Experts for Relief and Development of Afghanistan (ERADA) calls for sustained, inclusive, transparent and multi-year support towards development and self-reliance efforts in Afghanistan
We members of the Experts for Relief and Development of Afghanistan (ERADA) firmly believe that Afghanistan’s sustainable growth can only be ensured through a peaceful political solution to the decades’ old conflict and a self-reliant development agenda. We strongly support all national and international efforts to achieve the cherished goals of peace, stability and self-reliance. We consider the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan to be a significant step and opportunity for strengthening partnerships towards gradually ending aid dependency by helping Afghanistan increasingly rely on its own human and natural resources for its sustainable growth. Peace and security, good governance and rule of law, inclusivity and social justice, accountability and ending corruption, as well as respect for and adherence to human rights, are key requirements to achieve the said goals.
Credible reports have highlighted that over the past two decades, billions of US dollars poured into Afghanistan for socio-economic development have either been unaccounted for or have had insignificant development results. Heavy emphasis on short term quick impact projects, over-reliance on foreign contractors and consultants, militarization of development aid, little or no consideration to local knowledge and expertise, fragmented approach of the donors and poor coordination among and between development partners and the government contributed to huge waste and poor development results.
ERADA would, therefore, urge Afghanistan’s friends and development partners to undertake a com-prehensive, candid and critical review of their development assistance to Afghanistan in the past two decades with a forward-looking view in order to avoid repeating the past mistakes. As they deliberate and decide on their future financial commitments to Afghanistan, we encourage them to genuinely engage with a cross-section of the Afghan society, both within and outside Afghanistan, including Afghan experts in diaspora. Owing to its likely ominous implications for regional and international peace and security, Afghanistan’s economic collapse and failure as a state must be averted at all costs.
In view of the above, ERADA would like to offer its support to partners, organizers, participants and all stakeholders in realization of the objectives of the Geneva Conference and furthermore, we would like to:
- Express sincere gratitude to the international community for their longstanding commitment and continued human and development support to Afghanistan.
- Urge the international community to maintain its long-term financial and political commitment in support of humanitarian relief, peace-building and economic development, as well as to safeguard the progress and gains in several areas such as education, women rights, and promotion of democracy, media and civil society, to name but a few. At a time when Afghanistan is confronted with compounded crisis due to continued armed conflict and escalating violence, a deteriorating economy, COVID-19, flooding and other natural calamities, reduction of aid and/or faltering commitment to a strong and long-term engagement in support of economic development – a strong catalyst to restoration of peace- will convey a negative message to the people of Afghanistan.
- Welcome the continued use of Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) between the government of Afghanistan and the international community. However, while we acknowledge the progress made since the initial launching of this framework in Tokyo in 2012, there have also been significant shortcomings, weakness and delays on both sides that will need to be addressed going forward.
- Call on all member states, international and national organizations, religious and faith-based entities to use their influence and good offices to bring an end to the protracted bloodshed in Afghanistan, and to safeguard and protect the civilians, who bear the brunt of the conflict.
- Encourage all partners to establish measurable and time-bound benchmarks for attaining inclusive economic growth, social justice and good governance through promotion of transparency, accountability and respect for human rights and the rule of law. These measures serve as the most effective instruments to eradicate root causes of instability, warlordism, corruption, drug industry and other criminal economic enterprises.
- Urge all partners to continue their support to the Civil Society in enabling the Afghan communities’ participation in preserving the gains achieved in the said areas. Afghanistan’s Civil Society continues to play an important role in promoting freedom of speech, civil, political and cultural rights, respect for and adherence to human rights, including women’s rights, enshrined in Islamic teachings and guaranteed in the established legal framework of the country, as well as relevant international instruments to which Afghanistan remains a State Party.
- Support Afghanistan’s efforts in nationalization of global norms and standards, as well as development instruments, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, and their incorporation into its national plans and programmes;
- Urge all donors to maximize channeling of aid funds to Afghanistan’s economy through local institutions and mechanisms across the country, and also prioritizing the use of Afghan talent and capacity; Afghanistan and its international partners should put in place an effective and mutually accountable mechanism in order to curb corruption and maximize utilization of resources made available.
- Urge all partners to take effective measures for building and significantly improving the capacity of Afghan institutions and human resources across the country through use of new and innovative methods and technologies, such as digital banking, distance learning, tele-medicine, etc., and to utilize and leverage to the end the knowledge, expertise and networks of millions of Afghans in diaspora around the world.
- Highlight the importance of the private sector’s participation in the development of Afghanistan, and in complementing foreign investment in the country. The ANPDF-II issued by the Government of Afghanistan should, therefore, reinforce implementation of existing regulations and enactment of new laws to enhance the role of Afghanistan’s private sector in the country’s economy. It is crucial that development partners provide greater trade facilities and encourage private sector of their countries to invest in Afghanistan. Equally, domestic revenue generation and resource mobilization, including through cost-saving measures, modernized taxation system, better utilization of natural resources and Islamic Finance, would be fundamental to sustainable and inclusive development.
ERADA stands ready to work with all Afghan and international partners to mobilize the huge potentials of Afghans in diaspora around the world, including their professional expertise, financial resources and advocacy power, for supporting the relief, recovery and sustainable development of Afghanistan.
Geneva
November 23, 2020
A group of diaspora Afghans with diverse work experience within and outside Afghanistan who have volunteered their pro-bono services and advice to support the recovery and long-term sustainable development of Afghanistan. Members of the group have decades of experience in highly reputable international organizations, private companies, and government institutions. ERADA is non-profit organization registered in USA and Switzerland.