Thematic Area: Democratic Governance

Letter of Agreement for the provision of Country Office support services
LOTFA Phase V Project Document (black and white)
LOTFA Phase V Project Document (colour)

Progress Report Quarter 2 1388

Progress Report Quarter 1 1388

Annual Report 1387 (01-04-2008 to 31-03-2009)
Progress Report Quarter 1 1387 (April - June 2008)
Progress Report Quarter 2 1387 (July - September 2008)
Progress Report Quarter 3 1387 (October - December 2008)
Progress Report Quarter 1 1386 (April - June 2007)
Progress Report Quarter 2 1386 (July - September 2007)
Progress Report Quarter 3 1386 (October - December 2007)
Annual Report 1386 (April 2006 - March 2007)
Annual Work Plan 1386
Annual Report 1385 (March 2006 - March 2007)
Annual Report 1384 (April 2005 - March 2006)

[Last Updated July 2009]

Project Start Date: May 2002
Project End Date: August 2010
Project Location: Main Office at the Ministry of Interior, Kabul
Status of the Project: Active
Responsible Partners: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance
Implementation Modality: National Implementation (NIM)

T fghanistan’s war ravaged backdrop affected all sectors, including infrastructure, education, agriculture, military and police during the last two decades, causing a very significant collapse of the economy. It remains evident that Afghanistan continues to need significant rehabilitation and reconstruction, but to fill this gap a safe environment is an essential prerequisite. The Joint Coordination and Monitoring Body (JCMB) too, in its various assessments, has underlined that lack of improvement in the security situation, particularly in the south and south-east of the country, would continue to prevent sustainable development and divert attention and resources from comprehensive security sector reform. The presence of a strengthened national civilian police force thus constitutes a critical element for security and the rule of law in Afghanistan.

However, the re-establishment of law and order has remained particularly difficult as the threats to Afghanistan’s security and stability have been varied, including terrorist/insurgent attacks, availability of weapons with armed militia groups, trade of weapons, narcotics and violation of human rights. Maintaining law and order in the country is primarily the responsibility of the national police force. Despite the need for an effective, well equipped and trained police force, currently, the national police personnel operate under severe constraints due in part to limited human and material resources, but also because of the non-traditional roles that it has increasingly been required to take on. The ANP has expanded, but the quality of the police has remained questionable.

International community’s support to rebuild Afghan police force started from the beginning of the establishment of the Afghan Interim Government in 2002, as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement. In May 2002, at the request of the Afghan Government, United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNDP established LOTFA to enable the police to return to operation throughout the country. The Trust Fund has provided a mechanism for coordinating contributions from donors with the principle priority to cover police salaries, as well as to pursue other activities in accordance with project priorities. Since then, LOTFA has completed IV phases and is currently in phase–V, which was started on 01 September, 2008 for a period of two years, until 31 August 2010. (Phase IV, which was to have come to an end on 31 March, 2008 was provided a bridging extension until August 31, 2008 on account of finalization of LOTFA-V document after extensive consultations with the government and donors; lengthy discussions were held, particularly on issues like UNDP’s General Management Service (GMS), and food allowance, with consideration of fiscal sustainability) LOTFA is nationally managed through the Ministry of Interior and is governed by UNDP’s financial rules and regulations. Ministry of Finance is the other implementing partner.

LOTFA-V has the following order of priorities:

1. Payment of the police force remuneration;

2. Institutional development;

3. Procurement, maintenance and operations of non lethal police equipment and supplies;

4. Rehabilitation, maintenance and operations of police facilities;

5. Gender Orientation(Selection, recruitment and training of police); and

6. Payment of remuneration of uniformed personnel employed by the Central Prisons Department through specially earmarked contributions;

Salient aspects of LOTFA Phase V document include an agreement that commencing March 2009, and ending March 2010, the food allowance cost (currently covered under police salary) would progressively be borne by the core budget of the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), or food allowance will be integrated as part of regular (cash) salary. Further, procurement for DIAG cell to enable DIAG operations through three separate cells (DIAG operations, weapons registration, private security companies (PSC) registration and licensing) and related structures at central, regional and provincial levels was to be established within MoI. In addition, LOTFA is also to pay for salaries of uniformed personnel employed by the Central Prisons Department (CPD), through specially earmarked contributions.

Significantly, considering the importance of institution and capacity development within the MoI, together with the cognizance of the need for long-term sustainability of LOTFA processes, institutional development has been accorded higher (second) priority in phase-V of LOTFA. Appropriately, this was developed into a full-fledged institutional and capacity development plan, with specific timelines.

 Achievements:

Output 1: Police force is supported to perform their job effectively and efficiently

1.1. Ensuring of payment of salaries to police force

The first priority of LOTFA is reimbursement of remuneration of ANP to the MoF/MoI and more importantly, ensuring that the payments to the police force in all 34 provinces are made in a timely and transparent manner. The police remuneration expenditure eligible for reimbursement comprises salaries in cash and payments for the provision of food for police (in kind so far). The actual payment of police remuneration took place through the regular government payroll and non-salary payment system. The funds were channeled to provinces by the Treasury Department of MoF. The amount eligible for reimbursement was based on the actual expenditure derived from the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System (AFMIS) maintained by MoF, and verified by the LOTFA Management Support Unit (MSU).

1.2. Completion of computerization of the payroll system

Electronic payroll system (EPS) continued to serve as an efficient and transparent financial and human resource (HR) tool, with the objective of ensuring timely and accurate police salary payments to the legitimate staff, through sustainable and cost effective payroll payment procedures. EPS implementation was encouragingly completed in all 34 provinces, including 65 client payroll stations in Kabul zone and MoI central departments, covering 99% of the total existing police force

1.3. Expediting and increase of the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) to the police force

EFT (payment of police salaries through individual bank accounts) was made functional in 28 provinces. The percentage of uniformed police personnel receiving salaries by EFT reached 70%of total existing police force. The EPS team is liaising with Kabul Bank for expansion of the branches to other provinces too, so that the remaining inactive bank accounts can also be activated and all police having bank accounts can receive their salaries through EFT.

Output 2: Financial, project management and other capacity built within MoI

2.1. Conduct of financial, computer and project management training sessions

Routine as well as specialized on-the-job financial management system training sessions - with focus on transition from current manual systems to computerization of all financial management systems -, were conducted for MoI Finance Department staff. The objective was institutionalization of the capacity development of MoI. A certain reluctance on the part of MoI staff to embrace this capacity will continue to be followed-up.

With the recruitment of the proposed Monitoring Agent, capacity development in financial management systems, fiduciary reviews and accounting systems will be also be an integral component of their work plan.

2.2. Conduct of EPS training sessions

EPS team conduct refresher training sessions for finance officers/EPS operators from provincial police HQ and the provinces and border police brigades, for generation of accurate electronic payroll reports and use of internet for systematic reporting.

Work was also commenced by LOTFA EPS team on development of a web based database application system for centralizing payroll and personnel information. The objective will be to link all MoI data sources (centralized MoI systems with provincial systems) as well as to link MoI EPS database with other existing applications i.e DynCorp ID card database and HR database.

Output 3: Police force is equipped with required equipments for improvement of their mobility and responsiveness

3.1 Procurement of equipment falling under the category of non-lethal equipment

Procurement of equipment for MoI Traffic/ Fire-Brigade/ Health Departments and MoI DIAG cell is in progress. Other requests received for the procurement of non-lethal equipments from MoI will be considered on priority bases.

Output 4: Improved working and living conditions of police contributing to better efficiency and morale.

4.1. Provision of assistance to MoI for tendering of LOTFA- funded construction activities

MoI designated a site for the construction of police gymnasium at the Central Region Command Centre (CRCC). 40% of the construction work has been completed.

Based on MoI proposal for construction of approximately 1,000 check posts nationwide, agreement was reached with Germany to fund this. The construction work on the check posts was progressed. 628 check posts have been completed so far.

Output 5: Improved capacity in police force with enhanced gender balance

Activities were carried out in accordance with the two sub-components of the overall gender mainstreaming activity of LOTFA i.e. recruitment campaign and gender mainstreaming in MoI. This was financially supported by SDC. The details of progress made on the activity are given below:

5.1. Undertaking of recruitment campaign

Security incidents somewhat tended to hamper the recruitment campaign of policewomen in the provinces.  For example, the slaying of the role model police-woman, Malalai Kakar in September in Kandahar, and the subsequent killing of one policewoman and failed attempt on another in Herat province, as well as killing of 2 other women in Ghazni accused of working with the police, broadcasted prominently on all TV channels throughout the country - had a negative impact on the recruitment campaign of female police.  As a total 656 female police recruited.

5.2. Conduct of on-the-job and theoretical training

The project to conduct Training of Trainers (ToTs) for regional commands was developed and progressed, with focus to train 300 trainers, by 7 pilot trainers, in 6 batches in Kabul and Mazar for police personnel to improve responsiveness to victims of family violence, particularly women and girls. A MoU was signed between three agencies i.e. Training and Education Department of MoI, International Police Coordination Board (IPCB) and UNDP/LOTFA to proceed with the project. The project was inaugurated on April 04, 2009, with the first batch of training for Kabul zone. The training manual and module was developed by GTZ.

5.3 Provision of technical and logistic support to the gender mainstreaming unit (GMU) in MoI

After hectic LOTFA/CANADEM interventions, a Gender Mainstreaming Unit (GMU) of MoI was made functional. Logistic support to GMU was provided for effective operation of the unit through supply of IT and office equipment as well as furniture.

Output 6: Uniformed personnel of Central Prisons Department (CPD) are supported to perform their job effectively and efficiently

6.1 Payment of remuneration of uniformed prison guards

 Earmarked donor funding. This was dependent on the completion of the justice sector PRR processes for the uniformed personnel by the Ministry of Justice. The PRR approval process took longer than expected, and the Presidential approval was still not obtained by time of close of the year. Implementation will be commenced in 1388, with release of funds from LOTFA.

Challenges and Risks:

• Expansion of EPS/EFT (exp of com banks)
• Monitoring challenges (MA/security/logistics/
• Female Police recruitment
• Inadequate sustainability of trg process
• Unpredictability of funds (year-on cash flow assesst); limitations in planning process
• Insufficient ownership of MoI
• Resignations of trained staff
• Insufficient co-ordination: police sector organizations

Partnerships and Resources:

Phases I (1 November 2003 – 31 March 2004) and II (1 April 2004-31 March 2005)
The estimated budget was US$ 275,846,292. The received and delivered amount is USS 119,995,564 with a US$ 136,746,820 shortfall. Some planned components were not implemented due to the shortage of funds.

Phase III (1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006)
The total target budget for phase III was US$ 159,340,000, including PPSS. During the mid-year revision of the budget the total budget was revised to US $ 164,550,000. The Trust Fund has received Euro 30,000,000 from EC for LOTFA Stage III. USA had also committed US $ 40,000,000 for the police remuneration and the amount was received by the Trust Fund. In addition, US$1,652,893 came from CIDA/Canada.

Phase IV (1 April 2006 – 31 August 2008)
An amount of US$ 297 million were contributed to LOTFA during phase IV of the project. The contributions helped the project meet its expenditures over the life time of the phase.

Phase V (1 September 2008-31 August 2010)

The total estimated budget of LOTFA for two year period is 454,500,158 as per project documents, committed 344,983,114 with the shortfall of 109,511,044 for this phase.

Donors: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, UNDP, United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Latvia, Iceland, Italy and UK Department for International Development (DFID).

Contacts:

Sandeep Kumar, Project Manager (sandeep.kumar@undp.org)
Mushtaq Rahim, Programme Officer (mushtaq.rahim2@undp.org)

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