Major Challenges

DFID: Working to reduce poverty in Afghanistan

Making aid effective | DFID's contributions | Helmand province

Afghanistan is the UK government’s foreign policy priority. DFID, in partnership with other donors, is helping to build a peaceful and self-sufficient nation that remains true to its Islamic principles.

In this time of challenge and opportunity, the UK is committed to Afghanistan for the long term. Having spent over £600 million since 2001, DFID spent £143 million there in 2008–09, making the UK the second largest bilateral donor after the US. We will provide a further £510 million in development assistance from 2009–10 to 2012–13, which will bring the amount pledged or spent by all UK government departments on aid to Afghanistan since 2001 to more than £1.65 billion.

So far, DFID support has:

• resulted in the construction of 2,451 wells in Helmand, benefiting over 400,000 people
• restored irrigation to 13,800 hectares of land, with 5,800 hectares being newly irrigated
• built 59 kilometres of road in Helmand
• helped pay the salaries of over 165,000 teachers
• contributed £60 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust fund, which helps to increase the ability of the Afghan government to provide basic services for its people
• helped provide some 4.5 million vulnerable Afghans with an emergency safety-net, through a contribution of £14 million in 2008/09 to a World Food Programme appeal.

Making aid effective

The most effective way towards progress is to support the Afghan people to help themselves. Therefore DFID’s contribution supports the Afghan government’s National Development Strategy (ANDS), putting the Afghan people firmly in control of the development effort.

Strong systems have been put in place to make sure that UK aid is not misused, and we are tackling corruption at all levels. Most of our support to the Afghan government is channelled through a fund managed by the World Bank, independently audited and only paid out following proof of legitimate expenditure.

As aid to Afghanistan increases, it's important that the international community coordinates their efforts to have the most impact. DFID works closely with others to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. It will also be important to build the capacity of the United Nations in Afghanistan. Progress will result in a better division of labour, with aid targeted more effectively and a donor community able to respond more quickly to the Afghan government’s priorities for poverty reduction.

DFID's contributions

We are working with development partners in Afghanistan in three areas:

• building effective state institutions that manage the economy and deliver services for the Afghan people
• sustaining high levels of economic growth, helping to create a sustainable business environment and improving livelihoods for women and men
• bringing stability and development to Helmand province.

Read more about how the UK is helping to build a better business environment in Helmand.

 
In support of the Afghan government’s National Development Strategy (ANDS), we are active in many sectors, including:

• improving public financial management
• combating corruption
• improving access to fair and equitable justice
• supporting free and fair elections
• private sector development and job creation
• offering sustainable alternatives to poppy cultivation
• humanitarian assistance
• de-mining.

The UK is contributing at national and local levels towards establishing a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan, led by a government that represents and delivers for all Afghans. The efforts of the international donor community in close cooperation with the military have led to real progress, but there is much still to do and DFID stands ready to assist.

Helmand province

With at least 50% of funding channelled through the central government, DFID’s programme is a national one, benefiting all provinces. However, with the UK leading the military and reconstruction effort in Helmand, it is important that we provide the necessary support to bring security and development together. Therefore, of DFID’s budget, approximately £15 million a year since 2006 has been spent in that province where we are helping to provide basic services and livelihoods to those most in need. See Afghanistan: Helmand province for more details.