Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSUE
058
APR.
2021
Public Disclosure Authorized
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NEW SUPPORT TO
CONTENTS ongoing 10 results IMPROVE BASIC NEWS
operations ‘Women’s access to ID cards SERVICES ACCESS AND
world bank page 6-45 can accelerate development
group support in Afghanistan’ PROVIDE RELIEF
page 4 -5
page 6
$200 MILLION GRANT to support
education and training the Afghanistan Water, Sanitation,
page 4
Hygiene, and Institutional Support
World Bank Projects and page 8 (A-WASH) Project to help alleviate
Programs financial sector COVID-19 impacts and improve access
to clean water, sanitation, and the
International Finance page 18 quality of water supply in Kabul, Kan-
Corporation health 24 results dahar, and Herat, and strengthen the
Multilateral Investment capacity of Afghanistan Urban Water
geneva conference renews support
‘Solar power provides
page 21 Supply and Sewerage Corporation.
Guarantee Agency a lifeline to Afghanistan’s
infrastructure
for afghanistan
The grant comprises $50 million from
hospitals’ IDA and $150 million from the ARTF.
page 5 page 27 The Afghanistan Conference in 2020 saw 70 countries and 32 international orga-
$193 MILLION GRANT for the Second
Country Partnership rural development Additional Financing of the Citizens' nizations gather in Geneva to renew their aid commitments to Afghanistan for the
Framework, 2017-2022 Charter Afghanistan Project (CCAP) period 2021 to 2024 that will be dependent on accountability, an end to the war, and
page 39 aimed at improving delivery of core durable peace, stability, and prosperity.
Afghanistan service delivery infrastructure, emergency support, After a series of virtual discussions in the two-day conference hosted jointly by the
Reconstruction Trust Fund and social services to communities Finnish and Afghan governments and the United Nations on November 23 and 24,
Japan Social page 45 through strengthened Community development partners pledged $3.3 billion in aid to Afghanistan for the first year with
Development Fund urban development 32 results
Development Councils. It will help ex- annual commitments to stay nearly the same until 2024.
pand service delivery to 10 new cities,
‘“Leaking pot” exercise The international community made these pledges at a time when their respec-
continue the COVID-19 crisis response
tive countries were reeling from the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,
helps poor households to communities, provide critical assis-
sending a strong message that the world has not abandoned Afghans as they move
reduce excess spending’ tance to Kuchi communities, increase
international finance employment through public works, toward achieving a peaceful and prosperous future for themselves and their children.
corporation initiate peace pilots, and continue to There had been a widespread feeling among Afghans that international aid would
page 46-47 strengthen gender equality. The grant dwindle amid the withdrawal of international forces after the U.S. and Taliban signed
comprises $35 million from IDA and a peace agreement. But the new aid pledges at the Geneva conference have revita-
page 46 $158 million from the ARTF. lized the hopes of many Afghans.
ongoing advisory projects $97.50 MILLION IDA GRANT for the Nonetheless, the country has staggering challenges to tackle, including a growing
Drought Early Warning, Early Finance, number of young people entering the job market every year, a stagnating economy,
and Early Action Project (ENETAWF) and increasing hunger and poverty due to the impacts of drought and COVID-19.
results 62
to provide regular and predictable Given this scenario, these aid commitments are more precious than ever for mee-
‘Farmers doubled their afghanistan cash support to Afghans affected by ting key priorities, including reinvigorating the private sector, empowering women
income with project support’ reconstruction trust droughts and COVID-19 and improve and young people, creating jobs, and giving assistance to those pushed to the brink
fund food and nutrition security. The grant by the COVID-19 pandemic, which can help revive the Afghan economy.
page 48-66 will also help build Afghanistan’s The Afghan government has agreed to some stringent terms through the Afghanis-
drought early warning and response
tan Partnership Framework to spend the aid more transparently. It has also pledged
page 52 systems and complement regular
to renew efforts in implementing economic reforms and creating a conducive busi-
ongoing projects humanitarian relief efforts. It comple-
ments grants of $115 million from the ness climate that can strengthen the private sector, create jobs for men and women,
ARTF, $8 million from the Global Risk and improve government revenues.
Financing Facility, and $2 million from The World Bank, as a key development partner to Afghanistan, will stand with the
the program for Asia Resilience to Cli- Afghan government and provide the support it needs to deliver on the pledges it
mate Change Multi-Donor Trust Fund. made at the Geneva conference to carve a brighter future for the Afghan people.
4/ Country Update/ / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/5
ONGOING OPERATIONS
/ education and training and the Bank, in its work to address Gender-
Based Violence and has initiated the steps to
Afghanistan Second strengthen safeguards at four key TVET insti-
tutes through infrastructural improvements.
Skills Development In 2019, a comprehensive five-year TVET
Project (ASDP II) strategy (2020–2024) was developed and
endorsed by the Human Capital Council.
cIDA grant $55 million The strategy provides a roadmap for the de-
velopment and expansion of the TVET sec-
The project supports the Government of
tor over the five-year period to cover formal,
Afghanistan in its strategy to build mar-
non-formal, and informal TVET on a common
ket relevant vocational and technical skills
strategic platform. The strategy was present-
for economic growth and development.
ed to donors and development partners in
Building on the former Afghanistan Skills
November 2020. The new strategy will form
Development Project, this program will con-
the basis for a new TVET operation that will
tinue to strengthen the Technical Vocational
support the sector after ASDP II closes in 2021.
Education and Training (TVET) institution-
Among other achievements, ASDP II has
al system, improve performance of TVET
developed and supported the concept of a
schools and institutes, and improve teacher
select number of lead institutes located in
competencies.
Herat, Kabul, and Nangarhar for targeted sup-
The project was restructured in 2020 to
port and capacity building to serve as hubs
respond to the closure of TVET schools and
for teacher training and curriculum develop-
institutes due to COVID-19 measures by de-
ment. The project also supports an in-service
veloping an Alternative Learning Program
Technical Teacher Training Institute.
through distance learning. The restructuring
The curricula for seven priority trades of in-
also places strong emphasis on implementa-
formation and communications technology,
tion of an action plan for addressing issues
accounting, business administration, con-
associated with Gender-Based Violence.
struction, auto-repair, agronomy, and horti-
To streamline institutional capacity to
culture have been redeveloped to respond to EQRA projects include
deliver on the human capital development
market needs. constructing new
agenda, GoIRA established a standalone existing students as well as out-of-school
TVET Authority (TVETA) based on Presidential
The last round of Disbursement Linked
buildings for existing
schools that operate in the EQRA children who will be brought into school. The
Indicators under the project was achieved open or in tents. The new
Decree No. 11, dated April 21, 2018. The man- c IDA Grant $75 million project is expected to benefit about 7 million
successfully and verified through a third-par- classrooms provide safety
date for vocational education has been trans- from inclement weather c ARTF Grant $100 million children who are attending school regularly
ty verification firm.
ferred from the Ministry of Education and and a conducive learning
c Global Partnership for Education from direct project interventions over the
ASPD II also successfully financed an aca- environment. “I am now
Deputy Minister for TVET to the TVETA, which five-year implementation period.
demic partnership contract with Pune Uni- more interested to go $98 million
has been tasked to oversee the coordination to school because it has Constraints that limit school participation
versity for TVET teachers to pursue Master’s
and implementation of TVET policy. In 2020, changed to a real learning EQRA will be implemented over the course in Afghanistan, such as deteriorating secu-
degrees as well as a one-year technical environment,” says a
the TVETA was endorsed as an independent of five years from 2018 to 2023. The project’s rity, cultural norms that undervalue educa-
training program in Reva University in India. student from Kandahar
government entity by parliament. province. objective is to increase equitable access to tion, opportunity costs to attending school,
Upon request of the TVETA, the World Bank primary and secondary education in selected distance to school, lack of gender-segre-
completed an institutional and capacity as- lagging provinces, particularly for girls, and to gated latrines, and lack of female teachers,
sessment of the Authority to improve its ef- improve learning conditions in Afghanistan. will be addressed through key interven-
ficiency and capacity in service delivery. An Primary beneficiaries are students in gen- tions. These include (i) improving school
action plan with concrete steps for improving eral education, out-of-school children in lag- infrastructure, which will be implemented
TVETA’s implementation capacity was devel- ging provinces (never enrolled or dropped by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and
oped and is being implemented. out), teachers, principals, and Ministry of Development (MRRD); (ii) providing school
The TVETA has completed some impor- Education (MoE) staff. The system-level im- grants; and (iii) establishing community-
tant milestones, with support from ASDP II provements in management will benefit all based education classes.
8/ Country Update/ ongoing operations / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/9
In the first half of 2019, MoE was primar- in select rural and peri-urban areas. SWEEP
ily focused on building the necessary founda- supported the development and capacity
tion to ensure that project activities will be building of clusters (self-help groups com-
properly implemented by developing detailed prising community-based savings groups,
implementation procedures and identifying CBSGs), and provided them with training,
annual work programs for each subcompo- business development services, and access
nent and major activity. to finance.
The project achieved three out of the four A baseline survey was completed in
Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI) for the October 2018, followed by project imple-
year 2018 and all of its DLIs for 2019. The mentation in November 2018. A qualitative
Third Party Verification Agency hired by the study was completed in 2020 and an endline
Ministry of Finance through EQRA support is survey is planned for beginning of 2021.
in the process of verifying the achievement From December 2018 to project closure, a
of the 2019 DLIs. Five DLIs were set for 2020, total of 47 clusters were formed in four prov-
of which two were fully achieved and three inces, with regular monthly cluster meetings
partially. Movement restrictions and school held, subcommittees formed, and cluster
closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic members trained. Revolving loan funds were
have adversely impacted EQRA and project disbursed to CBSGs in 2020. Clusters also
activities have been delayed. received additional business and soft skills
The civil works program under EQRA im- training in 2020.
plemented by MRRD in targeted provinces is Technical support was provided until the
progressing with some delays. Out of 2,647 project closing date to CBSG members to
projects planned under EQRA, technical and work on their businesses and to clusters for
financial proposals have been developed for their self-functioning, networking, and link-
1,998 projects, of which 1,600 are for new ages, and their implementation of revolving
buildings for existing schools that operate loan funds for at least two cycles.
in open areas or under tents and 398 are for
missing components. As of December 2020,
around 700 projects have been completed, / financial sector
600 of which have been formally handed over
to MoE.
Access to Finance
Project
The Access to Finance
Strengthening project is helping smaller
firms improve their
Women’s Economic cIDA grant $50 million access to finance and
obtain better financing
facilitator, rather than direct technical assis- in both provinces is close to 100 percent.
Empowerment Project The project aims to build institutional capac- conditions. With project tance provider.
Under component 1, MISFA has initiated a
Implementation is progressing well and will
be completed by end-June 2021.
ity to improve access to credit of micro, small, support, the Afghan Credit
(SWEEP) and medium enterprises. The project has the
Guarantee Foundation has
supported lending to over
series of activities, including expanding the Financial inclusion, as measured by the
following components: Targeting the Ultra Poor (TUP) program in percentage of TUP households that are linked
c JSDF Grant $2.7 million 530 small and medium
Component 1: Improving access to fi- enterprises through six provinces (Balkh, Kabul, Kandahar, Kunar, to microfinance institutions (MFIs) and sav-
CLOSED ON MARCH 31, 2021 its partner financial
nancial services for micro and small enter- Laghman, and Takhar), where it has been ings groups, is increasing. As of November
institutions.
SWEEP was a three-year pilot project im- prises. Aims to provide continuing support successful in targeting and initiating mean- 2020, 52 percent of beneficiaries have been
plemented by the Aga Khan Foundation- to the microfinance sector through the ingful improvements in the well-being of linked to formal financial institutions (banks
Afghanistan in close coordination with the Microfinance Investment Support Facility for ultra-poor beneficiaries. and MFIs). Despite the limited physical out-
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. SWEEP Afghanistan (MISFA), as well as supporting Based on the success of the program, the reach of MFIs in certain provinces and their
was requested by the government to develop MISFA to take on a broader role as a catalyst TUP was scaled up in 2019 to reach close non-deposit taking status, the understand-
tools and methods and provide a platform for innovations to increase access and us- to 4,000 households in two more prov- ing of benefits of formal financial services is
to share experiences to inform the Women’s age of financial services from the lower end inces (Parwan and Nangarhar). With the increasing.
Economic Empowerment National Priority of the market according to its new strategic COVID-19 crisis, the TUP was expanded to Under the Capacity Building Fund and
Program (see page 66). plan. It should, however, be underlined that cover an additional 1,100 households in Strengthening MISFA subcomponent, several
The main beneficiaries were poor women the role of MISFA is primarily that of market these two provinces. Women’s participation technical assistance (TA) projects have been
10/ Country Update/ongoing operations results
T
he gender gap in ID [identification]
ownership is wide in Afghanistan: 89
percent of those lacking national IDs
are women.
Women’s low ownership of national identity docu-
ments is a critical gender gap in Afghanistan. The World
Bank, in collaboration with the Government of Afghanis-
tan, aims to reduce this gap through a number of pro-
jects and with the engagement and support from the
Bank’s Afghanistan Gender and Social Inclusion Platform.
Of 97 countries in the 2017 Identification for Develop-
ment (ID4D)-Findex Survey, Afghanistan has the widest
gender gap in ID ownership: 52 percent of women ver-
sus only 6 percent of men lack IDs. This pattern is parti-
cularly stark in rural areas, among the less educated, and
internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Conservative social norms are a key obstacle – until re-
cently, women had to be accompanied by a male relative
to confirm their family ties in order to obtain ID cards at certificates, and passports. For women, Tazkira and mar-
government offices. Hence, women without close male riage certificates are crucial for securing rights to inheri-
relatives, or those with unsupportive male relatives could tance, marital property, and mahr (dower). Having legal
not obtain IDs. While a 2010 legal amendment removed identity documents is also critical for reducing child
this requirement, women in some regions continue to be marriage, which is very high in Afghanistan.
asked to bring male witnesses.
There are other factors at play – an ID4D study finds The World Bank supports inclusive ID systems
that 68 percent of Afghan women who lack an ID say In Afghanistan, the Bank supports women’s access to
they have “no need” for one, possibly because they have identification through several projects. The Women’s
“
fewer opportunities to participate in activities outside Economic Empowerment-Rural Development Project
the home. Moreover, 42 percent of women lacking IDs facilitates rural women’s application for ID cards, which
stress that it’s “too difficult to apply” and 22 percent cite can then be used to open bank accounts, obtain bank
“lack of necessary documents.” Until recently when the
”
because it required travelling to Kabul or to one’s pro- importance of Tazkira for life events such as Nikah
of national identity documents vince of origin. The costs and security concerns around
such travel were discouraging for women.
(marriage) and Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage). The Access to
Finance Project, through the Targeting the Ultra Poor
The National (ii) increased domestic revenue as a percent- Performance Management Information
Procurement Authority
age of GDP; (iii) increased compliance with System, alongside rollout of FPIP to 140
(NPA) is improving
performance through audit recommendations; and, (iv) improve- teams across MoF, NPA, and Supreme Audit
better management, ment in core institutional capacity, represent- Office.
accountability, and
ed by a reduction in the number of long-term
transparency. Under the
FSP, NPA has launched an
e-procurement system,
technical assistants.
The overall implementation progress and
Modernizing Afghan
reducing inaccurate
information and
progress toward achievement of project ob- State-Owned Banks
corruption risks. "The
spread of technology in
jectives are currently rated as "Moderately
Satisfactory". The project remains generally
Project
an increasingly digital
on track despite implementation slowdown IDA Grant $12 million
c
world has made access
to information easier since the Mid-Term Review due to the finan- The project aims to strengthen corporate
than ever—resulting cial and administrative disruptions associ- governance and enhance operational effi-
in dramatic changes to
ated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These ciency of state-owned banks. The project, im-
economic activities and
improved service delivery," disruptions are considered to be temporary. plemented by the Ministry of Finance (MoF),
said an NPA officer. Key implementation developments secured contributes to the modernization, trans-
to date include: parency, and efficiency of the three Afghan
Component 1: Budget as tool for devel- state-owned banks: New Kabul Bank (NKB),
opment. Implementation by MoF of key en- Bank-e-Millie Afghan, and Pashtany Bank.
hancements to the budget process through Since coming into effect in April 2018, the
a revised budget circular and budget submis- project has supported initial corporate gov-
sion template; introducing strategic screen- ernance reforms at the state-owned banks.
ing; and improved costing information in In particular, MoF has developed an owner-
budget submissions. This component also ship policy, established an ownership unit,
supported preparations for the broadly suc- and defined the terms of reference of the su-
cessful Geneva Conference on Afghanistan in pervisory boards by means of a presidential
November 2020. decree that was issued in December 2018.
Component 2: Revenue mobilization. The supervisory boards have been subse-
Implementation by the Afghanistan Revenue quently established.
Department of key reorganization and mod- In addition, the project has supported mod-
ernization measures and of electronic filing; ernization of critical IT infrastructure at the
and supporting preparations for the imple- state-owned banks, including the procure-
Fiscal Performance moment in Afghanistan’s development. The
project aims to improve domestic revenue mentation of value-added tax. Continued roll- ment of a core banking system (Flexcube) for
Improvement Support mobilization and public expenditure man- out of the Automated Systems for Customs NKB that has yet to be installed.
The project has been due for substantial
agement, and to reinforce a performance- Data (ASYCUDA) system, with all customs
Project (FSP) oriented management culture in MoF. offices connected, except for six having an restructuring since June 2020 as a result of
active ASYCUDA connection; and supporting the cancellation of $28 million (70 percent
IDA Grant $25 million
c The Mid-Term Review of the project was
preparations for the implementation of the of project funds) reallocated in support of
ARTF Grant $35 million
c conducted in June–July 2020, focusing on for-
malization of the reduced scope of financing National Single Window. the government’s COVID-19 emergency re-
Government of Afghanistan
c
in line with the omnibus portfolio cancella- Component 3: Treasury management, ac- sponse. As a result, the project's scope has
$60 million been substantially reduced, focusing on
tion and restructuring requests for realloca- countability, and transparency. Development
FSP is designed to improve management of tion of $40 million from the ARTF grant to the of five key Electronic Government support for the merger of NKB and Bank-e-
public finances in Afghanistan by strength- COVID-19 crisis response operations. Procurement (eGP) modules by the NPA, Millie Afghan, while dropping the bulk of
ening the capacity of the Ministry of Finance Downsizing the scope of project compo- alongside complementary advances in Open other activities such as previously planned IT
(MoF), National Procurement Authority (NPA), nents and activities will not substantially Contracting Partnership and Open Contract investments.
and Supreme Audit Office. It supports the impact FSP’s ability to achieve its objectives. Data Standards implementation. As of January 2021, the required policy
implementation of the Afghanistan Fiscal Improved public financial management and Component 4: Institutional capac- decisions related to the merger process are
Performance Improvement Plan (FPIP) through revenue generation remain central to the gov- ity building and performance manage- still pending. The World Bank and MoF are
recipient-executed investment financing. ernment’s self-sufficiency agenda. ment. Development and launch by the engaged in discussions about the project’s
FSP, which came into effect in January FSP focuses on four key result areas: (i) im- MoF Performance Management Team of a status and the way forward.
2018, provides strategic support at a critical proved development budget execution rate; publicly accessible web-based Afghanistan
16/ Country Update/ ongoing operations / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/17
The Herat Electrification Afghanistan is expected to receive 300 ments for building a new 110 kV transmis-
Project was able to
respond very quickly
MW of electricity import from Tajikistan and sion line and four 110/20 kV substations and
to the urgent need for Kyrgyz Republic through the existing 220 medium and low voltage distribution net-
sustainable power supply kV AC lines from Sangtuda substation, and works in Chesht, Karokh, Obe, and Pashtun-
in hospitals during the
COVID-19 pandemic. In
Tajikistan to Chimtala substation in Kabul Zarghoon districts.
June 2020, the project via Pul-e-Khumri. Da Afghanistan Breshna Component 2: Grid densification, exten-
successfully supplied and Sherkat (DABS), Afghanistan’s national power sion, and off-grid pilots in Herat province.
installed solar backup
systems for the 10
utility company, is the implementing agency Supports investment for supply and instal-
hospitals designated for for the Afghanistan portion of this project. lation of a capacitor bank at 24-Hoot sub-
COVID-19 patients in Herat CASA-1000 came into effect in January station to improve the voltage profile of the
province.
2018. Three contracts for the HVDC trans- existing network of Herat city, including the
mission line in Afghanistan were signed in industrial park. Component 2 also supports
December 2017 and became effective in July extension of a 220 kV transmission line, con-
2019. Survey and design work for all three lots struction of a substation at Pol-e-Hashimi,
have been completed, with major transmis- and upgradation of the distribution network.
sion line equipment on-site and construction It also covers piloting a solar mini-grid.
work in progress. Component 3: Technical assistance.
The country-specific Environmental and Finances project management and imple-
Social Impact Assessment has been complet- mentation support to ensure timely and
ed and publicly disclosed. The Resettlement quality compilation of the project. It also
Action Plan for the HVDC transmission line supports the review of existing standards
has been prepared and land valuation/clear- and procedures, and the preparation of a grid
ance of the transmission line route is under code for the Afghanistan power system.
process. A contract for a Project Owner’s Construction of the 110 kV transmission
Engineer, who supports DABS in monitoring/ line to Karokh district has been completed,
supervision, for the HVDC components was and commissioning and handover of the as-
awarded in November 2018. set is under process. Major civil work of the
Procurement for the majority of key in- four substations has been completed, power
frastructure packages under CASA-1000 transformers are on-site, and the remain-
tributed $526.5 million in loans and grants sioning of high voltage alternating current in the other three countries has also been ing equipment for the substations are being
to the four countries. Several other devel- (HVAC) transmission lines and associated completed, including the procurement for shipped.
opment partners are also providing financ- substation in Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan; the two convertor stations in Tajikistan and Supply and installation of the distribution
ing for CASA-1000, including the Islamic high voltage direct current (HVDC) trans- Pakistan for which the contracts were signed network in all four districts have been com-
Development Bank, European Bank for mission lines from Tajikistan to Pakistan in September 2018 pleted, with inspection and handover of the
Reconstruction and Development, United via Afghanistan; and three new HVDC con- asset under process.
States Government, United Kingdom Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office
verter stations in Tajikistan, Pakistan, and
Afghanistan. However, in 2016, the four
Herat Electrification The contract for supply and installation
of the capacitor bank in 24-Hoot substation
and United States Agency for International countries restructured the project, in which Project has been signed and physical work at the site
Development. the converter station in Kabul was dropped. is in progress. Contracts have been signed
IDA Grant $60 million
c
CASA-1000 will build more than 1,200 kilo- Of the total project financing, Afghanistan for construction of the 220 kV transmission
meters (km) of electricity transmission lines has received $316.5 million in the form of an The project aims to support DABS provide line from Noor-e-Jihad to Pol-e-Hashimi sub-
to transmit excess summer hydropower en- IDA grant. The grant will support construction new or improved electricity services to stations and the 220/132 kV substation in
ergy from existing power plants (such as the of about 560 km of an overhead HVDC trans- over 230,000 people and 1,600 institutions Pol-e-Hashimi.
Toktogul power plant in Kyrgyz Republic and mission line from Sangtuda converter station and businesses in selected areas in Herat Evaluation of the bids for the solar mini-
Nurek power plant in Tajikistan) to Pakistan in Tajikistan to Nowshera converter station in province. grid project has been completed and submit-
and Afghanistan. Pakistan. In addition, Afghanistan has received The project comprises three components: ted for review by the National Procurement
At approval, CASA-1000 included the en- a $3 0 million grant from the ARTF for the CASA Component 1: Electrification of four dis- Authority. Packages for upgradation of distri-
gineering design, construction, and commis- Community Support Program (see page 52). tricts in Herat province. Supports invest- bution network and supply of smart meters
24/ Country Update/ ongoing operations results
S
ince it recorded the first COVID-19 case in
Afghanistan in February 2020, Herat province
has logged the country's second-highest
number of confirmed cases, after Kabul.
The pandemic has overstretched Afghanistan's health
care system. In Herat, medical facilities have done their
best to cope with the influx of patients, but power ou-
tages have made it challenging to treat COVID-19 pa-
tients, who require electrical ventilators and other respi-
ratory devices to stay alive.
Herat imports half of its electricity, mainly from Af-
ghanistan’s neighbors, Iran and Turkmenistan. Power
outages are common during the summer and winter
months when power usage reaches its peak because of
weather extremes.
Higher demand has outstripped supply over the past
“
years. Afghanistan's national power utility, Da Afgha-
nistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), is often unable to meet Powering Life-Saving Equipment
its customers' needs, especially during peak periods or Herat's Shaidayi children's hospital was converted into
when long transmission lines are interrupted. a COVID-19 medical center to treat the mounting flow
The solar power system has Solar Panels Provide Continuous Power
of infected people. The majority of COVID-19 patients
in the province have sought care in the 100-bed facility,
created a good and When the pandemic hit Herat, DABS installed solar pa-
nels in 10 government hospitals to supply emergency
which has received more than 2,000 patients.
The hospital has 36 solar panels generating energy for
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). "The main usage of the so-
effective working environment for doctors,
power. Financed by the Herat Electrification Project, the
solar panels were installed in June 2020, providing re- lar power is in the ICU," says Abdul Manan Azadmanesh,
liable electricity for critical surgery and essential equip- 42, Director of Shaidayi Hospital. "If equipment such as
ment for COVID-19 patients, such as ventilators and ventilators stops working due to a power outage, the
and they will be able to use essential medical equipment
”
monitoring devices. patients will have difficulty breathing, which can lead to
death or serious damage after five minutes. Now that
for the treatment of COVID-19
"We all know continuous and reliable electricity is a
major need in our hospitals, and the solar power system the solar power panels have been installed, we no longer
installed in the 10 hospitals in Herat will resolve many of need to rely on the power generator."
a Gozar Assembly Grant worth $200,000. Under the Second AF, the SIG initiative will
(1c) Kuchi Block Grants have been added scale up in all rural and urban CCAP coverage
under the Second AF to provide about 900 areas (~12,000 rural and peri-urban CDCs and
Kuchi communities with block grants worth a 850 urban CDCs) to provide urgent relief sup-
maximum of $20,000 in total. The Kuchi no- port to households affected by the COVID-19
madic encampments or Elbands will receive pandemic and to alleviate the negative im-
assistance from the project’s social organiz- pacts arising from food insecurity.
ers to form locally elected Kuchi Community Under this initiative, each CDC will receive
Development Councils (KCDCs), with a mini- a relief grant based on the number of eligible
mum of 40 percent women membership households and distribute the relief package
overall and at least one woman office bearer worth 4,000 afghanis (about $52) to its con-
(25 percent). stituent eligible households in kind (based on
Component 2: Institution building. a standard relief package that includes essen-
Supports capacity building, technical assis- tial food staples and hygiene products). Based
tance, and community facilitation services. on the underlying principle of near-universal
In rural areas, MRRD works with 14 facilitat- coverage, approximately top 10 percent of af-
ing partners in undertaking capacity building fluent households will be excluded using pre-
and training of provincial and district staff determined standard exclusion criteria.
to oversee, monitor, and report on project (5b) MCCGs are to serve as quick-disburs-
progress, as well as social organizers. The ing emergency grants for work/labor-inten-
ministry provides engineering and techni- sive public works schemes that are targeted
cal support to communities across all 34 at vulnerable households within the com-
provinces. munities and managed through a commu-
Component 3: Monitoring and knowledge nity-driven development approach. The cash
learning. Includes robust supervision and for works will include repairs, rehabilitation,
learning activities from village to national cleaning, expansion, or construction. Cash for
levels, exchange visits across communities, services will target ultra-vulnerable house-
especially for women, and support for the- holds that cannot participate in public works.
matic studies and evaluations. It covers a The Kuchies Development Sub-Program
range of participatory monitoring and evalu- (KDSP) is an additional sub-program to the
ation tools, including the rollout of simple cit- CCAP is making good Citizens’ Charter. The sub-program was of-
progress, reaching over ficially launched in April 2019 and aims to
izen scorecards to be completed by CDCs and
13,000 communities
social organizers to report on the minimum Provides emergency short-term employment across Afghanistan reach semi-nomadic and fully nomadic Kuchi
service standards. opportunities through labor-intensive public and providing basic communities in Afghanistan. It adheres
infrastructure, services, equally to the principles of equity, inclusion,
Component 4 (new under Additional works, as well as support for collective action
and employment for about
Financing): Project implementation and activities beyond public works that are aimed 13.7 million beneficiaries, participation, accountability, and transpar-
management. Supports the management to foster greater social inclusion and protect with almost 50 percent ency. KDSP is expected to comply with the
participation of women. guidelines described in the Citizens’ Charter.
and oversight of the project at national, pro- the ultra-poor/vulnerable in communities.
vincial, and district level in rural areas and There are two subcomponents: EXPECTED CITIZENS’ CHARTER RESULTS KDSP will support the provision of develop-
the municipal management units in the four (5a) Social Inclusion Grants (SIGs) and ment services to Kuchi communities in the
Results expected under the first phase include :
regional hub cities. This includes areas such Collective Action Activities will take the form areas of health, education, road construction,
as policy and operational planning; capacity of a “matching grant” up to a total value of • 10 million Afghans reached. safe drinking water, electricity, and drainage
building; management information systems; $2,000 per community that will be used to • 3.4 million people gaining access to clean drinking water. system. Additionally, the sectoral menu for
grievance redressal mechanisms; human provide incentives for community philan- KDSP will include specific services tailored
• Improvements to quality of service delivery in health,
resource management; communications; thropy. The combination of the matching to the unique development needs of the no-
donor and field coordination; financial man- grant and community donations will be used
education, rural roads, and electrification. madic communities, which include electricity
agement and procurement functions; and in the first instance to initiate a food/grain • Increase in citizen satisfaction and trust in government. through solar or biogas systems and modern-
safeguard oversight. bank for the ultra-poor in each of the target- • 35 percent return on investment for infrastructure projects. ization of water reservoirs.
Component 5 (new under Additional ed communities. It is expected that this will
Financing): Social Inclusion and Maintenance be replenished periodically with additional Implementation Progress
and Construction Cash Grants (MCCGs). community donations. The Virtual Implementation Support
32/ Country Update/ ongoing operations results
I
mages of leaking water pots have sprung up in
communities throughout Afghanistan. They are
part of an exercise under the Citizens’ Charter
Afghanistan Project (CCAP) teaching communi-
ties about financial planning and the benefits of increa-
sing income while lowering expenses on traditional
practices.
CCAP works through community-driven approaches
to ensure that development outcomes are inclusive,
sustainable, cost-effective, and responsive to demand.
Whereas traditional structures placed the budgetary
and decision-making power in the hands of a commu-
“
nity’s male elders, CCAP requires that women and young
people work side by side with their community to ana-
lyze financial pressures facing households using partici-
”
patory, community-driven exercises that aim to provide a communities have come together to collectively lower
nuanced understanding of each community’s economic the maximum bride price1 and other ceremonial ex-
disbursed with select communities receiving amount will be indexed at 4,000 afghanis
$1,000 matching grants for raising $1,000. per household in one tranche, delivered in-
COVID-19 Relief Response: As of February kind through a standard relief package that
2021, a total of 390,614 households have re- includes essential food staples and hygiene
ceived relief packages with relief grants in the products.
amount of $41 million already transferred to Component 2: REACH Urban—Household
3,695 CDCs. support in provincial capital cities. Comprises
36/ Country Update/ ongoing operations / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/37
lected households in Kabul. This will support National Horticulture and Livestock Project,
approximately 630,000 households (about 80 Access to Finance Project, and microfinance
percent of total households) in Kabul Munici- institutions.
pality (KM). WEE-RDP will provide support to commu-
A relief package worth a total of 8,000 af- nity-level women’s institutions through seed
ghanis will be distributed to each eligible capital and technical assistance and link
household in two tranches. Each tranche them to formal financial institutions and
will be 4,000 afghanis per household. The markets to enable economic empowerment.
contents of the relief packages and tranche The project has three components:
distribution timings will be the same as in Component 1: Community mobilization and
Component 2. institution development. Comprises (i) pro-
Component 4: Project management, com- viding technical assistance to support com-
munications, and monitoring. Supports pro- munity mobilization for establishing self-help
ject management and capacity building; groups (SHGs) and federating them into Vil-
dedicated strategic communications; and lage Loan and Savings Associations (VLSAs),
monitoring, including safeguard compliance and Enterprise Groups (EGs) and federating
for MRRD, IDLG, and KM. them into Producer Associations (PAs); and
Over 2,800 communities across the coun- (ii) carrying out a program of activities to
try have received COVID-19 relief assistance strengthen capacity, quality, and financial
since the project started accelerated distribu- performance of SHGs, VSLAs, EGs, and PAs.
tion in December 2020. The government will Component 2: Access to finance. Comprises
also begin activities in four hard-to-reach pi- (i) providing seed grants to eligible SHGs and
lot districts for COVID-19 relief. VSLAs to establish long-term revolving funds;
and (ii) facilitating access to financial ser-
Women’s Economic vices for rural women through partnerships
with microfinance institutions and commer-
Empowerment Rural cial banks to promote financial inclusion of
Development Project
Social mobilization under women groups; developing relevant financial
WEE-RDP has been highly
products and services with commercial banks
(WEE-RDP)
successful with more
than 42,000 self-help and microfinance institutions; eliminating in-
groups cumulatively stitutional constraints on women’s access to
provision of relief support in the form of food the relief package to its constituent eligi- saving the equivalent of c IDA Grant $25 million
formal financial services; exploring feasibility
and hygiene products and/or cash to selected ble households either in-kind (based on the about $8.7 million. By c ARTF Grant $75 million
leveraging these internally of piloting a system, enabled by information
households, including returnees living in set- standard relief package that includes essen- generated savings and the WEE-RDP aims to increase social and eco- technology, for delivery of financial products;
tlement camps inside municipal boundaries, tial food staples and hygiene products) or in external seed capital grant
nomic empowerment of poor rural women and financial capacity building.
received from the project,
through CDCs and/or GAs in 14 PCCs. This cash, based on the preference of communi- the groups, including in selected communities. It is the flagship Component 3: Enterprise development and
will support an estimated 450,000 house- ties and subject to local circumstances based Village Savings and operation under the Women’s Economic Em- market linkages. Comprises (i) providing tech-
holds (about 90 percent of total households) on pre-determined criteria. Loan Associations, have
disbursed a total of nearly powerment National Priority Program (WEE- nical assistance and supporting promotional
in those PCCs, including about 1.45 million The second tranche of 4,000 afghanis per $17.5 million to their NPP) (see page 66) and builds upon the closed activities to strengthen the capacity of EGs,
returnees based on estimates by the Interna- household will be rolled out later depend- members. Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development PAs, and individual women entrepreneurs to
tional Organization for Migration. ing on the trajectory of the crisis. For the Project (AREDP). access markets and manage their businesses;
The relief package worth a total of 8,000 second tranche, digital cash transfers will be WEE-RDP has engaged communities in (ii) providing catalytic funds to eligible EGs
afghanis (about $100) will be distributed to considered in select urban areas, only where 76 districts, covering over 2,100 CDCs in all and PAs; and (iii) supporting EGs, PAs, and/
each eligible household in two tranches. The feasible. 34 provinces across Afghanistan. It is work- or individual women entrepreneurs through
first tranche of 4,000 afghanis per household Component 3: REACH Kabul—Household ing in close collaboration with several other facilitating their partnerships with business
will be transferred to all eligible households support in Kabul Municipality. Comprises pro- rural development programs in the country, enterprises to improve the supply of business
through CDCs, GAs, or Ad-Hoc COVID-19 vision of relief support in the form of food and including the Citizens’ Charter, Ministry of Ru- development services and access to markets.
CDCs. Each of these entities will distribute hygiene products and/or cash transfer to se- ral Rehabilitation and Development projects, The pace of social mobilization under WEE-
38/ Country Update/ ongoing operations / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/39
nomic empowerment through policy devel- Project Implementation Unit has been com-
opment to enhance female ownership and pleted, including: Project Director, Special
inheritance of land and other family assets. Desk Gender officers, Senior Procurement
The project components are (i) land policy Specialist, Senior M&E Specialist, M&E
and institutional strengthening; (ii) devel- Specialist, GRM Officer, and the Social
oping technological capacity, information Safeguards Officer.
and systems for land administration; and (l) Recruitment of a consultancy firm for pro-
(iii) project management, monitoring and ject communications and outreach, as well as
evaluation. the recruitment of an audit firm are at short-
ALASP has progressed specifically in the fol- list stage.
lowing activities: (m) Project procurement above $100,000 is
(a) Advancing the transition from a deeds sys- being processed by the National Procurement
tem managed by the courts to an administra- Authority.
tive form of deeds issuance, with the signing (n) Technical documents on geodesy and pho-
of a protocol that transfers deed transactions togrammetry have been drafted.
from the Supreme Court to MUDL. As part of (o) Staff training on photogrammetry has
this process, Deeds Automation Regulation been conducted.
and Procedures have been approved, a deed (p) Technical specifications for the Land
automation test software developed, a Deed Information System have been given a no-
Automation Office refurbished in Herat, and objection by the Bank; the cadastral law has
deed automation staff trained. been submitted to the National Assembly
(b) Amendments to the Occupancy Certificate and the amendments to the OC Regulations
Regulations reflecting recommendations to have been submitted to the Cabinet—all
manage social risks and speed up OC issu- before the deadline of November 15, 2020,
ance have been discussed by the cabinet and resulting in MUDL achieving its goals for the
are undergoing further revisions as per cabi- Incentive Program Development Policy Grant.
net request.
(c) The OC administrative, legal, and technical
approach has been finalized. Emergency EATS was launched in
(d) OC staff has been trained in Balkh, Bamyan, Agriculture and Food August 2020 to respond
to the food security
Farah, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar,
and Nili on OC, gender, and the grievance re- Supply Project (EATS) challenges and reduced
income resulting from
restore/maintain and improve food security
with a focus on wheat and other key staple
forts to boost wheat productivity of the next
harvest season, beginning in June, for vulner-
dressal mechanism (GRM). c IDA Grant $55 million the COVID-19 crisis. The crops; (ii) employment generation with spe- able households.
(e) A total of 1,862 (39 to women, 325 to men, c ARTF Grant $45 million
project has so far reached
cific and strong support to youth and women The procurement process for labor-inten-
over 210,000 farmers with
and 1,498 jointly) OCs have been issued; engagement in agriculture; and (iii) resilient sive activities is well underway, and imple-
improved seed packages
(f) A five-year Strategy for Women EATS was approved in August 2020 in re- as part of its efforts to agriculture and agribusiness and sustainable mentation of the first batch of irrigation
Empowerment and Gender Equity has been sponse to the COVID-19 emergency to sup- boost wheat productivity
of the next harvest season,
productivity. schemes is expected to start in early March
prepared. port critical food supply chains and create
beginning in June, for The project balances immediate action on 2021, right after the cold season. In addition,
(g) Anti-harassment procedures have been short-term economic opportunities. This is vulnerable households. job creation for food security and livelihood other interventions including establishment
developed. to allow early action on impending COVID-19
support with early action against crop failure of kitchen gardening schemes for women are
(h) The Women Land Rights Task Force con- induced impacts on food security (food pro-
(seeds for 2021 wheat harvest, as well as ir- ready for implementation.
ducted an outreach program. duction decrease, food prices increase, dis-
rigation infrastructure to mitigate drought- In April-May, EATS will be able to advance
(i) Training on the OC reference book and ruptions of supply chains, unemployment,
related crop loss for food security). implementation of its key activities planned
Gender-Based Violence has been completed. and purchasing power decrease).
To date, most of the key project staff are on for the 2021 spring season, while prepar-
(j) The GRM operational manual was finalized EATS seeks to respond to food security
board and project manuals and safeguard in- ing for another seed distribution campaign
and the GRM system is functional, receiving challenges and reduced income resulting
struments have been prepared and approved. with improved seed packages covering over
49 cases and resolving 31. from the COVID-19 crisis through support
The project has reached over 210,000 farmers 300,000 households.
(k) Recruitment of several key positions in the for: (i) food supply chains and production to
with improved seed packages as part of its ef-
42/ Country Update/ ongoing operations / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/43
and mandate overlap issues in the targeted the five participating provincial capital cit-
entities. ies—Herat, Jalalabad, Kandahar, Khost, and
As of January 26, 2021, IARCSC has complet- Mazar-i-Sharif.
ed overall functional review of the Ministry of The project includes labor-intensive
Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Ministry “Emergency Projects”, which are designed to
of Communication & IT, and Supreme Audit provide rapid employment opportunities to
Office, and has made substantial progress daily laborers who have lost their livelihoods
in the functional review of the Ministry of due to the pandemic. Emergency Projects
Finance in collaboration with the ministry. consist of activities like the constructing or
TAGHIR also supports the strengthening of rehabilitating gravel roads, paving tertiary
the e-recruitment system and contents. The streets, canal/drain cleaning, and other activi-
Exam Content Research and Development ties as identified by municipal counterparts.
Center in the IARCSC has developed around The restructured project has strengthened
30,000 research-based questions that test the involvement of municipalities in these
candidates’ general knowledge, job-specific works, improving their capacity in procure-
skills, and analytical skills within 295 different ment, financial management, engineering
job streams. design, and supervision.
Under this component, TAGHIR has also The project has shown progress in the last
supported a research study on the socio- six months despite the recent challenges
cultural and organizational factors associated posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Project
with lower representation of women in the Implementation Unit, in collaboration with
upper echelons of the Afghan Civil Service the municipalities, has prepared a pipeline
(Grade 1 and 2) and more explicitly why fewer of 130+ “Emergency Projects”. Works on the
women than men apply for these positions. ground are ongoing on six projects, while
This study seeks and explores the extent to five have been completed and 120 at various
which the “power-dynamic” of holding a stages of procurement.
leadership position act as an impediment to In addition, 18 “Priority Projects” have
women’s full participation and involvement been prepared. Priority Projects are medium-
in executive roles. sized infrastructure investments that stretch
Another major focus of this research will be across neighborhoods. Works on the ground
to determine and elaborate on key practices are ongoing for all, of which six are nearly
TAGHIR is supporting within the Afghan public institutions that un- completed.
research on factors
associated with lower
dermine women’s career advancement. The Finally, there has also been progress in pre-
representation of women findings of the study will be used to recom- paring the groundwork for technical assis-
will be completed by June 30, 2021. HRMIS team has started the deployment of in the upper echelons of mend practical solutions and foster reforms tance. The Afghanistan Finance Management
the Afghan Civil Service
Component 2: Personnel and payroll man- the HRMIS (roll-out) to the line ministries. and concrete changes that can ultimately Information System baseline assessment is
and more explicitly why
agement. The HRMIS team has developed The Organizational Structure (Tashkeel) and fewer women than men have an impact on women’s equal represen- currently being conducted by a consulting
seven modules so far (five core and two sup- Biography Modules have been deployed in 20 apply for these positions. tation in the Afghan Civil Service. firm.
The study findings will
port): (i) Tashkeel (Organization Structure/ LMAs and the rollout to the rest of the enti- The Own Source Revenue consultancy is at
be used to recommend
Establishment Control), (ii) Job Description, ties is ongoing. practical solutions and the final award stage and the policy dialogue
(iii) Biography, Sawaneh (Personnel Files), Component 3: Support to administrative foster reforms that / urban development on the Municipal Incentive Fund is ongoing
will have an impact
(iv) Attendance, (v) Settings, (vi) User reforms. The project uses the just in-time with government counterparts. CIP is keeping
on women’s equal
Management, and (vii) Payroll Module, which
is still being upgraded to reflect the different
support approach under this component. It
supports priority reforms that are aligned
representation in the civil
service.
Cities Investment the municipal finance reform agenda intact
as per the original design after restructuring.
needs of different line ministries. with the IARCSC five-year strategy and em- Program (CIP)
To date, a total of 434,010 approved bedded in its annual reform plan. c IDA Grant $25 million
Tashkeel positions of 58 line ministries and Functional review of LMAs is an area that
c ARTF Grant $25 million
agencies (LMAs) have been stored in the TAGHIR supports. The project provides local
HRMIS. The biometric and biographic data technical assistance to the relevant teams The project’s objective is to support COVID-19
of 320,000 civil servants from 50 LMAs at in IARCSC to conduct functional reviews. recovery efforts, rehabilitate municipal in-
the center and subnational levels have been These reviews are relatively light in nature frastructure, and introduce improved mu-
collected and entered into the system. The and focuses on addressing major structural nicipal finance and management systems in
46/ Country Update/ / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/47
plan is underway, which will enhance Kabul secondary employment in the years ahead.
Municipality’s institutional capacity. Importantly, KMDP has established a
However, as part of the country’s portfolio- strong foundation for gender inclusive com-
level COVID-19 response, $10 million of the munity participation in decision-making over
project financing has been repurposed for public expenditures in Gozars.
emergency relief response.
To date, about $84.5 million has been dis-
bursed. Over 2 million people (about 73 per-
Kabul Urban
cent women and children) have benefited Transport Efficiency
from the construction of about 660 kilome-
ters of neighborhood roads, 890 kilometers of
Improvement Project
community drains, and almost 44 kilometers (KUTEI)
trunk roads. However, construction progress
Grant $90.5 million
has been delayed due to the lockdown during
CLOSED DECEMBER 31, 2020
the Covid-19 outbreak.
Under project component B, the World KUTEI aimed to improve road conditions and
Bank supported Kabul Municipality to im- traffic flow on select corridors of Kabul city.
plement institutional reforms, including the The project focused on improving road infra-
rollout of the AFMIS core financial module structure and providing technical assistance
and purchasing module that covers budget to Kabul Municipality in specific areas.
control, accounting, commitment and pay- Investments in key road infrastructure im-
ment management, bank reconciliations, and proved connectivity and made Kabul more
reporting functions of government financial inclusive, while technical and knowledge
management. support transformed Kabul Municipality into
Moreover, Kabul Municipality has also im- a modern planning and implementing agen-
plemented payroll management and fixed cy by adopting international best practice.
asset and inventory management applica- Kabul Municipality was responsible for pro-
tions developed by MoF, and streamlined the ject implementation, including procurement
development of a comprehensive revenue and financial management.
management module. Project objectives were measured against
Kabul Municipality is hiring a consultancy the following indicators: (i) traffic capacity
firm to develop a case management sys- improvements, measured by average vehi- Investments in key road
tem for monitoring and timely follow up on cle speed during off-peak hours; (ii) people infrastructure made
under KUTEI improved
citizen complaints and a document manage- (within a 500-meter range) in urban areas connectivity and made
ment system to track, manage, and store provided access to all-season roads; and (iii) Kabul more inclusive.
documents. The firm will also develop an IT percentage of Kabul city’s trunk road network Upgraded roads not only
improved traffic circulation
strategy to support the needs and long-term in at least “fair” condition. but also reduced dust
objectives of Kabul Municipality. In addition, Project implementation was suc- pollution from poor road
the firm will facilitate capacity building of the cessfully completed and all planned conditions. “Having a
good road is a blessing for
municipality’s finance and administration civil works contracts, which included our health,” said a Kabul
staff. 45 kilometers of roadway, were com- resident.
Temporary employment of some 4.2 mil- pleted and the roads opened to traffic.
lion people has been generated through the
execution of contracts with labor intensive
work at an investment of $223/person per
month. Durable infrastructure will generate
60/ Country Update/artf / The World Bank Group in Afghanistan/61
Naghlu Hydropower
drain both galleries were installed in August Rehabilitation of the
2020. The drainage galleries have been emp- Naghlu Hydropower Plant
Rehabilitation Project tied and are ready for further inspection. is progressing well. As
part of local development
The procurement of consultancy services
(NHRP) to carry out a dam safety and hydromechani-
assistance, NHRP intends
to provide electricity in
Grant $83 million cal audit is in its final stage. A bathymet- areas close to the Naghlu
dam. Residents in several
ric survey of the Naghlu dam reservoir was villages in two districts
NHRP aims to improve dam safety and sus- performed by DABS personnel with support close by will benefit from
tainability of hydropower and to increase from the Ministry of Energy and Water and the project.
the supply of electricity at the Naghlu Food and Agriculture Organization team.
Hydropower Plant (NHPP). NHPP is of stra- Following procurement of an eco-sounder,
tegic importance to Afghanistan's power the DABS team provided training for con-
generation portfolio as it provides more than ducting a bathymetric survey in January
half of Kabul's electricity. 2020. A bathymetric survey of the section of
Component 1. Aims to rehabilitate the the Naghlu reservoir near the face of the dam
electrical and electromechanical parts of was conducted in April 2020.
NHPP and ensure its sustainable operation. DABS also performed an internal interim
It covers rehabilitation of specific units in sediment assessment and prepared a lim-
NHPP and enhancing the plant’s mainte- ited environmental and social assessment
nance. In November 2018, NHPP started op- report. Sediment samples were delivered to
erating at full capacity (100 MW) after the GSG laboratory in India and the result of the
rehabilitation of turbine units 1 and 3. Unit interim sediment assessment was provided
2 also requires overhauling as it has operated in June. Selective sediment removal will start
continuously without any major overhaul for upon finalization of the limited environmen-
more than 40,000 hours. Procurement of a tal and social assessment report.
contractor to overhaul this unit is in progress. Component 3. Aims to ensure environ-
NHRP will support provision of spare parts mental and social sustainability of the dam
for three to five years to ensure the sustain- through (i) supporting activities to improve
able operation and normal maintenance of environmental and social management;
the existing plant as well as the development and (ii) local development assistance. This
of warehouses to provide secure storage for component also aims to improve project
equipment. It will also provide advisory and management in DABS and support future management team is under recruitment
training services to ensure proper operations hydropower project preparation. at the National Water Affairs Regulation
and maintenance (O&M) of the plant. The consultant to carry out the environ- Authority. The procurement of the con- RESULTS EXPECTED UNDER THE NHRP
Procurement of consultancy services for mental and social impact assessment (ESIA) sultancy service firm to develop the ESIA
NHPP staff training is in an advanced stage, in the dam safety audit and implementation and Resettlement Action Plan for phase 2 • Revived 50 MW of previously nonoperational capacity of Naghlu Hydropower Plant by
while the procurement of supply of spare is on board and the assessment is in an initial of the Kajaki addition is at the request for rehabilitating Unit 1 and Unit 3.
parts and consumables for five years of O&M stage. proposal stage. • Improved routine operation and maintenance of the power plant for five years.
of the Naghlu plant was expected to start in As part of local development assistance, Following a formal request from MoF,
February.
• Improvement of Naghlu Dam safety measures and re-activation of the dam bottom outlet
NHRP envisages providing electrification in NHRP will be restructured to include the re-
Component 2. Aims to ensure safe opera- the areas close to Naghlu dam. Construction habilitation and renovation of the Darunta / flash out gate.
tion of the dam through a dam safety au- of the Sorobi 20 MW substation was com- Hydropower Plant and the closing date of • Enhanced staff capacity to operate and maintain the power plant.
dit, implementation of safety improvement pleted in April 2019. Extension of the distri- the project will be extended. Three units will • Residents living near NHPP connected to electricity and facilitated NHLP extension
measures, and optimization of power genera- bution system to 18 villages in Sorobi district be renewed, and an administrative building
tion. Work on dam safety enhancement is un-
services, i.e., poultry farming, kitchen gardening, and establishment of orchards.
has been completed. Procurement of a con- and warehouse will be constructed inside the
derway. Submersible water pumps have been tractor to extend the distribution system to power plant. Procurement of this activity has • Enhanced security and safety measures of the NHPP.
installed inside the dam’s drainage gallery to villages in Tagap district started in February. been finalized based on World Bank procure- • Renovate and revive full capacity of Darunta Hydropower Plant.
release upward water pressure. Two addition- This component also supports preparation ment guidelines and the contract was sched- • Preparation of ESIA and RAP for Kajaki II project.
al turbine type pumps required to completely work of the Kajaki dam addition. The project uled to be signed in September 2020.
62/ Country Update/ artf results
A
pple farmer Nasir Ahmad Arabzai, 55, belie-
ves that he was the best pioneer farmer in
his area in Paghman district in Kabul pro-
vince. As a pioneer farmer, he provided gui-
dance to other farmers and saw the improvements made
in their farming.
“I helped supervise other farmers in this area and
I saw great progress in their work,” said Arabzai, who
grows mainly apples on his 3-jerib (0.6-hectare) orchard.
“They used to earn a minimum amount of profit, but
their benefits increased like mine.”
Arabzai was nominated by the local shura (council) of
his village, Qalay Daler, to be a pioneer farmer in 2013
under the National Horticulture and Livestock Project
(NHLP), which closed on 31 December 2020. NHLP
worked in more than 300 villages in Paghman district.
Each village nominated a pioneer farmer, who was
chosen based on his good reputation in the commu-
nity, long experience in agriculture, and level of educa-
“
tion (high school graduates were preferred). The work
of a pioneer farmer, a voluntary position, helped spread Increase in Income and Productivity
valuable information on horticulture that allowed even For Arabzai and some 80 farmers in Qalay Daler village,
All the things that I currently more farmers to benefit from NHLP initiatives. NHLP assistance led to notable results. “I worked with
Arabzai explained his work as a pioneer farmer: “I was NHLP for five years and each year, my yield and income
in contact with NHLP technical experts who came here improved,” Arabzai said. “The support made a big diffe-
know about horticulture, [to the village] and taught me, and in turn, I taught other
farmers what I had learned. Sometimes I organized
rence.”
In 2018, Arabzai saw his annual income double over
I owe to NHLP. I now know horticulture like a other farmers to come to my orchard and we all received the previous year. “I earned 330,000 afghanis [about
”
training from NHLP.” The training covered topics such as $4,400], [while in the previous year] I earned 170,000 af-
irrigation methods, pesticide application, identification ghanis [about $2,300],” he says. “When NHLP first came
professional. I am very happy with NHLP of plant diseases, branch pruning, and fruit harvesting,
among others.
to our village, I was earning just 50,000 afghanis [about
$670] a year from my produce.”
www.worldbank.org.af
/WorldBankAfghanistan
/WorldBankSAsia
photos and cover photo © Rumi Consultancy/World Bank/2021.
©World Bank, APRIL 2021.