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Revision date: 1st.March.2009.

South Asia Division 3 South Asia Department

１． Issues in the Development of Afghanistan’s Politics, Economy and Society

Overview of JICA Projects in Afghanistan

(1) Trend of Afghanistan’s Politics, Economy and Society Since the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001, reconstruction has been taking place in

Afghanistan through a political process based on the Bonn Agreement (the Bonn Process), which was signed in December 2001 with the support of the international community. Reforms have been carried out in various areas. A new constitution has been established, a new president has been democratically elected, and a parliament has been established. The political process has also made progress, establishing a new national army and police force and implementing financial reforms. At the same time, much of Afghanistan's population lives below the poverty line (Afghanistan is ranked 173rd out of 178 countries on the UNDP’s 2005 Human Development Index) as a direct result of 20 years of conflict that has devastated the country's economic and social infrastructure. The situation in Afghanistan remains grave and the country faces many issues, including opium poppy production that accounts for more than 90% of global production and deteriorating security conditions, especially in the southern part of the country. (2) Issues in the Development In 2006, the Afghan government presented a five-year development plan at the London Conference on Afghanistan called the Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy, or I-ANDS. The overarching goal of the plan is to facilitate national development that directly benefits the Afghan citizens while utilizing the private sector as a driving force. The plan defines three main pillars: security; governance, rule of law and human rights; and economic and social development. The three pillars are further divided into eight sectors, which are security; governance, rule of law and human rights; infrastructure and natural resources; education; health; agriculture and rural development; social protection; and economic governance and private sector development. There are five themes that cut across all of the sectors: gender equity, counter narcotics, regional cooperation, anti-corruption, and environment. ANDS is submitted and endorsed by the Afghan National Parliament and by the World Bank and IMF Committee in May 2008. In June 2008, The donors officially endorse ANDS at the Paris Conference. The full version ANDS became the contents which progressed from I-ANDS. With the full version ANDS, the clause of the "capacity development". The total pledge amount from each donor in the Paris conference was 20 billion dollars (Japan is newly a pledge about 550 million dollars). The strong commitment to reconstruction-of-Afghanistan support of each country was anew expressed also in the G8 foreign ministers' meeting and the Toya lake summit.

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２． Addressing Priority Issues in JICA Programs

JICA’s assistance for Afghanistan centers on Integrated Rural Development that will contribute to the promotion of agriculture and the livelihood of residents in rural areas.

We have also put priority on improving the Basic Human Needs in areas such as education

and healthcare because the government’s ability to provide social services and facilitate the country's self-sustained development remains fragile.

The population around Afghanistan's capital Kabul has been increasing rapidly due to

returnees resettling in the area, but Maintenance of Infrastructure, including transportation, has not kept pace. This could potentially strain Kabul’s social infrastructure to the breaking point, so JICA intends to also provide infrastructure-related support in the Kabul region, specifically in the areas of urban development and electric power.

(1) Support to the Integrated Rural Development

a Rural Development b Agriculture Development

(2) Support to the Basic Human Needs a Health System Strengthening b Basic Education Sector Support c Vocational Training and Technical Education Support

(3) Support to the Maintenance of Infrastructure a Urban Development b Transportation Sector Support

(4)Other a Gender mainstreaming

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３． On-going projects

・ JICA Support Program for Reintegration and Community Development in Kandahar (June 2004 ― June 2009)

Programs supporting Integrated rural development

・ Inter-Communal Rural Development Project (December 2005 ― November 2009) ・ National Agricultural Experiment Stations Rehabilitation Project (July 2005 ―June

2010) ・ Improvement of Rice-based Agriculture in Nangarhar Province (September 2007 ―

March 2011)

・ Tuberculosis Control Project (September 2004 ― September 2009) Programs supporting public health administration capacity (Healthcare sector)

・ Reproductive Health Project (September 2004 ―September 2009)

・ Strengthening Teacher Education Program (STEP), Phase 2 (September 2007 ―

August 2010)

Programs Supporting the Education Sector

・ Strengthening of Teacher Education on Special Education （July 2008 ―March 2010）

・ Project on Basic Vocational Training in Afghanistan (May 2005 ― March 2009)

Programs supporting the Vocational training and Technical Education Sector

Programs supporting the Infrastructure Sector

・ Study on Groundwater Resources Potential in Kabul Basin in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (March 2005 ― March 2010)

・ The Study for the development of Kabul Metropolitan Area in Afghanistan（March 2008 – August 2009）

・ The Study on Topographic Mapping for Greater Kabul （January 2008 to November 2009）

・ Project for Capacity Development and Establishment of Road Maintenance and Management System （March 2008 to February 2011）

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・Project for Poverty Redaction for Chronically Poor women (CPW) （Jan.2009-Jan.2013）

Other program

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４． Performance of Japan’s ODA and JICA’s Technical Cooperation to Afghanistan

（１） Japan’s ODA to Afghanistan (Units：US$1 million)

(Source: Data for MOFA)

（２） JICA’s Technical Cooperation to Afghanistan

(Source: JICA Annual Report2008)

* Training participants include participants of training in Japan, third country training and

in-country training.

* The numbers for persons/projects are the total of all new persons/projects.

Contribution to UN,

and etc.

Grand Aid Technical

Assistance

Total

2001 116.16 23.42 0.38 139.96

2002 56.54 260.43 16.63 333.60

2003 63.60 194.01 22.20 279.81

2004 31.69 77.96 19.84 129.49

2005 27.97 104.88 29.44 162.29

2006 51.46 110.45 24.50 186.41

2007 111.34 68.65 24.30 204.29

Total 347.42 771.15 112.99 1231.56

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total

Technical

Cooperation

(Unit: 1millon)

16.63

22.20

19.84

29.44

24.50

21.75

- 134.36

Training

Participants

(person)

83 130 165 179 172 177 98 1,343

Experts(person) 38 60 64 110 127 129 39 652

Study team

member(Person)

278 264 177 85 112 108 141 1,229

Technical Cooperation

Project/ Development

Study

3 1 6 7 2 5 - 24

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For Reference

Ongoing Projects in Afghanistan

1. Priority area for support: Integrated Rural Development (1) JICA Support Program for Reintegration and Community Development in Kandahar

Period of cooperation: June 2004 ― June 2009

Outline: The program conducts training for Afghan citizens involved in development work, including staff

members at the Ministry for Rural Rehabilitation & Development (Kandahar Branch), and implements

community development projects to help resettle returnees and internally displaced persons, reintegrate them

into communities in Kandahar Province and help them rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

(2)Inter-Communal Rural Development Project

Period of cooperation: December 2005 ― November 2009

Outline: The project applies grassroots approach and utilizes local resources to improve infrastructure that will

benefit multiple villages in Balkh, Bamiyan and Kandahar provinces, helping entire villages improve their

quality of life.

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(3)National Agricultural Experiment Stations Rehabilitation Project

Period of cooperation: July 2005 ― June 2010

Outline: The project restores facilities, equipment and information management systems related to research

and technical development, helps disseminate information, assists in capacity development, and builds

domestic and international networks. The main objective of the project is to reconstruct systems for research,

development and information dissemination centering on the country’s National Agricultural Research

Centers.

The project’s Japanese experts provide technical assistance in areas such as laboratory management, research

and technical development, farmland management, and soil management to staff members at local and national

agricultural research centers.

(4)Improvement of Rice-based Agriculture in Nangarhar Province

Period of cooperation: September 2007 ― March 2011

Outline: The project conducts experiments and R&D related to rice agriculture at the Sishanbak Agricultural

Experiment Lab in Nangarhar Province, which is run by the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock.

Research findings are shared with organizations that further disseminate the information in the model area.

Three long term experts are currently dispatched to Nangarhar Province. These experts are working at the

Sishanbak Agricultural Experiment Lab, transfer technologies to their counterparts, disseminate related

knowledge and manage agricultural equipment.

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2. Priority area for support: Basic Human Needs

(1)Tuberculosis Control Project

Period of cooperation: September 2004 ― September 2009

Outline: The project promotes Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) throughout Afghanistan

by providing reinforcement support for the head office of the country’s National Tuberculosis Control

Project (NTP) and training NTP staff.

Currently, Japanese experts work with the NTP to develop staff capacities through local training initiatives

and coordinate with the WHO to promote DOTS throughout the country.

(2)Reproductive Health Project

Period of cooperation: September 2004 ― September 2009

Outline: The goals of the Reproductive Health Project are to help train staff in the reproductive health

department of the Ministry of Public Health, provide local training for central and rural administrative

officers, and train people directly involved in providing medical care, such as nurses and midwives.

At present, four long-term Japanese experts are working to enhance the capabilities of health service

providers through local training initiatives and training in countries such as Cambodia that have

experienced postwar reconstruction. They also assist the Ministry of Public Health in determining health

policy and are participating in the effort to build a public health system in Kabul Province.

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(3) Strengthening Teacher Education Program, Phase 2

Period of cooperation: September 2007 ― August 2010

Outline: Building on progress made under Phase 1, this phase supports the ongoing creation of practical

classroom guides (for grades four to six), helps develop curriculum for teacher training courses (for grades

one to six) in the social sciences, hard sciences, mathematics and education, and assists teachers in

developing lectures that utilize lessons developed at Teacher Training College (TTC).

Japanese experts are currently helping the Ministry of Education’s Department of Compilation and

Translation create teaching guides and are working to improve the capabilities of instructors at the teacher

training college in Kabul.

(4) The Project on Strengthening of Teacher Education on Special Education

Period of cooperation: July 2008 ―March 2010

Outline: This project is dedicated to establishing a high-quality curriculum at Kabul University of

Education’s Special Education Department, to teaching teachers proper, basic knowledge regarding the

education of children with disabilities through the development of facilities and educational materials, and

to improving the overall quality of special education in Afghanistan.

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(5) Project on Basic Vocational Training in Afghanistan

Period of cooperation: May 2005 ― March 2009

Outline: The project thus far has provided welding, machining and other basic training to ex-combatants

under the DDR process by Afghanistan government in order to facilitate their reintegration into society.

This process has now been completed (as of June 2006), and the scope of training has been broadened to

include domestic refugees, unemployed youth and the socially vulnerable. It is aimed at integrating these

groups into society. As of present, there are two long-term experts managing vocational training courses in

Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Bamiyan and working to enhance the vocational training capacities of the Skills

Development Department in the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled.

３. Priority area for support: Infrastructure development

(1) Study on Groundwater Resources Potential in Kabul Basin in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Period of cooperation: March 2005 ― March 2010

Outline: The increasing population around Kabul has led to increased use of groundwater. Water levels in

wells have dropped, and as a result, Kabul now faces the urgent task of securing water resources for its

future. This survey studies potential groundwater resources in the Kabul Basin and assist in water

planning for the city of Kabul. The Japanese members of the survey team are conducting surveys to create

a hydrogeological map of Kabul, and together with their Afghan counterparts, are sorting data and

making proposals related to water resources development in Kabul. They are also transferring technology

related to modern groundwater exploration and earthmoving.

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(2) The Study for the development of Kabul Metropolitan Area in Afghanistan

Period of cooperation: March 2008 – August 2009

Outline: The Master Plan for the Kabul Metropolitan Area (Kabul City and Dehsabz Area) will be

formulated as well as potential project list of development for the Master Plan and the Action Plan for

short, medium and longer term. It also develops capacity on the side of Afghan authorities in urban

planning.

(3) The Study on Topographic Mapping for Greater Kabul

Period: January 2008 to November 2009

Outline: For sustainable social and economic development of Kabul city where population is growing

rapidly with repatriated refugees , digital topographic maps will be made for solving the city’s deteriorating

urban problems . A technical assistance will also be provided for necessary capacity development on the

side of Afghan authorities.

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(4) Project for Capacity Development and Establishment of Road Maintenance and Management System

Period: March 2008 to February 2011

Outline: The project will develop necessary capacity in road maintenance in the Ministry of Public Works

for sustainable system of road maintenance activities.

４. others

(1) Poverty Redaction for Chronically Poor women (CPW)

Period of cooperation: Jan.2009-Jan.2013

Outline: The goal of this project is to develop human resources in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in

order to enable them to gather information on the status of women in society, implement effective

assistance measures for women, conduct classes to help economically empower women.