EU Announces Further Support for the Development of Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The European Commission announced today new development funding of 1.4 billion euros to Afghanistan for the period 2014-2020. The funds will focus on vital sectors for growth and social stability, such as rural development and agriculture, health, and strengthening democracy in the country.

The signature of the development program (known as Multiannual Indicative Program), between European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, and the National Economic Adviser to President Ghani, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, took place this Friday in Washington, DC, in the margins of the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

"This agreement is evidence of the European Union's continued long-term commitment to Afghanistan," said Commissioner Piebalgs. "Our support is based on lessons learnt through our cooperation with the country and draws on the priorities signaled out by the national authorities. In short, the money will go where it is most needed and could be most effective. We expect these funds to create the conditions necessary to improve Afghan citizens' livelihoods, by creating jobs, further strengthening Afghanistan's institutions, and better enabling the population to have their say."

He added "I welcome the formation of the Government of National Unity, which is an important step in securing the future of all Afghans. The EU looks forward to hearing the Government set out its reform program at the London Conference next month. In line with other donors, the EU will set aside 20 percent of its funding to incentivize those reforms."

Afghanistan funding program for the period 2014-2020 is the largest under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). This exceptional level of support aims to respond to the huge challenges on the ground: Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. About 80 percent of the population depends on agriculture and associated livelihoods. Seasonal and chronic unemployment are common and increasing.

The EU aims to support the country during its 'Transformation Decade' - as the EU pledged to do at the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan in 2012. The majority of EU funding will be channeled using the major trust funds, particularly the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) administered by the World Bank, and the Law and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA) administered by United Nations Development Program.

The EU will focus its support to Afghanistan in the next seven years on:

• the development of a vital economic and employment sector: agriculture and rural development (337 million euros)
• a social sector with a track record of achieving results and critical for human development: health (274 million euros)
• the provision of physical and legal security for citizens through the increased professionalization of the police corps and application of the rule of law (319 million euros)
• enhancing the accountability of the state to its citizens through greater democratization, for instance through improved parliamentary, media and civil society scrutiny  (163 million euros)
• 300 million euros will be used as an incentive component; to be paid based on the achievement of certain results and progress agreed upon - in line with the 2012 Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (TMAF). 

Examples of how the EU is making a difference in Afghanistan

• Improved health services: 65 percent of the population has access to primary healthcare (up from 9 percent in 2002) and basic services are now provided to over five million Afghans in ten different provinces.
• Social protection and inclusion of extremely vulnerable children: Between 2006 and 2008 more than 9,000 children benefited from non-formal education, vocational training, recreational activities, sports, health and hygiene education. Social protection programs helped 1,500 children to enter public schools.
• Water resource management has been improved through the development of a legal framework and specialized training to communities and authorities; resulting in the protection of 40 percent of Afghan water resources.
• Stronger rural communities: 390 district Development Assemblies have been set-up in 2011, enabling community representation at a higher administrative level, and a wider participation of communities in the design and implementation of development programs.

Background
EU Foreign Ministers adopted a new strategy for Afghanistan in June focused on developing Afghanistan's capacity to safeguard the progress made to date and laying the foundation for further progress.

Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, takes part in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual meetings on October 10-12 in Washington, DC. During his visit, the Commissioner will address the Development Committee (a ministerial-level Steering Committee of the World Bank Group) and will hold bilateral meeting with key development partners.

In the margins of the visit, the Commissioner signed this development program with Afghanistan, as well with four other countries (see IP/14/1121 ).

What is a Multiannual Indicative Program?
Multiannual Indicative Programs (MIPs) represent an important step in the programming of EU aid under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). EU Member States agreed in 2013 the overall amount for development cooperation that will be channeled to Latin America, Asia, Central Asia, the Middle-East and South Africa under the DCI during the next financing period 2014-2020 (total amount 19.6 billion euros).

In parallel, the preparations of a MIP for each of these countries started, defining the strategy and priorities for EU aid. These preparations are done in close cooperation with the partner countries in close consultation with other development partners (e.g. donors, civil society, private sector, etc.) so as to ensure that MIPs support national priorities where the EU has an added value.

Photos of the Signing Ceremony:
Pictures signing ceremony between Commissioner Piebalgs and the National Economic Adviser to President Ghani, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal will be available by October 11 at: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/photo/photoByDate.cfm?sitelang=en

For more information, please see:
Website of the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/piebalgs/index_en.htm
Website of DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid: 
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Delegation of the European Union to the United States
2175 K Street (entrance from 22nd Street), NW, Washington, DC 20037
www.EUintheUS.org & @EUintheUS

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States