Transition Initiatives Home » About Transition Initiatives » Country Programs » Focus Areas » Summary of Program Activities » Publications » Staff » Employment » Links » Frequently Asked Questions » Site Map »
	OTI / Afghanistan Home Program Description Country Reports Select a report... June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 Jan/Feb 2002 December 2001 Fact Sheets September 2005 July 2004 March 2004 July 2003 July 2003 Hot Topics April 2005 April 2005 July 2004 June 2004 April 2004 Press Releases Support to Rural Homes and Livelihoods Direct Support to the Government of Afghanistan Support to Media Support to Women Afghanistan Photo Gallery
	Advanced search... Search USAID Personnel... Search USAID Documents...

USAID/OTI Afghanistan Field Report

September 2003

Program Description

USAID/OTI’s program goal is to support the process of recovery, rehabilitation, and political development in post-conflict Afghanistan. Working with local and international partners, the 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 budget for FY2002 was approximately $27 million. In FY2003 the budget was approximately $19 million and in FY2004 the budget is estimated to be $20 million. USAID/OTI expects to phase out of its program following elections in June 2004.

USAID/OTI’s overall program strategy is to help the Afghan government function outside Kabul by planning and implementing projects guided by community priorities, and by creating and/or strengthening linkages among the national, provincial, and district governments. USAID/OTI’s projects are strengthening economic recovery by improving essential commercial and public infrastructure, and reestablishing the relationships and routines that give communities cohesiveness. USAID/OTI is also contributing to sustainable stability and recovery by helping to establish links between the community and governmental authorities, and building connections between the provinces and Kabul. USAID/OTI Afghanistan’s main implementing partners are the International Organization for Migration – Afghanistan Transition Initiative (IOM-ATI) and Internews. Projects are funded in 31 provinces of the country.

Country Situation

The security situation, especially in the south and south-east, continues to be an impediment to reconstruction activities. In a recent report, CARE Afghanistan stated that where in the past there had been a security incident involving NGOs approximately every two months, incidents are now occurring every two days. There also continue to be attacks against Afghan government personnel and U.S. led Coalition Forces.

The beginning of the DDR process has been delayed until late October. The delay was imposed by the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan while needed reforms in the Ministry of Defense (MoD) are addressed. Agreement was reached in August as to the 22 leadership positions that must be filled with a multi-ethnic cadre of military leaders. The plan is to have these positions filled by the end of September.

Development of a new constitution continued as planned including consultations with the public and government officials about language in the draft document. The public consultation process was expected to be completed by the end of the month with the final draft of the Constitution to be completed and presented to President Karzai in early October. Meanwhile, registration of delegates to the Constitutional Loya Jirga, scheduled to be held in Kabul in early December, has begun. Election of candidates is expected to be completed by the end of November.

USAID/OTI Highlights

Afghanistan Transition Initiative (ATI) — Despite an increasingly unpredictable security situation, OTI’s Afghanistan Transition Initiative (ATI) continued implementing activities throughout the country, including in war-affected communities along the south-east border with Pakistan. For the past six months, ATI has approved an average of $1 million per month of grants. ATI spending during the month of September, however, was dramatically reduced because FY2003 funding was largely expended. It was also anticipated at the time that ATI would be phased out by December 2003. However, the program will be extended through the end of FY2004 following the conclusion of national elections, which are currently scheduled for June 2004.

Support to Afghan Women — Construction of the Parwan Provincial Women’s Center began in late September. The Center is one of 14 that will be built around the country over the next year to expand opportunities for women and to promote women’s full participation in Afghan society. Approximately 360,000 women in Parwan Province are expected to benefit from training and information provided through the new Center. After over twenty years of war and suppression, Afghan women have a wide range of needs including education, especially basic literacy, income generation through job training or skills for home production, women’s and family health advice, and informal social support. These services will be offered through provincial centers, which will have space for individual and group learning, computers, and a library. Construction of centers in other provinces awaits the legal re-allocation of land for the centers by the Ministry of Hou! sing and Urban Development to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Support for the Provincial Women’s Centers will enable the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to more easily identify and respond to the needs of women in communities served by the centers, a priority for the Ministry.

Media Development — A media center in Kabul continues to provide protection for and encouragement of journalism that is increasingly independent and professional. It offers a safe place for Afghan women journalists to operate and demonstrate their professional skills. In September, 12 women successfully completed training at the center in video film production. Several of the graduates participated, with support from USAID/OTI in production of the film, Afghanistan Unveiled.

Grants Approved in September 2003

Grants Completed in September 2003

USAID/OTI Program Impacts

Increasing the Capacity of the Afghan Government and Building Citizen Confidence — Maimana Province: Implementation of four high profile projects in one north-western province have helped to increase citizen confidence in the capacity of local government officials to respond to community priorities. Local representatives of central government ministries have closely collaborated with target communities to select appropriate projects and have actively monitored construction or rehabilitation of irrigation channels and protection walls along a major river. Officials have also successfully mobilized community contributions, a requirement for OTI’s support, for the completion of the projects. The projects have had substantial positive impact on the provincial economy, improving living conditions in the provincial capital and many surrounding villages. News of the successful projects and the role of the central government in addressi! ng local needs has spread rapidly. Community leaders from rural areas around the province have now begun to bring their issues to local government officials where they are engaged in problem solving that is responding to their specific needs. Bamyan Province: Nearly six months ago provincial representatives of the central Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development met with community members in the Bamyan Valley to prepare a list of projects that could be implemented during the year and that would respond to community priorities. Rehabilitation of Jariq Irrigation Canal received high priority. Two canals running along the same cliff irrigate the whole valley. Built in dry stone masonry and mud, the canals leak in some parts. The community requested assistance to rehabilitate one of the canals that was the most damaged. A few months after the project list was developed the same team of officials returned to the community to announce that of the projects id! entified as priorities assistance would be provided for a new primary school, a floodway, a wooden bridge, and the rehabilitation of the damaged canal. A community meeting was held in the local mosque where mullahs helped to mobilize community support to provide 50 percent of the labor required to undertake the projects.

Increasing the Capacity of Afghan State and Independent Media &mdash: During the month of September a private radio station in Jalalabad was inaugurated and began operations despite initial resistance from local government officials and some community members. The station reportedly has a stronger signal than originally projected, reaching an estimated 30,000 people in the main city and some surrounding villages. It has also identified advertisers to support its programming, despite a virtual state monopoly on advertising. Another station at Pul Khumri in Baghlan Province was inaugurated on September 26th and is reaching an estimated 140,000 people with its programming. Two more private stations will be inaugurated in October in Herat (for an estimated audience of 600,000 people) and Loghar (for an estimated audience of 100, 000 people) provinces.

Increasing Public Information about the Political Process — Kapisa and Wardak Provinces: In September, the first of 20 workshops began for women in eastern Afghanistan, a former Taliban stronghold. The workshops are bringing professional women together for the first time to discuss their human rights, opportunities for women in a changing Afghanistan, and the potential and advantages of women’s participation in political processes like the Constitutional Loya Jirga and national elections. An estimated 3,500 women and girls will participate in the workshops and in community discussion groups.

Grant Activity Summary for USAID/OTI Programming in Afghanistan in September 2003

NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

During the month of October 2003, USAID/OTI will:

• Conduct a mid-term program assessment to study the effectiveness of USAID/OTI’s assistance in support for implementation of the Bonn Agreement that will inform program strategies for the second and final year of programming.
• Inaugurate independent radio stations established by Internews in Jalalabad, Logar, Pul-I-Kumri, and Herat.
• Conduct a team building session that brings together Kabul- and field-based staff of USAID/OTI’s implementing partners to strategize how best to focus efforts effectively to accelerate rural reconstruction activities, support development of an independent media, and facilitate processes for a successful Constitutional Loya Jirga and subsequent elections.
• Explore USAID/OTI support for the national DDR process, with a potential emphasis on reintegrating ex-combatants into their communities through training and employment.
• Explore development and implementation of a peace-building and reconciliation curriculum and training capacity that would complement rural reconstruction activities planned for the Government‘s National Solidarity Program.
• Provide technical and management support to the USAID Mission to assist initiation of its Quick Impact Program that will be implemented in collaboration with Provincial Reconstruction Teams using the approach currently used by USAID/OTI to implement its Afghanistan Transition Initiative.