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USAID/OTI Afghanistan Field Report

April 2002

Program Description

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, OTI has begun a program to build citizen confidence in the progress of political development, empower citizens to address basic community needs, and build an alliance between legitimate government structures and citizens. In addition OTI supports efforts to increase news and information about the Loya Jirga process and to strengthen independent media. OTI's estimated budget for FY2002 is $16,500,000.

Country Situation

The security situation remained tenuous in several areas of the country. On April 3, the government rounded up hundreds in what it said was a raid to stop a coup from overthrowing the interim administration. On April 7, Western press reports said two rockets landed near the base of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. Then, on April 9, A bomb exploded just 30 meters from a car carrying Mohammed Fahim, a former Northern Alliance general, now Afghanistan's Interim Defense Minister. USAID/OFDA situation reports in April list dozens of security incidents reported by the UN, NGOs, and U.S. troops. Compounding these security incidents were natural disasters such as flooding and locust swarms.

After 29 years in exile, Mohammad Zaher Shah returned to Afghanistan as an ordinary citizen. The popular 87-year old ex-monarch ruled Afghanistan for 40 years, and will convene the upcoming Loya Jirga in June to select Afghanistan's next government. While his presence may boost Karzai's power and offset that of former Northern Alliance leaders, it is unclear what real role he will play. Also in April, President Bush compared the effort to rebuild Afghanistan to the Marshall Plan that helped Europe recover from World War II, "We are working hard in Afghanistan: We are clearing minefields. We are rebuilding roads. We're improving medical care." (USA Today, 4/19/02).

The U.S. Military Civil Affairs office in Afghanistan is currently spending approximately $2 million on various reconstruction projects. OTI and other USAID staff meet weekly with members of the U.S. Military Civil Affairs office, to review potential projects for possible collaboration.

The first phase of the Loya Jirga process began in April with dozens of districts convening to select representatives. These representatives began meeting later in the month to select their district's delegation to the Loya Jirga, which is to be held in Kabul in mid-June. It is expected that all 381 of the country's districts will choose over 1,000 Afghans to attend the Loya Jirga. An additional 450 seats are to be reserved for various other Afghan institutions and groups. The first woman district representative was selected in Balkh Province.

OTI Highlights

A. Narrative Summary

In April, OTI focused on the start up of the SWIFT (Support Which Implements Fast Transition) contract office, as well as hiring additional staff for the International Organizations for Migration (IOM) Afghanistan Transition Initiative (ATI) field offices. OTI staff traveled to Herat to monitor IOM-ATI's program start-up and coordinate activities with the local U.S. Civil Affairs officers. OTI and Food For Peace (FFP) staff jointly reviewed a number of Quick Impact Projects identified by the local Coalition Humanitarian Liaison Center (CHLC), the local government in coordination with local communities, and the International Organization for Migration - Afghanistan Transition Initiative (IOM-ATI). OTI and FFP also organized an information meeting between USAID, NGOs interested in undertaking road/bridge projects, CHLC members, and the local government. One road in particular, the Herat to Bala Morghab road, was repeatedly identified as a priority given the large numbers of returnees using the road, as well as humanitarian supplies being delivered on the road.

Also in April, OTI began preparing for the upcoming Loya Jirga by exploring ways in which USAID could have an immediate impact. With funds transferred from the USAID Central Asia Task Force, OTI supported a consultant to work with the UN on Loya Jirga operations. Finally, OTI continued to provide small grants to increase the interim Afghan government's capacity to address immediate reconstruction and stabilization needs.

OTI signed the following 21 small grants during the current reporting period:

B. Grants Activity Summary

C. Indicators of Success

The Afghan Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Mohammed Sharif, (second from left) and U.S. Ambassador Robert P. Finn (third from left), accompanied by other Afghan Ministry officials, outside a day-care center to be refurbished under a grant provided by USAID/OTI. Rebuilding the day-care center, which, along with other Ministry buildings, was damaged and fell into disrepair during two decades of war in Afghanistan, will allow the Ministry's women employees to return to work.

This month, OTI funded a number of visible, high impact projects that had been identified as priorities by the interim government, local communities within Kabul, and in three other major urban centers (Herat, Khandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif).

OTI worked closely with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer to draft press releases for new projects and with the U.S. Ambassador to attend a public signing ceremony for grants to the Ministry of Agriculture. By publicly announcing activities, a larger number of Afghans were made aware of both the work of the U.S. Government and Karzai's Afghanistan Interim Administration. OTI established greater credibility for the U.S. Government's work in Mazar and Herat by beginning school reconstruction projects there. A survey of over 700 Afghans in January indicated that besides security concerns, most surveyed viewed education as one of their priorities. The rehabilitation of schools and other priority infrastructure projects shows an immediate peace dividend to Afghans.

NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

During the month of May, OTI will:

• focus on providing media support to the Loya Jirga;
• hire a local program officer (through the SWIFT contract);
• ensure that new projects that support the new government (AIA) in Kabul are made public;
• monitor the results of the first Internews journalist training in Kabul.