Provincial Reconstruction Teams

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Program Description

Background

Following almost 30 years of war and instability, Afghanistan’s first democratic government was inaugurated in 2004. Public authorities have since been engaged in establishing structures of governance at the provincial and district levels and launching public services that respond to the critical socio-economic development needs of the more than 22 million Afghan citizens who are among the poorest in the world.  The approach recognizes that practices and institutions of democracy, especially popular participation in governance, are essential to the creation of sustained, broad-based economic development. 

Severe under-development in the 34 provinces is exacerbated by continuing violence in many districts. Insecurity undermines citizen confidence in the legitimacy of the central government and threatens the hard won gains made to date. The United States, recognizing the imperative of the nexus of security, governance and development, is supporting the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to provide these things at the provincial and district levels.

Program Overview

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been the primary vehicle for the delivery of U.S. and international official foreign assistance outside of Kabul, particularly in unstable provinces. They are joint civilian-military operations that were established at the end of 2002 to improve security, extend the reach of the Afghan government, and facilitate reconstruction in the provinces. In most of the 26 PRTs, a military unit fielded by a participating nation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is joined by a USAID Field Program Officer and a USAID Program Management Specialist and, often, representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the US Department of Agriculture. As of October 2008, USAID has 20 Field Program Officers and 13 Afghan Program Management Specialists working in PRTs throughout Afghanistan.  The team aims to contribute their combined expertise to undertake high priority activities that will contribute to local stability so that more traditional forms of assistance which build local capacity and respond to long-term development needs can be implemented. 

USAID field staff help to assess, plan, implement, and monitor U.S. reconstruction and development efforts in remote locations.  They work to build relationships with local leaders, identify local needs, report on significant developments, and collaborate with the USAID mission in Kabul to design, facilitate and monitor USAID activities in their area or responsibility.

The PRT Office also provides a Development Advisor to each of the ISAF command units around the country.  As of October 2008, USAID has eight Development Advisors working with ISAF command units around the country.  A key component of their work and that of the Field Program Officers is to help our military colleagues better understand the range of civilian reconstruction and development projects in a province or region so that military-funded projects and activities can complement and strengthen civilian efforts.

Activities

The flagship program for the USAID/PRT Office is the Local Governance and Community Development (LGCD) Program.  Active in 30 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, LGCD is a medium-term development program designed to set the stage for long term efforts.  Implementation began in December 2006. To date, 126 projects have been completed ($6 million), 268 are ongoing ($31 million), and 284 are in development ($46 million).

LGCD has four objectives: extend the reach of the government to unstable areas, engage at-risk populations, build trust between citizens and their government, and encourage local populations to take an active role in their development.  These objectives are met through three key components of the program:

• Capacity building for local government – By providing basic management training to local government officials, the LGCD is supporting improved professionalism and transparency of local authorities and their legitimacy in the eyes of citizens.
• Community development – LGCD, working in close coordination with Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Program and Community Development Councils, engages citizens in the process of development.  This activity focuses on small infrastructure projects such as irrigation canals, tertiary road improvements, and the construction or rehabilitation of public buildings such as schools or clinics.
• Stability initiatives – Working with U.S. Special Forces and other military assets, USAID field staff identify opportunities to address specific strategic concerns with development investments.  Implementation mechanisms include cash-for-work and micro-grants.

The USAID/PRT Office also administers the Afghan Civilian Assistance Program (ACAP).  ACAP and its predecessor, the Afghanistan Transition Initiative, have supported Afghan families and communities that have suffered losses from U.S. and Coalition military operations since 2003.  Customized aid, including home rehabilitation and construction, medical care, and vocational and business training, particularly for families who have lost a primary income earner, helps restore lives and communities.  To date, ACAP has assisted nearly 1,000 families impacted by more than 70 incidents in 13 of Afghanistan’s most volatile provinces.