Thematic Area: Poverty Reduction
[Last Updated June 2008]
Start Date: June 2005
End Date: December 2008
Project Location: Main Office at the Ministry of Counter Narcotics, Kabul
Status of the Project: Active
Implementing Partners: National Execution (NEX), Ministry of Counter Narcotics and Ministry of Finance
The objective of Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF), officially established on 29 October 2005, is to mobilize additional resources needed by the Afghan Government to implement the National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). The key principles behind the Trust Fund include:
• Providing additional resources for the Government’s counter narcotics (CN) efforts through the national development budget.
• Ensuring transparency and accountability in the allocation of those resources.
• Enabling the Government to have greater ownership over implementation of its CN strategy.
• Promoting greater coherence in the funding of counter narcotics related activities.
The Trust Fund builds upon the NDCS, which identifies eight pillars for intervention, namely:
1. Alternative Livelihoods
2. Building Institutions
3. Public Awareness
4. Law Enforcement
5. Criminal Justice
6. Eradication
7. Drug Demand Reduction and Treatment of Drug Addicts
8. International and Regional Co-operation
The CNTF is executed through the National Implementation modality. Therefore the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan retains overall responsibility for the nationally managed programme through its designated institutions – the Ministries of Finance and Counter Narcotics. The line ministries serve as the implementing partners of the Trust Fund and work closely with the MCN to identify, develop and propose counter narcotics related projects within their mandated area.
The project eligibility criteria are based on the NDCS 8 pillars. When assessing a specific project for funding, other general criteria are also taken into consideration. These include the geographical location; absorption capacity of the line ministries/agencies; and whether or not CN is mainstreamed into the project.
Good Performers Initiative
The objective of the Good Performers Initiative (GPI) is to support provinces that achieve sustained progress towards poppy elimination or remain poppy free by providing financial support for their agreed priority development projects. The key point on GPI projects is to deliver timely, cost effective and visible projects and is directly implemented by CNTF. In 2006 six provinces were awarded USD 1,000,000 for being poppy free and a further eight provinces were awarded USD 500,000 for having less than 1,000 hectares of poppy production.
For the season 2007/2008, 7 more poppy-free provinces were announced in August 2007 bringing the total number of poppy free provinces to 13. The seven provinces will be awarded USD 500,000 for assistance development during 2008.
As of 31st March 2008, the GPI Review Committee has approved 27 provincial projects for funding through the GPI. The total amount approved for the GPI projects is USD 11,029,329.
Achievements:
Some 28 projects have been approved by the CNTF Management Board (USD 23 million) and are currently being implemented under the thematic areas of:
Alternative Livelihoods (19 projects), Demand Reduction (4 Projects), Awareness Raising or Information Campaign (1 Project), Law Enforcement (1 project), Institutional Building (2 projects), and one drug Free Healthy Educational project which is coming under three pillars of Information Campaign , Drug Demand Reduction and Institutional Building.
Good Performers Initiative is progressing well. Some USD 16.5 million awards granted to 17 provinces, out of which USD 11 million has been allocated to projects that are in different stages of implementation.
Future priorities:
• CNTF reform and restructuring
• Provincial focused counter narcotics planning approach
• Continue with the assessment and development of the capacities of line ministries to meet the needs of the Counter Narcotics Strategy fulfillment.
• Follow up the 2007 external auditors recommendations
• Continue with the CNTF and GPI project selection and implementation
• Continue to work with line ministries in project development and implementation.
Challenges and Risks:
Insufficient capacity within the Afghan Governmental structures continues to cause delays in the delivery of the CNTF resources and the implementation of individual projects. Stronger focus and immediate action for capacity building at the MCN and other ministries is a priority. Security situation in the country continues to be a challenge in implementation of some of the projects.
Partnerships and Resources:
Target Budget: USD 900,000,000
Received Budget: USD 62,290,996
Committed: USD 97,367,403
Shortfall: USD 802,632,597
Donors:
Over USD 97 million has been committed by donors. The following table presents an overview of contributions, including USD 1.3 million from UNDP core resources for 2006 and 2007.
Focal Points:
Haleem Wahidi, CNTF Director (haleem.Wahidi@mcn.gov.af)
Sayed Khalid Khushbin, National Programme Officer (sayed.khalid.khushbin@undp.org)
Zubaida Helali, Programme Associate (zubaida.helali@undp.org)
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