National Unity Government (NUG) Agreement

The two Afghan presidential candidates signed an agreement (20 September 2014) outlining how the National Unity Government (NUG) will be formed. The actual text of the agreement (in English) is available on the website of the Wall Street Journal. You can read the 4-page document (Adobe Acrobat PDF) at the link below.
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/afghanagreement.pdf

Report - Social Outreach Program, USAID and SIGAR

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has provided a report entitled USAID's Afghanistan Social Outreach Program: Audit of Costs Incurred by AECOM International Development, Inc. The report, SIGAR 14-94 Financial Audit, was published in September 2014.

"USAID signed a contract with AECOM International Development to establish community councils (shuras) at the district level and promote communication and collaboration between the Afghan government and communities. This support to the Afghanistan Social Outreach Program (ASOP) was intended to expand the role of the traditional shuras, overcome corruption, and increase participation in the political process by woman, youth, and other marginalized groups". 

Corruption in a Provincial Capital

Many observers of the Afghan insurgency cite government corruption as one the main reasons for the insurgency. The corruption happens at all levels - the President's office (yes, Karzai), the ministries, and in the provincial and district government offices. One example is the mayor of Pul-e-alam - the provincial capital of Logar province just south of Kabul. Although there are numerous reports linking the mayor to corruption it would seem no one has the power or will to remove him. Read more in "Afghan Mayor Accused of Grand Theft", Institute for War and Peace Reporting, January 8, 2104.

MIT Study on Local Democracy in Afghanistan

In a recent study the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) examined the effect of local institutions and the quality of governance in Afghanistan. The study centered on the distribution of wheat and the effects of aid to villages needing the wheat. The study looked at the differences in distribution by elected councils (such as Community Development Councils), customary leaders, or newly created local councils. A news article on Foreign Policy discusses the study and its findings and the study itself is available on the Social Science Research Network here.

A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance (AREU)

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has released the 11th Edition (2013) of the A to Z Guide to Afghanistan Assistance. Contained within the publication is a glossary of assistance terms, extensive listing of assistance organizations, an overview of the Afghanistan system of government, and information about the provinces and districts of Afghanistan. If you are in the business of security, governance, development, counterinsurgency, or Security Force Assistance (SFA) this book will be invaluable to you.

 You can order hard copies of the 2013 edition or download the 2012 edition off the AREU website. The hardcopies cost about $20 USD or Afs 1000 with limited editions available. The electronic copy (2012) can be downloaded for free.

 

www.areu.org.af

 

Paper - Sustainable Governance in Afghanistan

The Civil-Military Fusion Centre has published a paper entitled "Towards Sustainable Governance: Funding & Capacity". The paper, dated February 2012, is authored by Stefanie Nijssen - a governance and rule of law desk officer. The paper discusses in detail governance in Afghanistan in the future under fiscal constraints as aid to that country decreases. The paper is available for reading or downloading through a link provided by ReliefWeb - http://reliefweb.int/node/485078. The introductory paragraph of the paper, seen below, provides a description of the paper contents.

The United States Institute of Peace’s (USIP) handbook on “Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction” states that effective governance requires domestic capacity. This capacity comprises skills and capabilities as well as adequate financial resources. However, according to Deutsche Welle, the Afghan government may face significant challenges in financing its operations and its security services in the coming years if, as the World Bank predicts, aid to the country decreases significantly. This report examines various ways in which the Afghan government and the international community have responded to the dual challenges of fiscal sustainability and skills building.

Rule of Law in Afghanistan

The link below will provide you with information about organizations that are helping to bring about rule of law in Afghanistan.  Listed are implementing partners that are assisting these organizations.  In addition you will find publications and news articles about the rule of law in Afghanistan. 

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/ruleoflaw.htm

News Articles about Governance in Afghanistan

The link below will take you to a listing of news articles about governance in Afghanistan.

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/governancenews.htm

Publications about Governance in Afghanistan

The link below will take you to a website with publications about governance in Afghanistan.

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/governancepubs.htm

District Development Plans - USAID in Afghanistan

In an attempt to prioritize and coordinate infrastructure repairs at the district level in Afghanistan the Afghan government prepares District Development Plans (DDP).  Unfortunately, the Afghan government does not have the money or the capacity to implement these plans.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), using implementing partners such as the Central Asia Development Group (CADG), collaborates with district and provincial leaders to identify and fill gaps in the DDP. Typical projects might include drainage ditches, road construction or improvement, or erosion protection.  Read more about how USAID's support of District Development Plans support governance and development in Afghanistan in "Bringing Government Plans to Life", USAID, February 9, 2012.

Governance in Afghanistan

For a listing of organizations advancing the cause of governance in Afghanistan click on the link below:

http://www.afghanwarnews.info/governance.htm

Afghan Perspective on Democracy Differs From Western View

What democracy means for an American is quite different than what democracy means for an Afghan.  A research team from the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has been studying this topic for a few years.  For instance, to Afghans, the word "democracy" means much more than an elected government; they extend the meaning to encompass a vast range of Western ideals and liberalism far beyond representative governance. "Democracy" to many Afghans has a negative connotation - reflecting many of the perceived negative aspects of Western society such as immorality and secularism.  The authors observations are provided to us in an article posted on a blog at Foreign Policy Magazine.  Read the comments of Anna Larson and Oliver Lough in "Afghan perspectives on democracy", The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 9, 2011.

New Afghan Parliament at odds with Karzai

The new Afghan parliament will be seated this week; over the objections of Karzai.  Read more in "Afghanistan's Karzai Nailed by Political 1-2 Punch", CBS News, January 25, 2011.

Karzia Agrees to Allow New Afghan Legislature to Convene

"A showdown between President Hamid Karzai and his country's newly elected parliament was averted late Saturday when the Afghan leader agreed to convene the inaugural legislative session this week rather than push for a one-month postponement.

Lawmakers were intent on defying Karzai's order to delay the first session, initially scheduled for Sunday, and had said they would meet at a mosque or in the street if security forces blocked them from the parliament building.  The standoff pushed the Afghan leader and his government to the brink of a full-blown political crisis."

Read the rest of the article in "President Hamid Karzai agrees to let new Afghanistan parliament meet, averting crisis", Los Angeles Times, January 23, 2011.

Taliban's Shadow and Parallel Government in Afghanistan

The Afghan government is corrupt, ineffective, and does not reach out to the rural areas of Afghanistan.  Into this void the Taliban have set up a shadow, parallel government through fear and intimidation but also delivering on basic needs and services that the Kabul regime should be providing.  Read more in "Talking to the Taliban about life after occupation", Guardian, November 26, 2010.

Afghan Government Compared to a Medieval Court of Centuries Gone By

The current regime in power in Kabul (the Karzai extended family) has been compared to a medieval court of times gone by.  Read more in "Miss the Middle Ages? Try Afghanistan", Los Angeles Times, October 16, 2010.