Press Release

USAID Provides $8 Million to Maintain Poppy Free Provinces

USAID discourages poppy production by contributing to the Good Performers’ Initiative.

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Saturday, June 16, 2007

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an initial $8 million contribution to the Good Performers’ Initiative as part of the Government of Afghanistan’s Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF).  This new grant will be administered by the United Nations Development Programme. The Ministry of Counter Narcotics will coordinate and manage the initiative.

The objective of the USAID contribution to the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund through the Good Performers' Initiative is to support continued progress towards poppy elimination and maintenance of poppy free provinces through the provision of financial support for priority development projects. 

Funds in the Good Performers’ Initiative will be used to finance projects in provinces that are poppy free or have met criteria that clearly show they have either achieved success in reducing opium poppy production or have established systems to do so.  The projects funded under the Good Performers’ Initiative will reinforce the success of the Government of Afghanistan National Drug Control Strategy by rewarding provinces that show initiative in reducing opium production. 

Activities funded through the Good Performers’ Initiative are agreed upon by the Provincial Governor and the Provincial Development Council, where available, in accordance with their Provincial Development Plan and formally approved by the CNTF Management Board.