Afghanistan Seeks Stronger Coordination With Aid Organizations

The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development held a meeting with national and international organizations aimed at improving performance, strengthening coordination, and promoting balanced development.

During the meeting, the minister emphasized that Afghanistan’s rural areas have been severely affected by years of war and destruction, calling for comprehensive cooperation to address the livelihood challenges faced by the people.

Abdul Latif Mansoor added that currently many obstacles facing the activities of organizations have been removed, and broad opportunities have been created for organizations and institutions to operate.

The Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development stressed: “We will convey your problems to the Leader’s Office, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, and the Economic Deputyship of the Prime Minister so that solutions can be found.”

In another part of his remarks, Mansoor referred to international aid, saying that large amounts of money have been collected abroad in the name of Afghanistan. He said that through coordination with organizations, the government wants to show how and where this aid is being spent.

According to him, some US-affiliated organizations have announced that they have spent 16 billion dollars in Afghanistan, especially after the establishment of the Islamic Emirate; however, a large portion of this money has been allocated to their own partners and contractors.

Abdul Latif Mansoor said in this regard: “A large part of this aid has been spent on individuals who are currently in Europe, Qatar, or other places, such as contractors or their partners, yet it has been counted as spending for Afghanistan.”

Sharafuddin Muslim, the Deputy Minister for Planning and Policy of the ministry, said: “This meeting provides us with an opportunity to share our experiences, raise challenges, and seek solutions. The views of organizations and their challenges are valuable to us, and we are committed to reflecting them in accordance with established procedures.”

At the meeting, a number of representatives from national and international organizations, expressing concern over the decline in global aid to Afghanistan, called on officials of the Islamic Emirate to cooperate in the implementation of their programs and to provide greater facilitation for their activities.

Katy Webley, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Representative in Afghanistan, said that she appreciated the support and coordination with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, particularly with the ministry’s technical team and provincial teams. She noted that UNOPS is working with the ministry on various projects, especially the community empowerment and resilience project that was also introduced during the meeting and is funded by the World Bank.

Meanwhile, the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan said that, given the organization’s multi-sectoral approach, guidance from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development is needed to gain a better understanding of how different ministries are interconnected, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, and other relevant ministries.

According to information from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, nearly 70 percent of Afghanistan consists of rural areas and villages, whose residents face severe shortages of basic facilities.

The ministry emphasizes that to improve people’s livelihoods and rebuild these areas, coordination between the Islamic Emirate and national and international organizations is a fundamental necessity.