01 November 2008, Kabul –The Netherlands minister for Development Cooperation Mr. A.G. Koenders announced two contributions to UNDP. The first contribution involves a donation of US 6.7 million (EUR 5 mln) to UNDP ELECT. This project allows UNDP to assist the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan with the voter registration and electoral preparations for the planned elections in 2009 and 2010.

The second contribution of 8.1 million USD (EUR 6 mln) goes to the UNDP supported Afghanistan Sub-National Governance Programme. ASGP’s government partners are the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) and the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC). The ASGP in order to address the urgent needs for developing a functioning provincial and local administration and functioning local democratic processes focuses on the following major challenges: i) the need for central policy making for a coherent sub-national governance reform; ii) the capacity deficits of administration at the sub-national level; iii) the need to develop citizen representation in sub-national governance; iv) the need for conflict-sensitive governance at the local level. The Dutch funding will be dedicated to national activities to enhance governance at the provincial, district and municipal level and will specifically allow for an early roll-out of this programme in Uruzgan and Daikundi. It is expected that the first activities can start early spring 2009.

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