. In addition to the USAID/OTI assessment of the southeast (Paktia, Paktika, Khost) the USAID/OTI Field Program Manager also undertook assessments of the government-owned radio station in Bamyan and the only independent radio station in the country, "The Voice of Peace" in Parwan Province, north of Bagram.
  
  
• U.S. Civil - Military Affairs Coordination. USAID/OTI's Field Program Manager continued coordination with the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Battalion and Brigade in Kabul and in central and western Afghanistan. She attended a civil-military conference in Washington, D.C. "Civilian-Military Coordination in Providing Relief and Reconstruction in Afghanistan," co-sponsored by USAID and DOD, that will help a civilian-military research team prepare for its mission in Afghanistan. While in D.C., she provided briefings for USAID and House congressional staff. She also prepared a report on the civil-military plans to increase their presence throughout the country, and provided a training seminar at the Bagram Air Base for 13 incoming Civil Affairs teams.
  
  
• USAID/OTI Country Team Meeting, October 21-22. USAID/OTI and implementing partner program staff (IOM-ATI, Ronco) held its first large team meeting, bringing in staff from Kandahar, Herat, Bamyan, Balkh, and Kabul to refine strategy and discuss next steps. During the session Craig Buck, USAID/Afghanistan Country Director, outlined USAID's priorities, ATI and Ronco reported on activities, media NGOs AINA and Internews presented their plans for independent media, and all participants reviewed sub-granting and reporting processes.
  
  
• New Media Grants. USAID/OTI signed grants with various media organizations to begin implementation of the post-Loya Jirga media strategy.
  
  
• Media Program Manager. USAID/OTI hired a local contract media program manager.
  
  
• New Office in Paktia Province. USAID/OTI's implementing partner, IOM-ATI, opened a field office in Gardez, Paktia Province, which should be operational by the end of November.
  
  
• Public Affairs Support to the Mission. USAID/OTI TDY staff continued to disseminate information to the general public about new projects funded by USAID (including USAID/OTI, OFDA, and Mission projects).
  
  
• Support for VIP visitors. USAID/OTI and IOM-ATI staff provided technical and logistical support for USAID Deputy Administrator Fred Schieck's visits to USAID/OTI projects in Kabul, Herat, Bamyan, and Kandahar.
  
  
• Project Inaugurations. USAID/OTI held a number of project inaugurations in Kabul and Herat, inviting the local press and preparing press releases to insure that Afghans were aware of the successful collaborations between the U.S. and Afghan governments.

Program Impact Reports

Insuring Afghans Learn about U.S. - Afghan Collaboration on Projects

The Afghan transitional government's greatest challenge is to engender the confidence of its people through rapid and meaningful improvements in their lives. This includes insuring that any work performed by other donors is perceived as direct support from TISA. If Afghan citizens do not receive news about TISA's accomplishments, there is a danger that they will lose faith in the government, which would enable adverse elements to gain legitimacy among the population. At the same time, it is in the U.S. government's interest to let Afghans know that the U.S. supports the positive development of Afghanistan, insuring the country does not once again become a safe-haven for terrorists. For these reasons, it is important that USAID programs involve TISA and communities in project identification and implementation and provide regular information to Afghans about the process.

Afghan girls sit in a newly repaired classroom at a girls school in Kabul funded by USAID/OTI. Over 8,100 girls are now attending the school. During five years of Taliban rule, girls were not allowed to attend school, and women were not allowed to work. Photo: Karma Lively

To ensure that there is timely dissemination of information on activities, USAID/OTI writes press releases, places project signs in visible locations, and holds inauguration ceremonies for new projects. Following are links to examples of grant signing or inauguration ceremonies during the month of October:

• USAID Supports Afghan Ministry of Mines and Industries (October 1)
• USAID-Funded Teacher Training College in Kabul Completed (October 3)
• USAID Completes Three Grants with Afghan Ministry of Agriculture (October 3)
• USAID Completes Renovation of Electric Department Building in Kabul (October 9)
• USAID Completes Renovation of Kindergarten at Ministry of Communications (October 13)
• USAID Funds Rehabilitation of Girls School in Kabul (October 30)

Support for Telephone System in Kandahar Convinces Governor of Afghan Central Government's Commitment to the Province

In September, following discussions with the Afghan Ministry of Communications, USAID/OTI provided a 75KW generator to support the telephone system in Kandahar. Following the dona-tion of the $9,300 generator through the Ministry of Communications in October, the Governor agreed to begin sending revenue collected from the Department of Communications to the cen-tral government.

Bamyan

In Bamyan, IOM-ATI staff meet daily with the head of the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (RRD). The Department of RRD has said it will not implement programs, but will instead oversee assistance programs implemented by donor and NGO agencies. (This is in contrast with most government ministries and departments which see themselves as operational partners, and is a reflection of the vision of the Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.)

Two projects funded by USAID/OTI have been completed in Bamyan: the construction of Djar-e-Oaramak Bridge in Saighan District, and the rehabilitation of the Fatmasti Irrigation Canal. An estimated 50,000 residents of Saighan District will benefit from the bridge, while 600 families will benefit from the canal repair.

Herat

Two schools funded by USAID/OTI through the IOM-ATI Herat field office were completed, benefiting 5,000 students in the region. Future projects planned include: repairing an irrigation system in Zindajan district that will benefit 20,000 households; reconstruction of the Kabarzan bridge connecting Kabarzan to Herat city and benefiting 25,000 residents; and, the repair of a key kindergarten in Herat that will enable mothers, particularly widows, to return to work and will benefit 250 children.

Balkh, Kunduz, Maimana Provinces

The political and security situation in the North remains unchanged.

USAID/OTI's IOM-ATI office in the region held inauguration ceremonies for two middle schools in Kohistan district of Faryab province, benefiting 800 students. Other new or ongoing projects in the region include: the construction of a concrete dam and improvement of the canal network in Tashkurgan, Samangan, benefiting an estimated 2,000 families; the rehabilitation of the Sultan Razia High School for girls will be completed by November 10, benefiting 5,000 girls; and, the rehabilitation of the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development building in Maimana that will be completed in mid-November.

Kandahar Province

According to USAID/OTI partner staff with IOM-ATI, the government in Kandahar appears to be taking a more active role in the selection of projects and presenting priorities to international NGOs. For example, at the monthly education meeting, the Mayor of Kandahar refused to allow an international NGO to build public latrines in Kandahar City using basic engineering tech-niques, asking that higher standards be used.

In addition, IOM-ATI held a meeting with the regional representative of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, where it was agreed that the Ministry office would oversee and set standards for projects and not bid on them.

Numerous meetings were held between USAID/OTI's IOM-ATI staff with the US Civil Affairs Team to discuss future projects and information sharing. New project plans for the region in-clude road repair and school reconstruction activities.

B. Grants Activity Summary for USAID/OTI Programming in Afghanistan for the month of October, 2002

USAID/OTI signed the following 16 small grants during the current reporting period, October 2002:

NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

During the month of November, OTI will:

• Invite USAID/OTI's Media Advisor to visit Afghanistan to monitor the implementation of USAID/OTI's ongoing post Loya Jirga media strategy. USAID/OTI's Media Advisor will also train USAID/OTI/Afghanistan's new Afghan Media Program Manager.
• Hold inaugurations for a number of completed projects, including the Freedom Print House in Kabul, a communications equipment grant to the Ministry of Communications, completion of several public buildings and schools in and around Kabul, and a number of schools and bridges in Herat, Bamyan, and Balkh provinces.
• Facilitate the deployment of the first 7 Codan communication systems in 7 provinces, including Khost, Paktia, and Paktika, which will connect these provinces electronically to the central government for the first time in years.