UNDP | Afghanistan | Afghanistan’s New Beginnings Programme (ANBP)

Thematic Areas: Poverty Reduction, and Crisis Prevention and Recovery

[Last Updated July 2008]

Project Start Date: 2003
Project End Date: March 2009
Project Location: Seven zones of the Country
Status of the Project: Ongoing
Implementing Partners: MoD and MoI

http://www.undpanbp.org

The UNDP Afghanistan’s New Beginnings Programme (ANBP) is comprised of three inter -related projects, as follows:

1. Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)
2. Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG)
3. Anti-Personnel Mines & Ammunition Stockpile Destruction Project (Mines & Ammunition)

These UNDP/ANBP projects respectively contribute to the Security Sector and Economic and Social Development benchmarks of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy:

1. By end-2010, employment opportunities for youth and demobilized soldiers will be increased through special programmes.
2. All illegal armed groups will be disbanded by end-2011 in all provinces, and
3. By end-2010, in line with Afghanistan’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Afghanistan’s Ottawa Convention obligations, the land area contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance will be reduced by 70%; all stockpiled anti-personnel mines will be located and destroyed by end-2007; and by end-2010, all unsafe, unserviceable and surplus ammunition will be destroyed.

1. Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (2003 – 2006)

As part of the Security Sector Reforms (SSR), ANBP aimed to support the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) in establishing and implementing a comprehensive, country-wide Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme of the Afghan Military Forces (AMF) in line with the commitment of the Tokyo conference in February 2003.

The immediate objective of DDR was to encourage former AMF to leave their military allegiance behind and look forward to a civilian life of gainful employment in community solidarity.

The DDR mandate came to an end in June 2006, with the last AMF members officially handing their weapons over to President Karzai in a ceremony held in Kabul. During this period, the DDR programme successfully achieved its planned outputs through disarming, demobilizing and providing reintegration support to approximately 63,000 ex-combatants.

ANBP’s mandate only required it to dismantle the AMF, but its unique capacity in Afghanistan has brought about additional responsibilities. In support of the Afghan Government, and at its specific request, ANBP started a nationwide ammunition survey, collecting and destroying the most dangerous anti-personnel mine and ammunition stockpiles; and collected data on, and assisted in the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups.

Ongoing Projects & Achievements

2. Anti-Personnel Mine & Ammunition Stockpile Destruction (Mines & Ammunition)
(Dec 2004 – Mar 2009)

Recognizing the logistical and security risk of surplus ammunition and anti-personnel mines in military and civil communities, the Anti-Personnel Mine and Ammunition Stockpile Destruction (Mine & Ammunition) project supports government in collecting and destroying the most dangerous stockpiles.

The destruction of anti-personnel mines as part of ANBP’s ongoing ammunition survey effort not only alleviates the threat of the ordnance itself, but has simultaneously assisted the Government in meeting its stockpile destruction obligations as a State Party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction “Ottawa Convention.” The project has till date recovered 2,229 caches of ammunition and mines and is in the process of ensuring that all known stockpiles of anti-personnel mines are destroyed to enable the government to meet obligation to the Ottawa treaty on ban of all anti-personnel mines. The ammunition survey teams along with the implementing partners are deployed across eight regions within the country and have been able to achieve the following till date:

• Ammunition Surveyed 33,060 Tons
• Ammunition consolidated 9,596 Tons
• Ammunition destroyed 20,097 Tons
• Anti-Personnel Mines destroyed 501,090 Pcs
• Anti-Tank Mines destroyed 22,233 Pcs
• Total Caches surveyed 2,229

3. Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) (Jan 2005 – Mar 2009)

Recognizing the need to support and strengthen a Government initiative to tackle the problems caused by numerous illegal armed groups in Afghanistan, the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) project aims at supporting the Government in improving human security through disarmament and disbandment of illegal armed groups and reducing the level of armed violence in the community. DIAG also seeks to empower existing Government programmes for socio-economic development to enhance stability and the promotion of good governance, which is an essential and integral part of the Security Sector Reforms in Afghanistan.

To date, DIAG collected a total of 39,717 weapons (35,430 light and 4,287 heavy). Also, 338 IAG commanders signed a DIAG Statement of Declaration and announced that they have disbanded their groups and handed over their weapons. Additionally DIAG District Implementation (DDI) was introduced in the second quarter of 2007, whereby districts identified as more readily complying with DIAG were targeted. To date, of the 70 districts targeted 35 districts have complied, and 3,804 weapons (2,800 operational) have been deposited under the DDI process since its inception.

At the same time DIAG made significant progress in enhancing government capacity to transition to the government. Construction of the MoI DIAG Unit was completed in the second quarter. Likewise, an MoI appointments panel with D&R Commission input selected the police staff for the central unit of 24 staff plus some 10 temporary support staff, primarily to work in the DIAG Unit under the Counter-Terrorism Unit. Finally Private Security Companies (PSCs) registration was announced with 36 companies registering. Nevertheless owing to conditions beyond the project’s control, activities are falling behind schedule which jeopardizes the complete transition by the end of the project mandate.

Future Priorities

ANBP will continue to support DIAG, which is government led with planning, capacity and implementation assistance. With the transition to government falling behind schedule, ANBP is meeting regularly with relevant government officials to address the matter. Likewise for DIAG activities that are tied to other UNDP projects including the Law and Order trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) and the National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP) ANBP remains engaged with UNDP Country Office to expedite the matter.

The priority for the Mine & Ammunition programme is the increased destruction of stockpiled ammunition and mines which will result in reducing the threat of explosive ordinance to communities, as well enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Defence to transition the project to the government.

Partnerships and Resources

DDR Budget: US$ 140,930,315
Received Budget: US$ 140,936,315
Donors: Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Netherlands, European Union, Norway, Switzerland, EC

Mines & Ammunition Target Budget: US$ 22,744,135.76
Received Budget: US$ 21,510,547.97
Balance Commitment to be received: US$ 1,233,587. 79
Donors: Canada, UK, MOF, UNDP, EC, Norway, Netherlands

DIAG Target Budget: US$ 22,309,678.21
Received Budget: US$ 22,309,678.21
Donors: Japan, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, UNDP, Italy, Norway, USA

Focal Points:

David Wilson, Programme Director (dwilson@anbpafg.org)
Mohammad Abrahim Khairandesh, Programme Officer (mohammad.abrahim .khairandesh@undp.org)

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