Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

plans, which were finally consolidated into34 Provincial Development Plans (PDPs).This process involved consultation betweenparliamentarians, provincial authorities,provincial development committees,village Shuras, local Ulama, the internationalcommunity (including the ProvincialReconstruction Teams) and most importantlyordinary Afghan citizens. ThesePDPs identified needs and key developmentpriorities for each province. Both theNational (top-down) and sub-national (bottom-up)processes were developed into thesector strategies, with a move towards theformulation of Sector Wide Approach andProgrammatic Budgeting.• International Consultation Process: Engagementbetween the Government andthe international community has been substantiallyguided by the Bonn processwhich set high level political goals: the SecuringAfghanistan Future exercise; theAfghanistan Compact and the MDG process.The international community was involvedin the ANDS consultation processthrough the External Advisory Group(EAG). Among other issues, this organ focuseson implementation of the principlesof the Paris Declaration. The ANDS Secretariatprovides support to these structuresto enhance coordination and effectivenessand the linkage with the national consultationprocess. The international communitywas extensively involved in the developmentand preparation of the ANDS.• Consultation with the Civil Society, PrivateSector and Media: The Governmentcarried out extensive consultation withcivil society groups, including: (a) the religiousestablishment; (b) village shuras 10 ; (c)non governmental and not for profit agencies;(d) cultural associations; (e) humanrights organizations; (f) grassroots associationsrelated to women’s affairs, youth developmentand disability; and (g) Waterand Sanitation Committees (WATSAN).Six Afghan coordination bodies and partnerNGOs were extensively engaged duringthe development of the Sector Strategies.Moreover, throughout the process themedia has been actively reporting on theANDS, through newspapers, TV, radio and10 Traditional village councils.internet. The role that civil society organizationshave played at different levels asfacilitators, communicators, advocates andmonitors has been invaluable. 11 As part ofthe economic diagnostic and PDP work,provincial discussions were held to discussthe private sector development strategy inthe five largest commercial cities, whichculminated in the ‘Enabling EnvironmentConference’ held in Kabul in 1386 (June2007).Poverty diagnostic consultations: The Government’sparticipatory approach to povertydiagnostics involved enabling poor communitiesand their institutions to participate effectivelyin defining, analyzing and monitoringpoverty as they experience it. This work wasalso conducted in the most remote and conflictaffected communities of Afghanistan. In sodoing, a broader choice of poverty actionsbased on the specific concerns of the poor havebeen established for each province, as well aseach district. Government has considered arange of poverty actions based on specific concernsof the poor including vulnerability, conflictsensitivity, insecurity and governance. Asa result of provincial and district planning, differenttargeting of poverty reduction programs/interventionshave been considered toestablish a best fit between poverty profile andpoverty actions.PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENTPLANS (PDPS)As part of the ANDS PDPs were developed forall 34 provinces of Afghanistan to provide acoordinated framework for the Governmentand the international community to undertakesector programs and projects at the subnationallevel. The linking of consultation tothe provincial based planning process has allowedlocal communities to prioritize, sequence,plan and be involved in the implemen-11 In addition to the feedback, comments and support of a numberof CSOs, the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief(ACBAR) and the Foundation for Culture and Civil Society(FCCS) undertook extensive research in 12 provinces, contributinginvaluable poverty data for the ANDS, as teams were sent toremote, poverty stricken areas in both rural and urban settings, inorder to inform the sector strategies. This information was used inconjunction with findings from the National Risk and VulnerabilityAssessment surveys over the past five years, to ensure that theANDS policies are pro-poor and representative of the more disadvantagedsegments of society.20Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS)