Table of Contents:

1.Introduction

2.Development priorities of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

3.Donor community in Afghanistan

3.1.Donor coordination

3.2.Cooperation with the European Union

4.Development cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Czech Republic

4.1.Cooperation focus and achievements to date

4.2.Priority sectors of future cooperation

4.2.1.Agriculture

4.2.2.Water and sanitation

4.2.3.Education

4.2.4.Cross-cutting topics

4.3.Geographical focus of the Programme

5.Implementation of the Cooperation Development Programme

5.1.Actors

5.2.Communication and coordination mechanisms

5.3.Monitoring and evaluation

5.4.Implementation conditions

Summary

Appendix – List of abbreviations

1.Introduction

Development cooperation is an integral part of the CzechRepublic’s foreign policy. It is through this development cooperation that the Czech Republichonours its international development commitments and contributes to the Millennium Development Goals. Via its development activities, the CzechRepublic“contributes to poverty reduction, economic and social development, and environmental protection while promoting democracy, human rights and good governance in partner countries.”[1] Cross-cutting commitments, basic principles and priority territories and sectors in the Czech Republic’s development cooperation are enshrined in the Development Cooperation Strategy of the Czech Republic 2010-2017 (the “Strategy”), approved by the Czech Government in May 2010.[2] Cooperation programmes between the CzechRepublic and priority countries, implemented in particular via bilateral development projects, are a priority area of development cooperation identified by the Strategy.

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) has long been among the foreign-policy priorities of the Czech Republic and, as such, has been included among priority programme countries for development cooperation in the Strategy. This status is based on traditionally good mutual relations and reflects the results of the CzechRepublic’s previous work in Afghanistan, including the support of development projects, humanitarian activities, contributions to Afghan development funds, and the reconstruction and development operations of the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in LogarProvince. In the current programming period (i.e. until 2017), it will be necessary to focus in particular on stabilizing the economy and laying the foundations for long-term and sustainable development in Afghanistan. This can be achieved only by an appropriate combination of support for specific economic activities and capacity development at all levels of Afghan society. The Czech Republic’s development cooperation will centre on the following sectors: agriculture (particularly through support for small farms and the introduction of modern farming methods), water (irrigation and the restoration of traditional water management systems) and agricultural education (teacher training, the creation of school curricula and the cooperation of academic and state institutions, including related fields). Experience of transformation processes, the revival of traditional models of management and governance on the one hand and the introduction of completely new models on the other stand the Czech Republic in good stead and should be reflected in the input and results of all projects.

Afghanistan, firmly rooted among the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), is currently ranked 172nd (out of 187 countries) according to the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI),[3] with 36% of the population scraping by below the poverty line (USD1.25 per day). According to the World Bank, gross national income (GNI) in 2010 was a mere USD410. Most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have not been met, nor are they likely to be fulfilled by 2015.

This Development Cooperation Programme for the period from 2013 to 2017 has been prepared on the basis of results achieved by the Czech Republic’s operations to date. The prime objective is to improve the economic and social situation in Afghanistan. Besides support for specific projects expected to consolidate economic and social stabilization, Czech development cooperation in Afghanistan will also concentrate on experience sharing, capacity development and the encouragement of cooperation between both countries’ academic, professional and educational institutions.

2.Development priorities of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Compact, a document declaring the launch of a process to interlink reconstruction plans at ministerial level with the ambitions of the Afghan Government, as demonstrated by the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), was officially introduced in January 2006. The ANDS is the PRSP of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to be financed by the international community is intended to consolidate peace and stability through fair and democratic processes and institutions, to reduce poverty, and to achieve prosperity through broad-grounded and fair economic growth. The ANDS defines the development priorities of the GIRoA.

The Kabul Process, commenced in 2010, which marks a gradual shift of responsibility from international partners to the Afghan Government and public institutions, saw five priority areas of development set out under the ANDS: peace and reconciliation, security, good governance, economic development, and regional and global cooperation.

These gave rise to National Priority Programmes (NPPs), which categorically detail priorities and possible forms of aid in specific sectors. For the sake of efficient implementation, the 22 NPPs were grouped into six clusters:

1. Security

  • peace and reconciliation

2. Human resources development

  • skills development and employment opportunities
  • education for all
  • more opportunities for higher education
  • women’s affairs
  • human resources for the health sector

3. Infrastructure development

  • National Regional Resource Corridor
  • extractive industries
  • national energy programme
  • urban development

4. Private sector development

  • facilitation of trade, small and medium-sized enterprise
  • e-Afghanistan

5. Agriculture and rural development

  • water and natural resources management
  • comprehensive agriculture
  • rural access
  • strengthening of local institutions

6. Governance

  • financial and economic reform
  • national programme of transparency and accountability
  • efficient and effective government
  • local governance
  • justice for all
  • human rights

Each of these programmes, prepared by the responsible ministries, defines a strategy aimed at meeting the stated objectives in individual areas. The programmes incorporate a three-year implementation plan, including a timetable, a general list of activities, and an indication of outputs and outcomes.

In the process of drawing up development activities and development cooperation with donors, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is guided by the following principles:

·Afghanistan is responsible for the process of planning and implementing activities,

·Activities are planned and carried out by clusters and NPPs,

·The Afghan Government is (co-) responsible for the activities implemented and the monitoring thereof,

·The Afghan Government has established a system of periodic consultations with the donor.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to the basic principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness,[4] i.e. ownership of the development process, harmonization of donor procedures in the preparation of programmes and in the documentation of results, respect for development programmes prepared by developing countries, mutual accountability and a focus on delivery. The CzechRepublic will provide maximum support to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in these efforts.

3.Donor community in Afghanistan

OECD/DAC statistics indicate that, in 2010, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan received Official Development Assistance (ODA) totalling USD6,374million (2009: USD6,235million; 2008: USD4,785million), of which bilateral aid accounted for 87%. The ratio of ODA to gross national income was 45.8% (2008 data); gross national income per capita in 2011-12 was USD528. Activities focusing on social development (including education and health), the development of economic infrastructure, services and manufacturing accounted for the lion’s share of overall ODA.

The donor community in Afghanistan is very large. The main donors at this time are the United States, ADB, Worldbank, India, Japan, and the European Union and its individual MemberStates (especially the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands).

3.1.Donor coordination

Donor coordination in Afghanistan is spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (MoF). Every other week, working meetings are convened and hosted by the MoF in its offices to address topical issues associated with the implementation of development activities. Once a quarter, the MoF is required to hold a High Level Meeting on Aid Effectiveness, which takes place at a higher level. Above this, the only higher body is the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), responsible, among other things, for approving national priority programmes (NPPs). All these meetings are also attended by the CzechRepublic through its embassy in Kabul.

In 2012, the MoF organized the second Donor Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) – bilateral policy negotiations on the precise form to be taken by the donor’s development presence. The CzechRepublic is also involved in these negotiations.

The international community itself (including the Czech Republic) holds fortnightly meetings of Heads of Agencies managed by UNAMA as the co-chair of the JCMB.

3.2.Cooperation with the European Union

The EU organizes regular coordination working group meetings, at which the Czech Republic is always in attendance and keenly contributes to major strategic debates, decisions, etc. The Czech Republic actively participates in the implementation of one of the EU’s key strategic documents in Afghanistan: the Implementation Action Plan.

The EU, acting through its delegation, is one of the main development cooperation actors in Afghanistan (with funds allocated in the years 2002 to 2010 exceeding EUR1.5 billion); the main emphasis is placed on the support of governance (40%), rural development (30% – specifically, assistance in improving the quality and quantity of livestock production, the modernization of irrigation and water management, agricultural business, etc.) and health (20%). The EU is also active in matters related to social security, demining and regional cooperation.

Particular EU priorities in the country include the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2007–2013 and the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP 2007–2010, with preparations for MIP 2011–2013 under way). Besides funding the implementation of specific infrastructure projects, in its development cooperation the EU channels technical assistance primarily into support for Afghan government institutions to increase their expertise; in this context, numerous interfaces between the EU’s activities and the CzechRepublic’s development cooperation may exist. However, in recent years the EU (the European Commission) has focused its sights mainly on building Afghan capacity to receive massive budget aid, meaning that specific “project” activities are being increasingly side-lined.

The CzechRepublic will continue communicating and coordinating with the EU delegation in Kabul and, through this vehicle, with the donor community of EU countries; in a grant programme of trilateral cooperation, it will be possible to co-finance projects of Czech non-governmental entities that will succeed in grant competitions announced by the EU delegation (or DG DEVCO/ECHO) in Afghanistan.

4.Development cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Czech Republic

4.1.Cooperation focus and achievements to date

The CzechRepublic is appreciated for the work it does and, in particular, for its strong expert potential. People in Afghanistan still have vivid memories of Czechoslovak products, factories and experts, and many Afghans studied in Czechoslovakia. In particular, representatives of relevant Afghan institutions believe that potentially the greatest contribution that the Czech Republic has to offer lies in the establishment of professional contacts, professional collaboration, study visits and internships.

Experience has shown that the Czech Republic is in a position to offer the GIRoA a relatively broad range of professional and technical support concentrating on a specific and clearly defined area: the promotion of agriculture through the development of human resources, technical assistance, the introduction of modern methods of processing of agricultural products and the promotion of efficient water management systems.

In its development activities thus far, the Czech Republic has focused mainly on the activities of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar, which, since 2008, has implemented more than 200 projects worth an aggregate of approximately USD15million. In addition, in recent years the Czech Republic has also backed projects for the development of agricultural education and the material support of selected educational institutions (in the provinces of Balkh, Herat and Laghman). The Czech Republic also contributes to international development funds and programmes in Afghanistan, and to development programmes managed directly by the GIRoA. The above aid, provided by the Czech Republic in the form of grant projects to Czech entities, small-scale local projects (SLPs) or special-purpose contributions (donations), has amounted to nearly USD 8million since 2005.

In the period of 2013 – 2017 The Czech Republic will be present and active in Afghanistan via both “off-budget” and “on-budget” activities and support.On one side the Czech Republic will support development projects of the Czech Development Agency and the Czech Embassy in Kabul, provide humanitarian aid, and support international organisations or NGOs programmes in Afghanistan,on the other it will directly supportANSF budget and Afghan Government’s national development programmes.

The CzechRepublic thus affirms its commitments and implements measures to accomplish channelling of at least 50% of its development assistance through the national budget of the Afghan Government in accordance with the London and Kabul Communiqués.

This document is dedicated only to the Development CooperationProgramme, which establishes framework of the Czech Republic’s project activities in Afghanistan, and which should ensure that all Czech development activities will fulfil a commitment of aligning at least 80% of aid with the NationalPriority Programmes.

4.2.Priority sectors of future cooperation in the frame of Development Programme

Czech development cooperation is built on the principle of partnership and is derived from the needs of the partner country.

The priority sectors of Czech development cooperation in Afghanistan are dictated by the Strategy and also take into account the comparative advantages of the Czech Republic. With regard to the financial and human resources available to it, coupled with experience of its own transition process, the Czech Republic places a great emphasis on the interaction of activities between different sectors (synergy) and, in particular, on the sharing of experience and technical assistance. Due attention will be paid to project sustainability, which must be formulated already at the project commissioning stage and should be ensured, inter alia, by the “ownership” and participation of Afghanistan (whether in the form of partial co-financing or otherwise). CzechRepublic will approve any new project proposed by the Govt. Agency in Afghanistan after having full consultation with the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan.

Priority sectors in Afghanistan under the Development Cooperation Strategy of the Czech Republic for 2013–2017 / % share / Priority sectors based on OECD/DAC terminology
Agriculture / 30% / Agriculture
Water management / 30% / Water and sanitation
Agricultural education / 40% / Education

In connection with the transition period (2010-2014) and beyond 2014, it should be borne in mind that that the set priorities may not correspond to the current situation or developments. Under this Programme, the CzechRepublic and the GIRoA are prepared to respond flexibly to changing circumstances by reviewing and reconfiguring the Programme focus and priorities.

4.2.1.Agriculture

Agriculture is an absolutely crucial sector in Afghanistan. Relevant statistics (the World Bank, UNDP, etc.) report that it provides a livelihood to about 80% of the Afghan population. The CzechRepublic is well aware that this is one of the reasons why such a large volume of development assistance is channelled into this sector. Experience and current knowledge gained in the operations of the Logar PRT and other Czech entities involved or interested in becoming involved in operations in Afghanistan indicate that the CzechRepublic still has something to offer despite the smaller financial and operational scale of its activities. Although the Czech Republic does not have the funds or staff to implement national programmes itself, it can make expert contributions to these programmes, and propose and implement them on a lesser scale in specific locations.

The Czech Republic can offer expertise and practical experience especially in fields such as livestock production (the breeding and registration of cattle, milk collection centres, veterinary services, artificial insemination and the development of beekeeping) and capacity building (for more details, see the section on agricultural education).

The main objectives of the CzechRepublic’s development cooperation in this sector are:

  • to contribute to the implementation of national standards, especially in breeding and the processing of agricultural products
  • to support a particular farming community in its efforts to establish more efficient farming and processing of agricultural products
  • to support specific agricultural producers as they enter the market, to help identify their business potential and to help ensure their long-term sustainable economic growth using environmentally friendly farming methods

4.2.2.Water and sanitation

Many studies, including the UNDP from 2011, mention that the acute water shortages faced by a number of locations in Afghanistan are in many cases caused by inadequate infrastructure and poor management of water resources rather than by a genuine lack of water. As this is a sector closely linked with the promotion and development of agriculture, it is logically also a focus of Czech development cooperation.

The Czech Republic, with its long-standing experience in this field (including Central Asia), is in a position to offer Afghanistan expertise and technology. Although the Czech Republic has no ambitions to build large-scale hydraulic structures, it is well placed to promote and engage in activities leading to the acquisition of relevant information about water conditions, either by installing and running specific stations and profiles, or by directly taking specific, relatively undemanding measures on the ground: infrastructure projects for irrigation and local water distribution, the introduction of modern irrigation methods, etc.

In addition, the CzechRepublic would like to focus on the education of water users and water management facilities, especially Afghan water experts and managers of hydraulic structures. Another suitable form of support could be the production of or contribution to expert studies.

The main objectives of the CzechRepublic’s development cooperation in this sector are: