Thematic Area: Crisis Prevention and Recovery

Project Document

Annual Progress Report 2009

Progress Report Quarter 2 2009

Progress Report Quarter 1 2009

Annual Report 2008
Progress Report Quarter 3 2008
Annual Report 2006

[Last Updated April 2009]

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 Partner: Ministry of Counter Narcotics
Executing Entity: Ministry of Finance
Implementation Modality: National Implementation (NIM)

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 were awarded $500,000 for assistance development during 2008.

As of 30 June 2008, the GPI Review Committee has approved 34 provincial projects for funding through the GPI. The total amount approved for the GPI projects is USD 14,930,654.

Achievements:

Some 31 projects have been approved by the CNTF Management Board (USD 46.78 million) and are currently being implemented under the thematic areas of:

Alternative Livelihoods (21 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 million awards granted to 17 provinces, out of which USD 15 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 GPI project selection and implementation
• Continue to work with line ministries in project development and implementation.
• For the up coming MB meeting, a Comprehensive Management Plan (Exit Strategy) has been developed on how to take the existing GPI and CNTF projects to successful completion.

Challenges and Risks:

The Government of Afghansistan’s Proposal on the Reform and Restructuring of CNTF is being undermined. 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 62,295,735
Total commitment: USD 99,520,799
Shortfall: USD 800,479,201

Donors:

Some USD 99.5 million has been committed by donors. The following table presents an overview of contributions, including USD 1.4 million from UNDP core resources for 2006 and 2007 operational budget of the CNTF support unit.

Contacts:

Haleem Wahidi, CNTF Director (haleem.wahidi@mcn.gov.af)
Subhash Misra, CNTF Advisor ( subhash.misra@undp.org )
Mushtaq Rahim, National Programme Officer ( Mushtaq.rahim2@undp.org )
Zubaida Helali, Programme Associate (zubaida.helali@undp.org)

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