United Nations Development Programme Awards The Asia Foundation $10.6 million to Strengthen the Office of the President

San Francisco and Kabul, Afghanistan — July 9, 2006 — The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia's development since 1954, announced today an agreement of $10.6 million awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the development of central executive institutions involving the Office of the President in Afghanistan.

The award, which goes into effect immediately, will strengthen the Office of Administrative Affairs, the Council of Ministers Secretariat, and the Presidential Chief of Staff Office’s capacity by upgrading their organizational structures, procedures, office equipment and facilities, information technology, and policy coordination processes.

The award will be managed through the Foundation’s Kabul office, which has supported a range of projects in Afghanistan since 1954. Since 2002, the Foundation has supported governance activities that include the Emergency Loya Jirga, constitutional process, 2004 presidential election, and 2005 parliamentary elections.

“We are honored to be working with the United Nations Development Programme and continue our priority focus on Afghanistan,” said Douglas Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation. “This award will support the crucial objective of strengthening key intra-governmental relationships and overall democratic governance in Afghanistan.”

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance and law, economic reform and development, women's empowerment, and international relations. Drawing on 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With a network of 18 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2005, the Foundation provided more than $61 million in program support and distributed 1.1 million books and educational materials valued at $28 million throughout Asia.

For more information, please visit http://www.asiafoundation.org.