Governance

By supporting the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) since 2002 with more than EUR 230 million the EC has contributed significantly to building the capacity of the Afghan Administration. It has also helped to finance recurrent costs in the national budget, like teacher salaries, and the development of administrative structures on sub-national level. Moreover, through the contributions to ARTF investment window, the EC supported the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) activating local communities and supporting preparation and implementation of community-led development plans.

Since 2002, EC has also contributed EUR 180 million to the Law and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA) which has helped to ensure the payment of salaries of more than 60 000 police officers and which has now also started to invest in strengthening the civilian capacity of the Afghan police force. The EC contribution in this field is complementary to the EUPOL police training mission provided by the EU Member States.

Nearly EUR 50 million of EC aid were invested in the development of major border crossing posts, in Torkham, Heiratoun and Sher-Khan-Bandar on the border with Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. These facilities have significantly improved customs and border management and are already generating significantly increased revenue from custom duties to the Afghan budget.

Infrastructure / Rural Development / Agriculture

The National Solidarity Programme (NSP) is one of the most significant local development programmes, active in almost all the provinces of Afghanistan. The NSP is involved in supporting rural, community-driven development initiatives through promoting elected Community Development Councils (CDCs). EC has been supporting the programme since its very inception in 2003 and has contributed more than EUR 50 million through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). So far more than 21,000 CDCs have been elected throughout the country. CDCs have been instrumental in initiating approximately 22,000 community projects contributing to poverty reduction and improving quality of life in rural areas in fields such as water and sanitation, transport, irrigation, power, education and livelihoods.

Improved road infrastructure is essential for Afghanistan’s rural development, trade and income generation. The EC has reduced, with some EUR 60 million, the travel time from Torkham (border to Pakistan) to Kabul (230 km) from 10 hours in 2002 to 3.5 hours.

Through the Rural Access Programme the EC has contributed along with other donors towards rehabilitation of 10.000 km of rural roads allowing easier access to markets for the rural population and their products. The concept of road maintenance has been supported with priority to ensure cost efficient management of resources in the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Rural Development.

Several projects funded by the EC in the areas of animal health, horticulture, irrigation and river basin management as well as environment, supported both capacity development of the relevant Afghan administration institutions and equally improvement of the veterinary services, agricultural productivity, water and environmental management. Finally, over EUR 20 million is being invested in developing alternative livelihoods to opium production in 3 provinces.

Health

The Commission is supporting capacity development of the Ministry of Health at central and provincial level in important areas such as policy and planning, health care financing, human resources management, hospital reform, procurement, disability, mental health and financial management. In agreement with the Afghan Government and in coordination with the World Bank and USAID, the Commission has also been supporting and outsourcing to NGOs the provision of basic health and hospital services in 10 provinces covering approximately one third of the population. This has resulted in more than 80 % of the population in concerned provinces now having access to basic health services, which has helped to reduce ‘under-5 mortality’ and ‘infant mortality’ by more than 20 per cent.

Social Protection

War and unrest have destroyed traditional family-based social networks. The EC is therefore taking a leading role in supporting action for children at risk (street children, exploitative child labour, child trafficking, children victims of war etc.). Support is provided to counselling, medical care, protection, reintegration into school. Women in conflict with traditions are supported via legal aid and mediation. Persons with disabilities are assisted via community based activities supporting income generation, training, job placement, information on rights. A EUR 24 million aid package has recently been approved by the EC to sustain efforts and achievements in social protection of highly vulnerable groups and persons.

Demining

EC financial and technical assistance amounting to 67 million EUR has helped to clear approximately 240 km² of land mines, enabling properties to be reconstructed and families to return home. More than four million Afghans continue to live in mine contaminated environments and communities, spread over 12 provinces. An estimated 720 km² of land containing nearly 5000 hazardous areas with different types of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines or littered with countless pieces of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) still requires clearance.

Aid to uprooted people (AUP)

Return and reintegration of Afghan refugees has been encouraged and supported within the framework of the Afghan national reconstruction programme through special EC assistance aimed at improving the rural economy and health services in areas in Afghanistan receiving the largest proportion of returnees. In neighbouring Pakistan and Iran EC has provided protection and basic assistance to Afghan refugees before return and has explored long-term solutions for the remaining caseload of refugees. Since 2002, around 5 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan. Approximately 2 million Afghan refugees still remain in Pakistan and 1 million in Iran.