Norway in Afghanistan

Norway in Afghanistan

Norway has supported humanitarian aid and development in Afghanistan for the past thirty years. Until the fall of the Taliban, this support was channelled through the United Nations, the Afghanistan Support Group and non-governmental organisations.

Norway is one of the largest contributors to civilian reconstruction in Afghanistan. The Government of Norway has decided to increase the funding for civilian efforts in 2008 to NOK 750 million. “This increase makes Norway one of the donors with the best balance between civilian and military contributions,” says Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Afghanistan was established in Kabul in December 2001, originally as a two-person mission. As a reflection of Afghanistan’s importance on the global political agenda, the Norwegian engagement has grown substantially, with strengthened military presence through ISAF and increasing humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Underlining the importance of national ownership and leadership in building the Afghan state, Norway was among the first donors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF).

Stability, reconstruction and economic and social progress in Afghanistan cannot be achieved by military means alone. The Norwegian Government has therefore intensified its efforts to promote reconstruction and social and economic development in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, the comprehensive plan agreed on in London in January 2006. In the Compact, the Afghan government and the international community affirmed:

"their shared commitment to continue ….to work towards a prosperous and stable Afghanistan with good governance and human rights protection for all under the rule of law” and furthermore “Resolved to overcome the legacy of conflict in Afghanistan by setting conditions for sustainable economic growth and development; strengthening state institutions and civil society; removing remaining terrorist threats; meeting the challenge of counter-narcotics; rebuilding capacity and infrastructure; reducing poverty; and meeting basic human needs".

The first Norwegian resident ambassador to Afghanistan is H.E. Mr. Jan Erik Leikvang, who took up his post in October 2004. Ambassador Leikvang heads a team of ten Norwegian diplomats, including two civilian advisors in the Norwegian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Faryab province.



Norwegian development cooperation in Afghanistan

"Our vision for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is to consolidate peace and stability through just, democratic processes and institutions, and to reduce poverty and achieve prosperity through broad based and equitable economic growth" Vision, ANDS (2005)

This is the Vision of the Government of Afghanistan in order to fight extreme poverty, criminal economy, and the unstable security situation in the country. The main focus is to improve security, good governance, rule of law, human rights, economic- and social development. In order to do so there has to be an effective coordination between the Government of Afghanistan and the international donors, multilateral organizations and NGOs.

Norway has contributed both with emergency aid and long term aid for several years to Afghanistan. However, after 2002 there has been an increase in the funds to support projects and programs in Afghanistan.

In the period 2002–2006, Norway’s development assistance to Afghanistan totalled NOK 300-350 million annually. As from 2006 this amount increased substantially and it is also anticipated further increased budgets for 2007.

Norway contributes by funding program and projects implemented by international organisations (UN and the World Bank) and through NGOs.

Norway is also a main contributor to the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF),which is administered by the World Bank. Development assistance channelled through the ARTF goes towards implementing national priority programmes, and towards funding the public sector. The fund is central in building Afghan capacity, and ensures good coordination. Securing broad-based support for the ARTF is important to Norway.

The Norwegian Government strategy aims at a long term approach to development in Afghanistan. Our engagement will be concentrated towards the following areas:

• Good Governance including anti-corruption
• Education
• Rural development
• Gender
• Energy
• Environment
• Peacekeeping, human rights and humanitarian aid.

The support will mainly go through national programs; however funds will also be allocated to selected provinces channelled by NGO-programs. The province of Faryab will receive the majority of these funds, due to the presence of the Norwegian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in this province. The PRT has two pillars: one military and one civilian. The task of the military part is to promote a good security environment in the province and to facilitate development and reconstruction. The Norwegian led PRT does not conduct or fund any development work. The Norwegian model is to channel all funds of development aid through the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul in cooperation with two civilian employees from the Embassy stationed at the PRT in Faryab. This model emphasises the importance of good cooperation between the Embassy and PRT in order to have an overall approach to the progress of security, governance and development of the province.

Norway seeks to ensure that all its development efforts are according to the Afghan authorities’ priorities as set out in the Afghanistan Compact and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).