Democracy & Governance

Overview Program Description Activities FAQs Photo Gallery

Program Description

Background

In the years since the fall of the Taliban, the country has drafted a new constitution and democratically elected the President, Parliament, and Provincial Councils.  The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is now focused on building its capacity to provide basic services throughout the country, by recruiting competent and credible professionals to public service on the basis of merit; establishing a more effective, accountable and transparent administration at all levels; implementing measurable improvements in fighting corruption, upholding justice and the rule of law; and promoting respect for human rights.

The Program

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, the Independent Human Rights Commission, and target ministries and institutions of the executive branch such as the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, Interior, Agriculture, and the Civil Service Commission. USAID also supports the establishment of independent community radio stations and provides training to Afghan civil society organizations.

• INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF  THE FORMAL LEGAL SYSTEM:  USAID’s rule of law program has three main components: building sustainable capacity for the formal court system; helping the Ministry of Justice collect, index and disseminate Afghan law; and educating citizens about their rights and how the courts operate. The program supports the Supreme Court in its role of managing the courts by providing professional training to judges and strengthening the capacity of the courts in budgeting and management. In cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, all of Afghanistan’s laws since 1964 have been compiled and distributed via an online searchable database, digital media, and print formats to the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and law schools.  Additionally, this program helps bridge the divide between formal and informal justice systems by implementing a new legal education core curriculum.  USAID also built or substantially renovated 40 justice facilities in 18 provinces.
• STRENGTHENING POLITICAL PROCESSES:  A strong Independent Election Commission (IEC) and a voter registry will enable the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to carry out valid, acceptable elections, utilizing internally developed expertise. In the lead-up to the 2009/2010 elections, USAID anticipates continuing to provide support to the electoral process through voter registration planning and logistics, increasing the capacity of the IEC, training for potential candidates, domestic monitoring, and voter education. Other ongoing projects include providing Governors and members of Provincial Councils, religious leaders, and community organizations with strategic planning, civic education, and citizen outreach skills.
• INCREASING PRESENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR:  USAID promotes the development of a strong and active civil society, with an emphasis on women-focused organizations, through technical assistance, capacity building trainings, and grants to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). To date, USAID has provided over $6 million in small grants and capacity building trainings to over 200 NGOs.  In collaboration with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, USAID helped pass the new NGO Law which defines the eligibility requirements to be classified as a non-profit organization and receive tax-exempt status.
       USAID also promotes free media through journalism training and support for the establishment and development of 37 community radio stations. These stations, which are governed by community boards, currently reach over 60 percent of Afghanistan’s population.
• STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE: USAID provides assistance to the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to streamline and modernize office functions to facilitate more effective policy processes. Executive Branch offices such as the National Security Council, the Office of the Chief of Staff, and the Office of Administrative Affairs also receive key capacity building support from USAID. USAID is now ramping up assistance to the Office of the Spokesman, another key presidential office. USAID also supports the annual “Survey of the Afghan People,” the largest survey of its kind in Afghanistan. 
        USAID actively works with the members and professional staff of the Afghan National Assembly.  Assistance focuses on establishing effective committee structures, facilitating seminars, and increasing their research capability.  USAID supports the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the sub-national level by assisting the Independent Directorate for Local Governance as it reforms policies and structures, and trains and recruits sub-national government officials. USAID also provides mentoring and small infrastructure resource support to six provincial municipalities.
       Additionally, USAID is supporting target ministries, including Agriculture, Education, Finance, and Energy and Water, and the Civil Service Commission, to improve their ability to provide basic services nationwide; recruit competent and credible civil servants based on merit; and establish more accountable and transparent public financial management systems.