Post-conflict development planning - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Post-conflict development planning Integration of IPOA INTO the National development framework Meeting for the National Focal Points of the LEAST DEVELOPED Countries on the implementation of IpoaNew York, 13-14 July 2017 Hassan soroosh, acting Director generalECONOMIC COOPERATION Department, mofaSlide2

Evolution of the Post-conflict Development Planning Stage 1: Initial Steps (2002-2005)Stage 2:

Improved development planning and the finalization and adoption of the first development strategy (2005-2010)

Stage

3:

Greater ownership and leadership & improved coordination (2010-2014)

Stage

4:

Post-transition self-reliance development framework ( Post-2014)Slide3

Stage 1The initial steps in development planning in the post-Taliban Afghanistan were taken in preparation for the first international conference on the reconstruction of Afghanistan which was held in 2002 in Tokyo. The Tokyo Conference was the first step to identify post-conflict key priority areas for reconstruction and to mobilize aid.

The second international conference on Afghanistan in Berlin in 2004 provided the opportunity to have a greater focus on development planning but still the efforts were mainly made towards fund mobilization in support of reconstruction in Afghanistan. Slide4

Stage 2 As a late comer, Afghanistan adopted MDGs in 2005 setting MDG targets for 2020 instead of 2015. Preparation of the Interim National Development Strategy (ANDS) was also launched in 2005 and was presented to the Paris Conference on Afghanistan in 2006. The full ANDS was adopted in 2008 as an MDGs-based development strategy and the first poverty reduction strategy paper.

The ANDS

was the

first experience to integrate the international development agenda into

national

development planning. The development of ANDS included a broad and extensive consultation at different levels: (

i

) national; (ii) sub-national; (iii) international; and (iv) private sector, civil society, religious and traditional communities.

Low level of technical capacity, data collection and inadequate resources were among the challenges in the development of ANDS. Slide5

Stage 3The development and implementation of ANDS (2008-2013) helped the Afghan government improve its capacity in designing and prioritizing development programs. The Kabul Process launched in 2009 marked a new phase for development planning. The Afghan government initiated the cluster approach as a plan for more coherent and better coordinated development with greater emphasis on Afghan leadership and ownership including through increased budget support and alignment.

The National Priority Programs which replaced ANDS were developed and prioritized with a greater involvement of domestic capacity. They were chosen based on their contribution to sustainable economic growth, revenue generation, job creation and human development. Slide6

Stage 4 Post-2014 Development Planning2014 was the most challenging year in the post-Taliban period as the country experienced three simultaneous transitions: Security Transition: The transition to Afghan lead for security started in 2011 and was completed in December 2014, when the ISAF operation ended and the Afghan National Security Forces assumed full responsibility for security.Political Transition: Despite shortcomings and irregularities, the first peaceful and democratic transition of power took place through the formation of the National Unity Government of AfghanistanEconomic Transition: Declining aid and gradual steps towards self-reliance- Decade of Transformation (2015-2024)The effects of transitions included an impact on the employment situation, sense of uncertainty about future, impact on the security situation in some provinces, migration and refugee flows, displacement impact.Slide7

A Self-reliance StrategyThe National Unity Government developed and presented a self- reliance strategy at the London Conference of 2014 with the following elements:Improving security and political stability Tackling the underlying drivers of corruption

Building good governance

Restoring fiscal sustainability

Reforming development planning and

management

(A reinvigorated cluster approach and

revised

NPPs to

make

development planning

more effective and results-oriented)

Bolstering private sector

c

onfidence, promoting growth, and creating jobs

Ensuring citizens’ development rights

Regional economic

c

ooperationSlide8

Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF)The self-reliance strategy laid the foundation for a new strategic development framework. The Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF) which was presented to the latest international conference on Afghanistan in Brussels in 2016, sets out the strategic policy priorities towards achieving self-reliance

; outlines priority investments needed including in

achieving

the SDGs

and

highlights

key

reforms. Slide9

National Priority Programs (NPPs) Reviewed, prioritized and revisedCitizens’ Charter,Women’s Economic Empower Program, National Infrastructure Plan, National Comprehensive Agriculture Development Program,

Justice Sector Reform Plan,

National Mineral & Resources Development Program,

Human Capital Development Program,

Effective Governance Program,

Urban Development Program,

Private Sector Development Program.Slide10

Integration of SDGs & IPoA into ANPDF & NPPs:The SDGs and IPOA have been integrated into ANPDF and NPPs: A-SDGs have been developed with acknowledging the fact that “the objectives of the SDGs and of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) are cross-cutting and both should eventually see the LDCs achieve sustainable development. Means of implementation of one will help with the realization of the

other”

(The A-SDGs Voluntary Report

).

The ANPDF, NPPs as well as A-SDGs all aim at advancing sustainable development including through increasing productivity, creating jobs and improving the delivery of essential services to people, thus, helping with the realization of

IPoA

.

The A-SDGs have been incorporated into the budget process as well as development planning at the national and sub-national levels. The 17 goals have been divided into 8 national sectors and 17 sub-sectors in order to clarify the SDGs Agenda for the respective line ministries and to better coordinate the

programmes

and to align its goals and targets with

the government budget

and development plans.Slide11

High-level Institutional ArrangementsThe Inter-ministerial Development Councils set development priorities, oversee policymaking, eliminate fragmentation of mandates, monitor progress and facilitate measures for development in their respective sectors

. They are responsible

for overseeing

NPPs.

The

High Council of Ministers

oversees

the nationalization, alignment and implementation SDGs in

Afghanistan, making sure that

all budget entities have fully included the SDGs targets and indicators in their development strategies and policies.

The

Executive Committee on SDGs

within

the Office of the Chief

Executive aims at overseeing

the overall coordination to attain the SDGs within the overall aegis of

ANPDF and

NPPs

.

The Inter-ministerial Framework on

IPoA

chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims at ensuring coordination and follow-up with respect to the implementation of

IPoA

in the country. Slide12

Regional Economic Cooperation as a cross-cutting enabler NPPs, SDGs, IPOARegional economic cooperation is a driver of improved connectivity and competiveness, greater productivity, lower transaction costs and expanded markets towards accelerated and diversified economic growth.In the case of Afghanistan, regional economic cooperation plays an important role in sustainable development of the country. Afghanistan’s centrality as a point of convergence, a land-bridge and a connecting hub between Central Asia, South Asia, Far East and the Middle East and Europe offers many economic opportunities for the country and the region.

There are currently two important Afghanistan-focused regional cooperation frameworks namely, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) and the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (

HoA

-IP) aiming at sharing the benefits of Afghanistan’s centrality in support of sustainable development in Afghanistan and the wider region.

Slide13

Example of RECCASince its inception in 2005, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) has aligned its agenda with the national development agenda, first with the ANDS and now with the ANPDF and NPPs. RECCA’s new approach which has been pursued over the past two years, has brought greater complementarity between the priority projects under RECCA and NPPs including the National Infrastructure Plan, Private Sector Development Program and Women’s Economic Empowerment Program. Along with the bankability and feasibility of the projects, investment criteria under RECCA’s new approach include the impact of priority projects on growth in trade, transit or extractives; their contribution to employment and public revenue; and their role in encouraging private sector participation.

RECCA’s agenda is, therefore, well connected with the ANPDF and NPPs. It is expected that the implementation of the priority projects under RECCA in areas such as energy, transport networks, trade and transit facilitation, communications, B2B and labor support will contribute to the implementation of relevant NPPs and thus to the realization of A-SDGs and

IPOA in Afghanistan and the wider region.Slide14

Conclusion (1)As a post-conflict and land-locked country facing continued security problems including terrorism and narcotics as well as experiencing the impact of transitions, Afghanistan has its own unique challenges in the implementation of 2030 Agenda and IPOA. Afghanistan’s centrality, however,

offers enormous economic opportunities and serves as an enabler of sustainable development. Continued support to frameworks such as RECCA is essential in unlocking this huge potential

.

There is need for a whole of government support as well as cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial coordination to accelerate the implementation of SDGs and IPOA in Afghanistan. A continued high-level oversight

and coordination is

key to the success of

our efforts to this end. Slide15

Conclusion (2)While the Afghan government is committed to gradually reduce its dependency on aid and to diversify fund mobilization, however, in order to implement NPPs, SDGs and IPOA, continued international aid is needed throughout the transformation decade (2015-2024).Improved aid effectiveness and aid predictability; greater regional economic cooperation as well as strengthened public-private dialogue and partnership remain essential in the effective implementation of NPPs, SDGs and IPOA in Afghanistan.