Between 2001 and March 2006 DFID spent over £390 million on reconstruction and development in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is DFID’s fifth largest programme and we are Afghanistan’s second largest bilateral donor, spending over £100 million in 2005-06. We are focusing on: building effective state institutions; improving economic management and improving rural livelihoods. The best way to do this is by supporting Afghans themselves—which is why over 70 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan. Afghanistan remains one of the UK’s top priorities and we have provided valuable support to the Government who have made great progress over the last five years.
DFID undertakes livelihoods projects, preferring to work through the Government of Afghanistan where possible. This support is essential to strengthen Government systems and build effective state institutions that will be able to continue to meet Afghanistan's development needs.
In Helmand, DFID supports a number of livelihood programmes. I announced a £30 million Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme earlier this year. This programme aims to increase economic opportunities for the rural poor of Helmand by supporting the Government of Afghanistan in the roll-out of existing successful National Programmes in Helmand. These programmes will provide improved water and sanitation, essential small-scale rural infrastructure, greater access to small loans, improved roads and access to markets and agricultural inputs and training to the people of Helmand. Priority preliminary tasks have been undertaken: i.e. sites for road and well building have been identified; engineering surveys conducted; and the Government procurement process started. This programme will construct 200 wells in and around Lashkar Gah city by end March 2007, and 49km of road will be under construction by then. Should the security situation allow, we also expect to build a further 490 wells in four districts in central Helmand by end March 2007.
Through the £3 million DFID-funded Research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), the Restorative Agriculture and Rural Economy Research Project, implemented by Mercy Corps, is working on export feasibility of grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplants and okra, and has made strong contacts with raisin importers (organic and fair-trade). The programme is evaluating at least 10 different small-scale agri-processing industries, and producing case studies of enterprises that prove to have value added. For example tomato paste. In addition the programme has introduced a simple technology for the production of mint as a herbal remedy.
DFID has committed £4 million to the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funding allocation of £6.5 million for the delivery of quick impact projects (QIPS) in Helmand to get short-term development results and help build a platform for longer-term activities. From the total allocation, half has been committed and all will be spent by March 2007. To date, nearly fifty such projects have been funded and implemented. These funds have provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the drought, constructed permanent vehicle checkpoints to improve security, improved security around the shrine in Gereshk, reinforced the river bank walls and provided flood defences for the Bowlan bridge. A full list of UK funded QIPs under the four broad sub-headings (Reconstruction and Development, Security, Governance, and Counter Narcotics) is attached.
Supporting Documentation: Summary of Quick Impact Projects in Helmand Province
Reconstruction and Development Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Wall and gate construction 21,224 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Road and footpath construction 3,076 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 Emergency food distribution 3,400 Gabion Extension 34,108 Support to Office of the Governor to respond to needs of Internally Displaced People 60,000 Support to Radio Stations 150,000 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 Ulema Shura Ramadan Food 6,867 Lashkar Gar Hospital Mortuary 50,000 Bost Hospital Generator 60,000 Womens Centre improvements 30,000 Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 80,000 Ulema Shura Eid Support 1,900 Womens Centre ISAF badges 750 Security Permanent Vehicle Check Points (PVCPs) 21,387 Afghan National Police Outposts 480,000 Afghan National Army Platoon House 45,000 Afghan National Army Outposts 158,756 4 Permanent Vehicle Check Points (PVCPs) 155,000 4 Enhanced Permanent Vehicle Check Points (PVCPs) 110,000 12 Permanent Vehicle Check Points (PVCPs) for Geresk 600,000 New PSCC 150,000 Governance Media Training 486,900 Radio Transmitter 122,400 Helmand Governor - Armoured Car 126,684 3,000 uniforms for 1,500 police 30,000 GPS for the chief of police 150 ID card making facility (ANP) 25,000 Generators for the Governor 170,000 Wall for the office of the prosecutor 10,000 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 Tribal Liaison Office, District Reports 155,708 Rehabilitate Printing Press 45,000 Counter Narcotics Windmill Wells 10,640 Vehicles for Counter Narcotics Police Authority 72,080 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 Communications equipment for the Counter Narcotics Police Afghanistan 10,000 PA Systems for 12 District Centres 3,000 Counter Narcotics Tractor Repairs 12,000 Counter Narcotics Tractor Ploughs 30,000 Total 4,592,213