Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

Resources and Environment. The organizationaltransition of the environment functionsince 2002 has precluded the consistent developmentof technical and managerial skillswithin both NEPA and other governmentalauthorities involved in environmental management.Therefore the ANDS focuses on developingNational Environment ProtectionAgency’s (NEPA) capacity to perform its regulatory,coordination and policy-making duties.The ANDS strategic vision is to improve thequality of life of the people of Afghanistanthrough conservation of the nation’s resourcesand protection of the environment. Goals include:(i) secure a clean and healthy environment;(ii) attain sustainable economic and socialdevelopment while protecting the naturalresource base and the environment of the country;and (iii) ensure effective management ofthe country’s environment through participationof all stakeholders. The strategy elaboratespriority programs areas for environmentalmanagement based on thematic strategies including:restoration and sustainable use ofrangelands and forests, conservation of biodiversity,accession to/ signing and enforcementof MEAs, preservation of natural and culturalheritage sites, encouragement to communitybasednatural resource management, preventionand abatement of pollution, urban environmentalmanagement; environmental educationand awareness.Implementation frameworkStrengthening EIA awareness and institutionalcapacity of NEPA and the line ministrieswill be accorded priority. Short termand long term outcomes linked to the thematicobjectives (eg. conservation of biodiversity,abatement of pollution, environmentalawareness, etc.) will also be prioritizedbased on assessment of the expectedenvironmental, social, and health impactsand the institutional, economic and politicalconstraints.Strategic coordination of the ANDS is totake place on a sector-by-sector basisthrough a inter-ministerial and consultativegroup (CG) mechanisms. Under theCG mechanism, environment features as across-cutting issue and is also a sectoralissue in its own right. Environment as across-cutting issue, must be mainstreamedacross all sectors and in each program areathrough the development of policy benchmarksto ensure that the Government, donorsand implementing agencies followestablished norms with respect to the incorporationof environmental considerationsinto the design and implementationof projects, and provide adequate oversightand monitoring of the environmentalimpacts of economic and social developmentprojects.There is a defined institutional arrangementfor implementation and monitoringof environment themes. The groups engagedin the implementation of the ANDSwill play a crucial role in ensuring issuesencountered in the implementation of programsand ministerial/sectoral strategiesare effectively addressed. Their assessmentmust be frank, identifying the problemsencountered in the implementation ofthese activities. This will allow the Governmentto more effectively address theissues and meet their obligation of reportingto the Oversight Committee (OSC) andthe JCMB on progress in fulfilling theseobjectives.CONCLUSIONThe ANDS consolidates critical crosscuttingissues and integrates them into sectorstrategies. These are issues that will have adecisive impact on the achievement of allANDS goals.Greater regional cooperation will contributesignificantly to establishing security ina volatile region and improve the prospectsfor economic growth and developmentin Afghanistan. A key objective inthe regional cooperation strategy is to removebarriers to investment and trade sothat regional investors will be better able todo business in Afghanistan and Afghanfirms will have greater access to regionalmarkets.152Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS)