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Strengthening institutions for good governance
USAID’s Democracy and Governance program supports the establishment of a broadly accepted national government that promotes national unity and effectively serves the needs of the Afghan people. USAID helps develop the capacity of key institutions including the Independent Electoral Commission, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and target ministries and institutions of the executive branch such as the Independent Directorate for Local Governance, and the Civil Service Commission. USAID also provides training to Afghan civil society organizations to advocate for society-led reforms.
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Success Stories
12 February 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID's RLS-Formal The team from Panjsher Institute poses with their coaches at the Afghan National Round of theJessup International Moot Court Competition. Five...
10 February 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID's KCI Kabul Municipality and Kabul City Initiative (KCI) Inaugurated four world class public parks between November 2012 and January 2013. All four...
4 February 2013 | Kandahar, Afghanistan
USAID's RAMP UP A municipal employee at the newly-launched information service desk Kandahar’s residents say their lives have been transformed since the installation...
14 January 2013 | Balkh, Afghanistan
USAID's SAIBA The Balkh Deputy Provincial Governor delivers a formal speech at the official opening of the AIBA Balkh sub-office. ...
7 January 2013 | Kandahar, Afghanistan
USAID's RAMP UP Female data entry clerks enter parcel registration data at the City Hall in Kandahar. Kandahar, the largest city in...
31 December 2012 | Parwan, Afghanistan
USAID's RAMP UP Charikar youth participate in a community clean-up day. Charikar City, the capital of Parwan Province, produces 85 cubic meters...
2 April 2011 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/RLS-F Moot Court Event participants. USAID’s RLS–F Program assists the human and institutional capacity of the justice sector, increases the public’s access...
15 March 2011 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/I-PACS II Advisory committee workshop participants brainstorming roles and responsibilities. On February 9, in Kabul, the USAID-funded Rule of Law Stabilization...
30 January 2011 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID’s ROL-S Formal Judicial Training/Court Administration Component trained 30 judges from Herat (15), Badghis (4), Farah (2), Ghor (7) and Nimroz (2) provinces in Herat...
31 October 2010 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID’s Afghanistan Parliamentary Assistance Project (APAP) is enhancing the capacity of the parliament’s public relations employees to provide high-quality coverage of National Assembly events. A...
15 October 2010 | Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan
Twenty-five judges from Balkh, Faryab, Jawzjan, Samangan, and Sari Pul provinces recently attended a judicial training program held in collaboration with the Afghanistan Supreme Court...
15 October 2010 | Kabul, Afghanistan
Around the world, civil society organizations (CSOs) are in a unique position to advocate on behalf of people whose voices would otherwise go unheard. They...
In The News
11 February 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan USAID Mission Director Ken Yamashita joins Deputy Minister, Mobarez Rashedi, Ministry of Information and Culture, in congratulating the CEO of AIMS, Mr. Mohammad...
31 January 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID's AMDEP a group of Afghan lawyers from across the country completed advanced training in media law in preparation for this year’s Media...
23 January 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan USAID Mission Director Dr. Ken Yamashita presents an award to Afghan university student competed in the National Round of the Jessup International Moot...
23 October 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan Mayor of Kabul Mohammad Yunos Nawandish, Minister of Information and Culture Sayed Makhdoom Rahin and USAID Mission Director Dr. Ken Yamashita cut the...
17 October 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
US Embassy U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham and the representatives of Kabul and Al Biruni universities speak with students at Kabul University. U.S....
26 September 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/ I-PACS II Afghan civil society activists participated in the second annual National Policy Reform Conference funded by the United States Agency for International...
18 July 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
USAID/RLS-F Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks to the members of Afghan Women Judges Association (AWJA) in Kabul today. Afghan Women Judges formed...
20 June 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
US Embassy A graduate of the Judicial Stage training program receives her diploma at the Afghanistan Supreme Court in Kabul. ...
19 April 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
Frank Petrella, USAID/Afghanistan Researcher Javid Hamdard presents the ICT Report findings at the press conference in Kabul today In the past ten...
8 April 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan
Frank Petrella/USAID USAID Mission Director Dr. Ken Yamashita answers questions during a radio interview at Salam Watandar in Kabul Nine years after...
BACKGROUND
In the years since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan has drafted a new constitution and organized presidential, parliamentary, and provincial council elections. The Afghan government is focused on building its capacity to provide basic services to citizens; establishing a more-effective, accountable, and transparent administration at all levels; and implementing measurable improvements in fighting corruption, upholding justice, and increasing the rule of law.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
USAID’s Office of Democracy and Governance projects support participatory processes that involve citizens in national and sub-national governance. Projects promote more-accountable, transparent governance, encouraging national unity and serving the needs of the Afghan people. USAID helps develop the capacity of key institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and target ministries and institutions of the executive branch such as the Independent Directorate for Local Governance, and the Civil Service Commission. USAID also provides training to Afghan civil-society organizations to advocate for society-led reforms.
RULE OF LAW AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
USAID’s rule of law project has three main components: building the capacity of the judiciary and the faculties of law and sharia; strengthening the judiciary’s public legal outreach program; and supporting traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms that foster links between the formal and informal justice systems. Corruption issues are addressed specifically through a range of projects to include strengthening the capacity of, and sustaining activities in the High Office of Oversight, by providing ethics training to various actors including civil servants and the judiciary, and by promoting the enforcement of anti-corruption laws and regulations.
A centerpiece of the new project is its support to traditional dispute mechanisms: building community elders’ knowledge of Afghan law, sharia and human rights norms; encouraging alternatives to social practices that are harmful to women and children; and strengthening the connections between state actors and the informal systems. In addition, the program continues to support the Supreme Court by providing professional training to judges and strengthening the capacity of the courts in managing and budgeting.
GOVERNANCE
The overarching U.S. Government objective is to promote a more-capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistan that serves the Afghan people and eventually can function with limited international support. The emphasis is on immediately actionable reforms that will deliver recognizable and useful change in the short-term, while also conducting capacity-building and training that builds a base for indigenous, sustained progress in the longer term.
The governance focus spans several areas, including capacity-building assistance and resources to national, provincial, district, and municipal government entities; mechanisms to reform and train the civil service; establishment of operational budgets at the provincial level; technical support to the Afghan Parliament; support to develop community councils at the district level; and assisting elected officials and civil-society groups to inform the citizenry, respond to their priorities, and direct service delivery.
ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL COMPETITION
Transparent, competitive, and credible elections at national, provincial and district levels are a critical component of a democratic system. USAID provides technical support to electoral institutions such as the Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission. It also supports international observation missions, civic and voter education programs, candidate agent training, political parties strengthening, and electoral reform programs through civil society partners, as well as promoting a legitimate, sustainable voter registry system over the long term. Other ongoing efforts include support for issue-based coalition-building, and work on a sub-national level with governors, members of provincial councils, religious leaders, and community organizations on strategic-planning, civic-education, and advocacy.
CIVIL-SOCIETY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA
USAID promotes the development of a strong and active civil-society sector to help Afghan citizens more effectively participate in the political process, solve community problems, and advocate for good governance. Programs seek to improve the laws that regulate non-governmental organizations, increase civil-society accountability, develop capacity and networks for democratic processes, and increase citizen mobilization and policy engagement.
USAID supports media sector development in Afghanistan to promote the free exchange of information and ideas vital to the democratic process. USAID is building the capacity of broadcast media through technical support, equipment upgrades, hands-on training in balanced and accurate reporting, the development of Afghan media policy/regulatory framework to improve media standards, growth and sustainability, and empower local and individual voices.
Assistance for activities that promote gender equality and the development of women’s civic and political leadership is a priority component of multiple civil-society, governance, rule of law, and political processes programs.
Fact Sheet Democracy and Governance Sector Sep 2012
Support to Sub-National Governance Institutions
Afghanistan Civil Service Support (ACSS)
Afghanistan Local Governance Assistance Project (ALGAP)
Afghanistan Media Development and Empowerment Project (AMDEP)
Afghanistan Municipal Strengthening Program (AMSP)
Afghanistan Parliamentary Assistance Program (APAP)
Afghanistan Rule of Law Project (ARoLP)
Afghanistan Social Outreach Program (ASOP)
Assistance to Afghanistan’s Anti-Corruption Authority (4A)
Awareness Rising and Education of Afghan Citizens - Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG)
Building Independent Media in Afghanistan
Capacity Development Program (CDP)
Center of Government (CoG) Project
CityLinks Project
Conflict Mediation and Governance - Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG)
Election Observation Mission – 2010 Wolisi Jirga
Electoral Reform and Civic Advocacy (AERCA)
Engaging, Empowering and Mobilizing Provincial Council Members (FOG Grant)
Enhancing Accountability and Transparency at Sub-National Level – (FOG Grant)
Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT)
Foreign Affairs Institutional Reform (FAIR)
Governance Annual Program Statement (GAPS)
Improved Aid Accountability at Sub-National Level - Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG)
Initiative to Promote Afghan Civil Society (I-PACS II)
Kabul City Initiative (KCI)
Media Development in Afghanistan
National Media Assessment
On-budget Support for Independent Administrative and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC)
Performance Based Governors Fund (PBGF)
Promoting Conflict Resolution, Peace Building, and Governance for Afghanistan
Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations (RAMP UP)
Rule of Law Stabilization Program – Formal Component
Rule of Law Stabilization Program – Informal Component
Safe-house for At-Risk Women and Girls - Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG)
Strategic Support to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Support for Increased Electoral Participation in Afghanistan
Support to Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (SAIBA)
Support to MEDICA - Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG)
Support to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC)
Support to the Elections Process (STEP)
Supporting the International Observation Mission
Survey of the Afghan People
Urban Revitalization Project
Voter Registration and Election Implementation Program
Voter Registration Project (VRP)
USAID/RLS-Formal
Orphanage in Afghanistan attended a twoday workshop that included legal rights training and a field trip to the Kabul Appellate Court.
WASSA Organization
WASSA is leading development in the western region of Afghanistan and is working to build internal capacity and core sustainability.
The championship team from Kabul University Law Faculty, along with judges and USAID officials at the National Final Round of the 2011 Phillip C. Jessup Moot Court International Law Competition, held in Kabul Afghanistan.
USAID/Afghanistan
تصاویر بیشتر بنابر درخواست قابل دسترس می باشند
USAID/CEPPS
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke presents the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award to Prof. Haqmal.
USAID/Julie Fossler
An elections worker inks a voter's finger during the 2009 presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.
USAID/LTERA/Emerging Markets Group
A customer with a copy of his digitized title deed.
USAID/ARoLP
Using an Access to Justice Campaign poster, a USAID worker explains women’s right to inheritance to a woman entering a health clinic in Baghlan.
Women read a poster that explains 'Access to justice is the right of every man and woman' at the entrance of a health clinic in Baghlan Province.
USAID/APAP
Afghan MPs met with Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The Government has approved the National Action Plan for Women and the Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Dan Wilkinson
Ambassador Wayne speaks with IARCSC students.
The Afghan delegation at the Civil Service College in Singapore.
Nine judges and 11 staff members of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal attend a USAID provided computer training program and learn how to apply their knowledge to fight corruption in Afghanistan.
Arghandab residents listen to the first radio broadcast.
USAID/RLS-I
Before the Asadabad Primary Court, defense attorney Mohammad Taheer argues that his client should receive a lesser sentence.
The Asia Foundation
Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People
U.S. Ambassador Eikenberry congratulates an ATVI graduate.
An elections worker watches over the ballot boxes during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
Bamyan Governor Surabi congratulates a graduate.
USAID/Katya Sienkiewicz
Bamyan’s civil servants receive their certificates.
USAID/Bearing Point
Border facility in December 2005
Border Facility in December, 2007
USAID/ASOP
Five breakout sessions were used by residents to elect community council members.
An editor with the program (left) completes an interview as part of the “Weekly Interview” segment of the website.
The characters in the rule of law comic book sets—young Yassin and his uncle, Kaka Raouf—help raise legal awareness among young Afghans.
نقش یاسین پسرجوان و کاکای او کاکا روف در کتاب های تصویری بخش حاکمیت قانون افزایش آگاهی حقوقی را در بین جوانان افغان تقویه می نمایند.
Participants continued to debate issues and elect council members during lunch.
USAID/Afghanistan.
Community radio stations provide news and information to rural populations.
CSO representatives practice advocating for their cause during a simulation exercise.
The 4,000-term Glossary of Dari and Pashto Legal Terminology.
The Dutch provincial reconstruction team in Uruzgan delivered 12,000 rule of law comic book sets for distribution to schoolchildren throughout the province.
Community Cultural Center volunteers distribute information about access to justice, legal rights, and women's rights in Parwan province.
District community council members in Logar present their programs.
The Dutch PRT coordinated the delivery of 12,000 ARoLP legal awareness comic books to elementary schools throughout Uruzgan province.
Robert Sauers/USAID
Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne delivers opening remarks to the audience gathered for the Civil Society Conference 2010 in Kabul.
More than 80 elders came together for their first Elders Network Meeting that included participants from the Behsud and Sukh Rod districts in Nangarhar Province.
Elections monitors observe the voting process at a Kabul polling station during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
Internews
The successful growth of open media in Afghanistan provides jobs for both men and women.
Female judicial candidates attend classes at the Stage in Kabul. The number of women attending the stage has increased nearly 60 percent over last year.
The Fourth Round of Government Accountability to the Nation was held from March 28-April 13, 2009.
USAID/MISPA
Minister of Women’s Affairs Hosn Bano Ghazanfar holds a press conference to mark Elimination of Violence Against Women Day.
Government Media and Information Center
Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismail Khan briefs the media at the Government Media and Information Center.
Hilmand MPs discuss issues of the day with constituents via radio.
The Hotak family came out to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
An elections worker checks a voter's ID card during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
USAID trained staff on using the modern broadcast equipment.
USAID/Internews
A group of journalists from Ghor province attend a workshop at Nai’s Kabul training center, with assistance from the Ghor PRT.
USAID
Jalalabad City Business Directory
Journalist covering the opening of the Balkh Dairy Plant in Mazar-e-Sharif, September 2007.
Twenty judges participated in the two-week Criminal Justice Program in Kabul.
Supreme Court Justice Abdul Rasheed Rashid, who heads the court’s public security division, said the FIT program was “extremely helpful” and thanked the U.S. Department of Treasury and USAID.
USAID/RLS-F
Judges refresh their knowledge at a USAID judicial training session.
Journalists who attended the Kandahar trainings work for independent local media, nationally networked TV and radio stations, and international media organizations.
Sixty-five women – primarily from the villages of Arghandab – discussed women’s roles in resolving village conflicts in Kandahar.
USAID/CDP
USAID Representative Tanya Urquieta hands a certificate to a KCC graduate.
A student learns to place rebar at the USAID-funded Kunar Construction Center (KCC), a vocational training institute that offers courses in construction disciplines such as masonry and carpentry.
Kunar Construction Center Graduates.
Graduates of the Kunar Construction Center receive training in carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and painting. All of these skills are in great demand throughout Afghanistan.
Kunar Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi congratulates Construction Center graduates and notes that they will strengthen the region’s economy.
Representatives from Kushi district make their concerns known to the Afghan Government.
Authors, editors, and linguists celebrate the launch of the Dari and Pashto Legal Glossary.
Men and women in Kabul wait to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
A man dips his finger in ink at a polling station in Kabul. Presidential and provincial council elections took place on August 20, 2009.
In Kabul, men cast their votes in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
Minister of Women’s Affairs Hoson Banu Ghazanfar thanked USAID for organizing the workshop and said such trainings are integral to the advancement of women in Afghanistan.
A moot court classroom at Kabul University.
Chancellor of Kabul University Hamidullah Amin and Justice of the Supreme Court Bahaudin Baha cut the ceremonial ribbon dedicating a new moot court classroom.
Students in Nangarhar Province receive books explaining that "access to justice is the right of every man and woman."
Over 180 female legal professionals from eleven provinces attended the workshop.
USAID/AMSP
Merchants and customers walk along the newly paved road in the Tirin Kot Bazaar.
Afghan parliamentary journalists participate in radio documentary training.
IRD
Peace building training in Ghazni Province.
Afghan judges and lawyers receive a month of USAID-provided training on commercial law.
Peace Message Radio provides volunteer internship opportunities to high school and university students wanting to gain experience in journalism.
Religious leaders sign letters confirming that financial services are legitimate and Sharia compliant.
USAID/ASMED
RTA Farah’s new FM radio studio.
RTA Farah’s new transmission tower.
Judges gather in Kabul for legal training.
The producers and reporters for Salam Watandar’s new Pashto-language service.
IPACS/KHDO
Schoolgirls in Kandahar celebrate their achievements in English and computer courses offered by the Kandahar Health and Development Organization.
1,500 citizens attended the outreach Shura in Musa Qala, Helmand Province.
“My plan is to establish an organization called Law and Democracy, which will be dedicated to legislative affairs. It will conduct research and work toward the strengthening of rule of law in Afghanistan.” — Alyas Hameed Munib
Students learned new mapping and information management skills.
Elementary school students in Nangarhar received backpacks emblazoned with women’s rights messages as part of USAID's Women's Access to Justice Campaign.
Study tables at the new INLTC library.
An IT professional receives a training certificate from Judge Samiullah, advisor to the Supreme Court.
USAID/Amy Koler
A girl votes during USAID’s mock election.
A crowd gathers to view the opening of a district communications center in Baghlan province.
USAID/IPACS
Ulema discuss democracy and elections during a radio roundtable.
USAID/I-PACS
Mohammad Azam Tariq participates in a radio roundtable with other Ulema.
تیم بازسازی ولایتی کشور آلمان در ولایت ارزگان به تعداد 12000 جلد کتاب های تصویری را جهت توزیع برای اطفال مکتب در سراسر ولایت تسلیم نمودند.
USAID/STEP
Voter registration forms are prepared for scanning into the voter database.
Posters outside of a polling station in Kabul explain the voting process. Afghanistan's presidential and provincial council elections took place on August 20, 2009.
An elections worker explains the voting procedure to a woman about to cast her vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
Mrs. Laila of Kandahar Province signs the papers legally freeing her from marriage after her husband’s death eight years before.
An Afghan woman casts her vote during the 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
Elections workers prepare a woman to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.
For many women, the Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop provided their first opportunity to meet and network with other women in similar positions.
180 women judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, academics, and Ministry of Justice staff attending the first national Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop, December 15-17, 2008.
Women voting in Afghanistan's 2004 elections.
Women voting in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Women in Nangarhar Province read a poster explaining that "access to justice is the right of every man and women." As part of a campaign to raise awareness about women's rights, this message was promoted through broadcast media and on posters, backpacks, comic books, and other items.
The Afghan delegation meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center) and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer (far left).
Female Afghan officials in Baghlan learn about the media and its uses.
The women’s elders’ network meeting included presentations and discussions in Behsud and Surkh Rod districts.
Community leaders, teachers, civil society representatives, university students, and religious leaders discuss women’s rights under Islam.
Afghan youth took part in a USAID and Afghanistan National Assembly sponsored Youth Parliamentary session in June. Nearly 90 youth, almost half of them young women, participated in the event.
Trained more than 600 judges and strengthened the Supreme Court
Improved capacity of the National Assembly to provide more effective oversight of the budget and legislative processes
Created more than 115 district community councils and trained 8,052 community council members on management, good governance, conflict resolution, peace building, and disaster risk reduction
Trained 16,000 civil servants (26% of whom are women) in core administrative functions
Funded more than 50 community radio stations and trained more than 11,440 journalists
Facilitated 506 community dialogues for 12,959 individuals – discussed pressing community needs, local solutions, and action plans to address their needs
Increased municipal revenue in 34 municipalities, including Kabul Municipality, leading to improved service delivery based on community input
(Data as of January 2013)
Last updated 14 Feb 2013
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