Flags of the U.S. and Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan: From the American People

Democracy & Governance

Objective: Strengthening institutions for good governance

Program Photo Gallery

Journalist covering the opening of the Balkh Dairy Plant in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Photo: USAID

Journalist covering the opening of the Balkh Dairy Plant in Mazar-e-Sharif, September 2007.

Photo of radio announcers speaking into microphones

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Peace Message Radio provides volunteer internship opportunities to high school and university students wanting to gain experience in journalism.

Photo of judges and lawyers at a training session

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Afghan judges and lawyers receive a month of USAID-provided training on commercial law.

religious leaders give approval

Photo: USAID/ASMED

Religious leaders sign letters confirming that financial services are legitimate and Sharia compliant.

A customer with his title deed.

Photo: USAID/LTERA/Emerging Markets Group

A customer with a copy of his digitized title deed.

Border Facility in December, 2007

Photo: USAID/Bearing Point

Border Facility in December, 2007

Border facility in December 2005

Photo: USAID/Bearing Point

Border facility in December 2005

photo of religious leaders signing confirmation letters

Photo: USAID

Religious leaders sign letters confirming that financial services are legitimate and Sharia compliant.

Jalalabad City Business Directory

Photo: USAID

Jalalabad City Business Directory

Community radio station.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan.

Community radio stations provide news and information to rural populations.

Distributing Rule of Law materials in Parwan

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Community Cultural Center volunteers distribute information about access to justice, legal rights, and women's rights in Parwan province.

Women voting in Mazar.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Women voting in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Study tables on the new INLTC library’s first floor.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Study tables at the new INLTC library.

Female judicial candidates attend classes

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Female judicial candidates attend classes at the Stage in Kabul. The number of women attending the stage has increased nearly 60 percent over last year.

distributing comic books

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Dutch provincial reconstruction team in Uruzgan delivered 12,000 rule of law comic book sets for distribution to schoolchildren throughout the province.

characters from a legal awareness comic book

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The characters in the rule of law comic book sets—young Yassin and his uncle, Kaka Raouf—help raise legal awareness among young Afghans.

Uruzgan PRT distributes comic books

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

تیم بازسازی ولایتی کشور آلمان در ولایت ارزگان به تعداد 12000 جلد کتاب های تصویری را جهت توزیع برای اطفال مکتب در سراسر ولایت تسلیم نمودند.

comic book for legal awareness

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

نقش یاسین پسرجوان و کاکای او کاکا روف در کتاب های تصویری بخش حاکمیت قانون افزایش آگاهی حقوقی را در بین جوانان افغان تقویه می نمایند.

Dutch PRT delivering 12,000 legal awareness books

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Dutch PRT coordinated the delivery of 12,000 ARoLP legal awareness comic books to elementary schools throughout Uruzgan province.

Women voting in Afghanistan

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Women voting in Afghanistan's 2004 elections.

Judges participated in a two-week training program

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Twenty judges participated in the two-week Criminal Justice Program in Kabul.

students at GIS training

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Students learned new mapping and information management skills.

                                                                                       تصاویر بیشتر بنابر درخواست قابل دسترس می باشند

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

تصاویر بیشتر بنابر درخواست قابل دسترس می باشند

Judges receive financial crimes training

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Supreme Court Justice Abdul Rasheed Rashid, who heads the court’s public security division, said the FIT program was “extremely helpful” and thanked the U.S. Department of Treasury and USAID.

Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop participants

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

180 women judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, academics, and Ministry of Justice staff attending the first national Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop, December 15-17, 2008.

Minister of Women’s Affairs Hoson Banu Ghazanfar

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Minister of Women’s Affairs Hoson Banu Ghazanfar thanked USAID for organizing the workshop and said such trainings are integral to the advancement of women in Afghanistan.

Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop attendees

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

For many women, the Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop provided their first opportunity to meet and network with other women in similar positions.

Minister of Women’s Affairs Hoson Banu Ghazanfar

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

حسن بانو وزیر امور زنان از اداره انکشافی بین المللی ایالات متحده (USAID) جهت برگذاری این ورکشاپ قدر دانی نموده افزودند که برگذاری چنین تریننگ ها جهت پیشرفت زنان در افغانستان ضروری می باشد.

the opening of a district communications center

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

A crowd gathers to view the opening of a district communications center in Baghlan province.

Independent radio station in Bamyan Province

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

USAID trained staff on using the modern broadcast equipment.

National Women Legal Professionals Leadership Workshop

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Over 180 female legal professionals from eleven provinces attended the workshop.

Women

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Community leaders, teachers, civil society representatives, university students, and religious leaders discuss women’s rights under Islam.

Bamyan Governor Surabi

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Bamyan Governor Surabi congratulates a graduate.

Shura in Musa Qala

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

1,500 citizens attended the outreach Shura in Musa Qala, Helmand Province.

Kunar Construction Center graduates

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Graduates of the Kunar Construction Center receive training in carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and painting. All of these skills are in great demand throughout Afghanistan.

Students with backpacks promoting women

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Elementary school students in Nangarhar received backpacks emblazoned with women’s rights messages as part of USAID's Women's Access to Justice Campaign.

Nangarhar Women

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Students in Nangarhar Province receive books explaining that "access to justice is the right of every man and woman."

Women

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Women in Nangarhar Province read a poster explaining that "access to justice is the right of every man and women." As part of a campaign to raise awareness about women's rights, this message was promoted through broadcast media and on posters, backpacks, comic books, and other items.

Rule of Law training

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Judges gather in Kabul for legal training.

Kunar Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kunar Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi congratulates Construction Center graduates and notes that they will strengthen the region’s economy.

Kunar Construction Center Graduates

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kunar Construction Center Graduates.

Dari and Pashto legal glossary

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

The 4,000-term Glossary of Dari and Pashto Legal Terminology.

Supreme Court IT training graduation

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

An IT professional receives a training certificate from Judge Samiullah, advisor to the Supreme Court.

2009 Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award

Photo: USAID/CEPPS

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke presents the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award to Prof. Haqmal.

Access to justice campaing in Baghlan

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Women read a poster that explains 'Access to justice is the right of every man and woman' at the entrance of a health clinic in Baghlan Province.

Fourth Round of Government Accountability to the Nation

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Fourth Round of Government Accountability to the Nation was held from March 28-April 13, 2009.

Voter registration scanning

Photo: USAID/STEP

Voter registration forms are prepared for scanning into the voter database.

Moot court classroom dedication

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Chancellor of Kabul University Hamidullah Amin and Justice of the Supreme Court Bahaudin Baha cut the ceremonial ribbon dedicating a new moot court classroom.

Moot court classroom

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

A moot court classroom at Kabul University.

Access to Justice Campaign

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Using an Access to Justice Campaign poster, a USAID worker explains women’s right to inheritance to a woman entering a health clinic in Baghlan.

Take your child to work day mock election

Photo: USAID/Amy Koler

A girl votes during USAID’s mock election.

Legal glossary launch

Photo: USAID/ARoLP

Authors, editors, and linguists celebrate the launch of the Dari and Pashto Legal Glossary.

KCC student placing rebar

Photo: USAID/CDP

A student learns to place rebar at the USAID-funded Kunar Construction Center (KCC), a vocational training institute that offers courses in construction disciplines such as masonry and carpentry.

RTA Farah

Photo: USAID/Internews

RTA Farah’s new FM radio studio.

RTA Farah tower

Photo: USAID/Internews

RTA Farah’s new transmission tower.

Ulema roundtable

Photo: USAID/I-PACS

Mohammad Azam Tariq participates in a radio roundtable with other Ulema.

Afghan MPs with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness

Photo: USAID/APAP

Afghan MPs met with Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

KCC graduation

Photo: USAID/CDP

USAID Representative Tanya Urquieta hands a certificate to a KCC graduate.

Ulema radio roundtable

Photo: USAID/IPACS

Ulema discuss democracy and elections during a radio roundtable.

ATVI graduation

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

U.S. Ambassador Eikenberry congratulates an ATVI graduate.

Bamyan IARCSC graduation

Photo: USAID/Katya Sienkiewicz

Bamyan’s civil servants receive their certificates.

Anti-corruption training in Singapore

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Afghan delegation at the Civil Service College in Singapore.

Woman casts her vote

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

An Afghan woman casts her vote during the 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Ballot box protection

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

An elections worker watches over the ballot boxes during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Voting procedure

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

An elections worker explains the voting procedure to a woman about to cast her vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Line to vote

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

Men and women in Kabul wait to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Man inking finger in Kabul

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

A man dips his finger in ink at a polling station in Kabul. Presidential and provincial council elections took place on August 20, 2009.

ID check

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

An elections worker checks a voter's ID card during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Hotak family votes

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

The Hotak family came out to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

2009 presidential elections

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

An elections worker inks a voter's finger during the 2009 presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan.

Elections monitors in Kabul

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

Elections monitors observe the voting process at a Kabul polling station during Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Voting posters

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

Posters outside of a polling station in Kabul explain the voting process. Afghanistan's presidential and provincial council elections took place on August 20, 2009.

Men voting in Kabul

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

In Kabul, men cast their votes in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Woman prepares to vote

Photo: USAID/Julie Fossler

Elections workers prepare a woman to vote in Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections.

Ambassador Wayne speaks with IARCSC students

Photo: Dan Wilkinson

Ambassador Wayne speaks with IARCSC students.

GMIC briefing with MEW

Photo: Government Media and Information Center

Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismail Khan briefs the media at the Government Media and Information Center.

Women

Photo: USAID/CDP

The Afghan delegation meets with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (center) and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer (far left).

Hilmand MPs in radio studio

Photo: USAID/APAP

Hilmand MPs discuss issues of the day with constituents via radio.

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Democracy & Governance

USAID’s Democracy and Governance program supports the establishment of a broadly accepted national government to promote national unity and effectively serve the needs of the Afghan people.

FY02-FY06 DG Spending: $347 M
FY07 DG Budget: $144 M
(incl. supplemental request

Accomplishments

Presidential & Parliamentary Elections

  • Voter registration/Public awareness
  • Electoral institutions/Logistical support

Judicial Facilities

  • 40 provincial courthouses & justice facilities constructed or renovated

Support to the Courts

  • Reform of Court Administration, including New Case Management System
  • Publication of all Laws back to 1964
  • Rights Awareness Campaigns

Judicial & Legal Education

  • 600+ sitting judges trained, over 50% of the judiciary
  • 350+ judge-candidates trained or in training
  • Law School curriculum redesigned

Good Governance

  • Management capacity of the Offices of the President increased
  • Training and assistance provided to all members of the National Assembly and Provincial Councils 
  • Training Provincial Councils
  • Municipal service delivery improved in Kabul

Civil Society & Media Development

  • NGO Law passed
  • $6+ million in small grants to over 200 Afghan NGOs as of August 2007 
  • Capacity-building programs for NGOs
  • 36 independent radio stations built & 20 more planned

Last updated November 16, 2009

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