Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

INTRODUCTIONBACKGROUNDFollowing almost three decades of war, thechallenges facing Afghanistan’s developmentremain immense. By 1380 (2001), the ravagesof conflict had bestowed upon Afghan citizensand the incumbent administration an inheritanceof debt not wealth. With the Talibandominating the political landscape from 1375(1996) onwards, Afghanistan had been movingbackwards in all aspects. The results of war,the destruction of core institutions of state anda heavily war torn economy led to unrivaledlevels of absolute poverty, national ill health,large scale illiteracy and the almost completedisintegration of gender equity. And yet, followingsix years of reconstruction, at a cost ofbillions of dollars, the path to prosperity fromextreme poverty remains as distant as ever.Insecurity, poverty, corruption and the expandingnarcotics industry signify that while thechallenges facing Afghanistan have changed innature, they have not necessarily changed inmagnitude. Yet, the price of securing peace andfreedom at this pivotal moment in history willbe nothing compared to the long term costs offailure both for Afghanistan and the internationalcommunity. Averting failure and establishingAfghanistan on a virtuous path towardspeace, stability and prosperity are therefore thecornerstones of the new Afghan National DevelopmentStrategy (ANDS). At the core of theANDS is a policy of Afghanization, meaningthat ANDS has been fully developed andowned by Afghanistan.ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2001In 2001 Afghanistan was certainly a thoroughlydevastated country in virtually every respect.The political, social and economic structures ofthe country had been severely damaged orcompletely destroyed. Massive numbers ofAfghans had left as refugees, had died duringthe conflict or were severely disabled. Everyfamily had paid a price – many had to copewith the loss of main breadwinner. For theyoung people that remained, their educationhad been disrupted and in many cases, includingfor all girls and women, ended. Today Afghanistanhas among the highest rates of illiteracyin the world. Yet despite these desperateconditions, since 2001 the country has hadsome remarkable achievements. The progressthat has been made should be measuredagainst the desperate conditions that prevailedat the time of the fall of the Taliban. While Afghanistanstill faces many enormous challenges,the progress that has been made givescause for some optimism that with the determinationof the Afghan people to rebuild theirlives and their country, the transformation to apeaceful and prosperous can be achieved.The goals of the ANDS for the next five yearsought to be viewed against what has been accomplishedduring the last six years. Onlysome of the most significant achievements canbe mentioned here.Political achievements:• In 1380 (2001) the Bonn Agreement establisheda roadmap for the political transformationof Afghanistan to a legitimatedemocratic state. The targets set in theBonn Agreement were fully met on timeand included:• The Transitional Administration was establishedto guide the process. It derived itsauthority through an Emergency LoyaJirga, the first genuinely representative Afghannational meeting in decades.• In 1383 (2004) Afghanistan adopted its firstconstitution in 30 years, which laid the politicaland development foundation for thecountry and established legal protectionsfor private property and a market economy.• Free and fair democratic elections for President,the National Assembly and ProvincialCouncils were conducted. 76 percentof eligible voters participated in the presidentialelection. Women were elected to 27Introduction 1