Current National Development Projects
Backgrounder
Canada is focussed on a targeted set of objectives in keeping with proven Canadian strengths and consistent with Afghan objectives and the efforts of the international community.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is helping the Government of Afghanistan provide jobs, education, and essential services, like water to its people; provide humanitarian assistance to people in need, including refugees; and, build Afghan institutions that are central to our Kandahar priorities and support democratic processes such as elections.
Economic Growth
Change Management Project
Current Phase: 2010-2011
Project Budget: $1.95 million
The Change Management Project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to deliver on its National Agriculture Development Framework. It supports the creation and implementation of a Policy and Analysis and Legal Advisory Department (PALAD) within MAIL, the improvement of gender mainstreaming and integration within PALAD and the larger MAIL institutions, and provides support for Afghan advisors within the ministry.
Education
Teacher Certification and Accreditation
Current Phase: 2010-2020
Project Budget: $10 million
Working with the Afghan Ministry of Education, the project will develop training packages for the Ministry of Education's Teacher Education Department, update and standardize the teacher training curriculum, establish an accreditation system for teacher training institutions and develop a system for teacher certification.
Turquoise Mountain
Current Phase: 2009-2011
Project Increase: $4 million
Key activities of this project includes operating schools of traditional arts, providing literacy, vocational and business training and restoring cultural buildings, shops, and infrastructure. This funding builds upon existing support for Turquiose Mountain and also provides 10 Kandahari students with three-year scholarships to attend Turquoise Mountain classes in Kabul.
Humanitarian Assistance
Humanitarian Action Plan
Current Phase: 2010
Project Budget: $20 million
This project supports the delivery of humanitarian assistance in response to the UN-led Humanitarian Action Plan. A list of projects already supported by this initiative are:
- World Food Programme ($13 million) – This project enhances resilience and food security in Afghanistan. With planned assistance to 5.2 million people in 2010 and 7.3 million in 2011, WFP will provide relief food assistance, build government capacity to assess, prepare and respond to food crises while supporting improved health and education, particularly for women and girls.
- United Nations High Commission for Refugees ($3 million) - This project delivers general humanitarian assistance such as support for the provision of health services, mine action, food and non-food aid.
- World Health Organization Health Cluster ($1 million) - This project improves access to essential emergency preventive and curative healthcare for the most vulnerable people affected by disasters, including underserved provinces, and people living in conflict zones beyond the reach of established systems, with a focus on women and children.
Mine Action
Current Phase: 2010
Project Budget: $2 million
This project adds new sites for de-mining to the United Nations Mine Action Service and Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan’s existing work in Afghanistan. The proposed additional working sites are located on downstream sub-irrigation areas and near Tarnak farms. It is estimated that clearing these lands will create 150-200 jobs and will benefit a further 3000 people in the region.
Emergency Micro-Nutrients Initiative
Current Phase: 2009-2010
Project Budget: $632,000
This one-year project distributes micro-nutrients (vitamin A and zinc supplements) to children under five and pregnant and lactating women to reduce high morbidity and mortality rates. Almost all of the funding for this initiative, which began in July 2009, has been dispersed.
