UNAMA - Statements by DSRSG

In the last couple of months the Government has been engaged in a very difficult process of negotiating how to allocate scarce resources between many competing priorities often of equal importance. I think it has done its job and now it is very much up to the international community to respond - but not by choosing priorities within the budget but by providing both early and predictable funding for this range of important priorities that have been incorporated in the budget. It is very essential that the international community allow the Government to be able to predict the flow of resources for its many priorities.

From the United Nations agency point of view, we need to commit further to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness and a results orientation. We also need to move - as we have been doing - from direct oversight of projects to integration within Government-led priorities and accelerated support to strengthen the capacities of the Government institutions both nationally and sub-nationally.

As one Minister said at the close of the meeting, the period between March and October is really the best time for undertaking activities in Afghanistan. We should not spend further time discussing activities and planning. Now is the time for resources to be applied to action, reconstruction and the reform agenda that the Government has before them. So again early and rapid financing from the international community is crucial.

One important element of this budget as well is that the Government has established benchmarks or indicators by which to assess its progress in attaining its objectives. This will also commit it to transparently showing its donors how they too can measure its progress. Accelerated development of systems of accountability, transparency in the acceleration of the reform process - whether in the security sector, the constitution or public administration - are all vital to the State building enterprise and a necessary compliment to the reconstruction process that also has to pick up speed this year.

This budget has also brought into the mainstream a number of critical cross cutting issues. For example: strengthening the role and status of women in Afghanistan; a commitment by the Government to uphold human rights and; the promotion of environmentally friendly reconstruction. The budget exceeds US$2 billion and some donors have said that this is the high end of what Afghanistan can expect. But I think $2 billion is not very much. When we look back to the assessments made by international financial institutions and the United Nations early last year, we said that this country needs between US$13-19 billion over the next few years to really get reconstruction and the return of private investment back into Afghanistan. Tokyo commitments amounted to US$4,5 billion . Therefore I think there is space not only for the international community to meet those commitments but to exceed them. It is necessary for Afghanistan’s reconstructions and recovery.

Thank You.

14 March 2003

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		Transcript of Statement by DSRSG Nigel Fisher at Closing Press Conference of ADF
		In the last couple of months the Government has been engaged in a very difficult process of negotiating how to allocate scarce resources between many competing priorities often of equal importance. I think it has done its job and now it is very much up to the international community to respond - but not by choosing priorities within the budget but by providing both early and predictable funding for this range of important priorities that have been incorporated in the budget. It is very essential that the international community allow the Government to be able to predict the flow of resources for its many priorities. From the United Nations agency point of view, we need to commit further to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness and a results orientation. We also need to move - as we have been doing - from direct oversight of projects to integration within Government-led priorities and accelerated support to strengthen the capacities of the Government institutions both nationally and sub-nationally. As one Minister said at the close of the meeting, the period between March and October is really the best time for undertaking activities in Afghanistan. We should not spend further time discussing activities and planning. Now is the time for resources to be applied to action, reconstruction and the reform agenda that the Government has before them. So again early and rapid financing from the international community is crucial. One important element of this budget as well is that the Government has established benchmarks or indicators by which to assess its progress in attaining its objectives. This will also commit it to transparently showing its donors how they too can measure its progress. Accelerated development of systems of accountability, transparency in the acceleration of the reform process - whether in the security sector, the constitution or public administration - are all vital to the State building enterprise and a necessary compliment to the reconstruction process that also has to pick up speed this year. This budget has also brought into the mainstream a number of critical cross cutting issues. For example: strengthening the role and status of women in Afghanistan; a commitment by the Government to uphold human rights and; the promotion of environmentally friendly reconstruction. The budget exceeds US$2 billion and some donors have said that this is the high end of what Afghanistan can expect. But I think $2 billion is not very much. When we look back to the assessments made by international financial institutions and the United Nations early last year, we said that this country needs between US$13-19 billion over the next few years to really get reconstruction and the return of private investment back into Afghanistan. Tokyo commitments amounted to US$4,5 billion . Therefore I think there is space not only for the international community to meet those commitments but to exceed them. It is necessary for Afghanistan’s reconstructions and recovery. Thank You. 14 March 2003 _______________


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