HOW ARE PRIORITIES SELECTED?

Working with the government and civil society, the World Bank has developed an action plan known as the Afghanistan Transitional Support Strategy which describes what kind of support and how much could be provided to the country beginning March, 2003 and covering a period of 18 months to two years . The strategy was designed to directly support the Government of Afghanistan's National Development Framework and focuses on four key areas:

1) improving livelihoods;

2) helping the government develop its fiscal strategy, improve institutions, and increase management capabilities;

3) supporting governance and public administration reform;

4) helping to enable private sector development in Afghanistan.

The strategy follows a previous World Bank transitional support strategy approved in April 2002, which outlined assistance during the early post-conflict months, when the main focus in the country was on providing emergency relief, securing peace, and working for political normalization.

The World Bank also produces studies and reports based upon its own analysis of a given issue. Topics of research come from the Bank's Transitional Support Strategy.  This research is intended to provide an unbiased perspective on a range of specific development challenges.

Additional studies include reviews of economic policies (Country Economic Memoranda), fiscal spending (Public Expenditure Review), environmental reviews (Environmental Action Plan), and other specific topics.

Further discussion of development issues is promoted though workshops and other events. These events bring together groups such as government, media, and civil society organizations to discuss how best to move forward on a given issue.

As outlined in the support strategy, Afghanistan develops its own projects with World Bank financing and technical support.  

The project cycle outlines the process of identifying, financing, implementing, and evaluating  projects.  Various financing options are available based upon the type of assistance needed.

Loans or credits (interest-free loans) for these projects are then submitted for approval to the Executive Directors, the World Bank's decision-making body which represents all member countries. 

It is important to note that the implementation of projects is managed by the government itself.  The government designates an office, referred to as the Implementing Agency, which is responsible for aspects such as procurement and selection of consultants and day to day work, monitoring and evaluation.

Operational Policies set guidelines to ensure that projects meet the World Bank's own criteria such as social and environmental standards. Project evaluations are conducted to capture and share lessons for future reference.

  Core Documents

 Country Brief

 Transititonal Support Strategy

 Government's Development Strategy

  Project Profiles

 Emergency Education Rehabilitation and Development Project

 Emergency Community Empowerment and Public Works Project

 Emergency Infrastructure Reconstruction Project

  Surprise Yourself!