Thematic Area: Crisis Prevention and Recovery
|Project Document|
|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 June 2008]
Project Start Date: May 2002
Project End Date: August 2008
Project Location: Main Office at the Ministry of Interior, Kabul
Status of the Project: Active
Implementing Partners: National Execution (NEX), Ministry of Interior
The Afghan people and international community consider improved security a very high priority for Afghanistan and an essential prerequisite for reconstruction, economic development and private investment, as well as for aid effectiveness. The re-establishment of law and order has been called for after decades of conflict that included terrorist activities, feuding warlords, illegal trade in narcotics and weapons and only minimal rights protection for its citizens.
The re-establishment of a national civilian police force is an essential element for security and the rule of law in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and National Development Budget envision a professional and disciplined police force that is loyal to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and widely visible to the public, creating a sense of comfort among the population. Afghan National Police have the potential to contribute to regional and global security and to serve as a symbol of national identity.
UNDP has played an important role in enabling MoI to begin the process of rebuilding the civilian police. In May 2002 UNDP established a Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) to enable police to return to operation throughout the country, with the following priorities: (i) Nationwide payment of police staff remuneration; (ii) Acquisition of non-lethal equipment; (iii) Rehabilitation of police facilities; (iv) Gender Mainstreaming and (v) Institutional development.
Four phases of the project have been implemented since its start in 2003. Project Document of Phase V of the project is currently being discussed with Government counterparts i.e. Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Finance. Upon the signature of the new project document, the project will be extended till March 2010. It is mentionable that payment of salaries of Central Prisons Department’s uniformed personnel is also added as a new activity to the latest phase of the project.
Achievements:
Priority 1: Nationwide payment of police staff salaries
The main focus of results during this period has been to ensure disbursement of salaries and food allowances for the Afghan National Police. Since 2002 USD 408 million (up to May 2008) has been disbursed to MoF for the expenditure under this priority in all 34 provinces.
Priority 2: Acquisition of non-lethal equipment
The following items have been procured and were handed over to MoI: 1,100 UAZ 4x4 vehicles, 490 Codan communication systems; two Toyota pick-up vehicles; computers and other electronic equipments to 33 provinces in support of EPS to produce the monthly payroll electronically for accountability and transparency and more efficient administration.
Priority 3: Rehabilitation of police facilities
Construction of 63 highway police check posts on Turkham-Kabul-Herat highway, 9 police stations in selected provinces and one building for Border Police in Torkham in order to facilitate police operation in term of increasing the efficiency and improve the responsiveness and visibility.
Priority 4: Gender orientation
The sub-project under LOTFA, Gender Mainstreaming in police, has been fully funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), targeting: recruitment of 300 police women over two years; establishment of a gender unit at MoI; and replication of the pilot family violence unit in Kabul and 5 provinces with a view to contributing to the security of women in their public and private lives.
The MoI data on 34 provinces and on the central office indicates that there are a total of 232 female police in ANP, out of whom 92 are Officers (117 are Sergeants and 23 are Patrolwomen). LOTFA covers the payment of incentives of women police under training in different training centers of MoI.
LOTFA has also established a Gender Mainstreaming Unit within MoI. Currently, two women police officers are employed by MoI in the unit. The women are receiving trainings on computer utilization, English language and other gender related documents. They are also provided on the job support by LOTFA team on Gender issues.
Priority 5: Institutional development
In light of the approved Support to Law and Order project document Phase III, a Management System Unit (MSU) was upgraded and staffed including an international project manager.
Training sessions have been conducted for MoF for finance and HR staff of the MoI, training of police officers at HQ and at 34 provinces on Electronic Payroll System (EPS) and computer skills, to enable the MoI staff to comply with the finance and HR rules and regulations and fully functionalize the EPS at the center as well as on provincial level. Currently, payrolls of 62,000 police are prepared using EPS. The MoI was also provided with internet system and currently 110 MoI staff are using internet.
Future Priorities:
LOTFA will apply undesignated contributions to the reimbursement of police remunerations until annual costs are covered; Continued support to MoI staff on utilization of EPS will be provided so that they are fully capacitated in using computer system. Moreover, capacity development of MoI will be given special consideration in phase V of LOTFA as it is moved to be priority number two of the project. Moreover, the payment of salaries of Central Prison Department’s uniformed personnel will also be made through LOTFA.
Challenges and Risks:
A number of risks are identified that the project may face during phase V. The risks are enlisted below:
• Funding shortage during project implementation, which would immediately impact on the ability of the project to produce required output, is one of the major challenges being faced by the project;
• Security constraints hinders monitoring activities and EPS coordination at provincial level;
• Insufficient ownership by the designated institution resulting in lack of sustainability of results of EPS implementation
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$1,652,893 came from CIDA/Canada.
Phase IV (1 April 2006 – 31 March 2008)
An amount of US$ 288 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.
Donors:
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, UNDP, United Kingdom, Australia, and United States.
Focal Points:
Mushtaq Rahim, Programme Officer (mushtaq.rahim@undp.org)
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