Benchmarks

Canada’s Engagement in Afghanistan - Quarterly Report to Parliament for the Period of January 1 to March 31, 2010

Priority 3: Humanitarian Assistance

To provide humanitarian assistance for extremely vulnerable people, including refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.

Canadian objective for 2011

Humanitarian assistance will continue to be accessible to Afghan refugees, and to returnees and internally displaced persons in Kandahar and nationwide.

Context

The first benchmark in this priority includes a series of quantitative and qualitative measures, as no single indicator is comprehensive enough to provide a complete picture. Considered together, they will help to provide an assessment of progress.

The challenges for this priority are not in the indicators themselves, but in the ability to report against them on a quarterly basis given that evaluations and assessments are undertaken across longer timeframes. The evolving nature of security can challenge humanitarian access and limit the ability to report publicly on some efforts below the national level. It is also important to note that with some information such as mine victims, officially reported numbers are only estimates given that many accidents go unreported.

Benchmarks

1. Achievement of polio eradication in Afghanistan. *Canadian Signature Project*

Progress Indicator: The number of children receiving the polio vaccine during each of the multiple national campaigns conducted annually—multiple vaccinations are required to stop transmission of polio.

Baseline: In 2007, approximately 27.7 million vaccinations were administered to 7 million children during four national campaigns (2007).

2011 Target: Eradication by vaccination by 2009.

Quarterly Result: In February and March, an estimated 390,000 and 397,000 children respectively were vaccinated in Kandahar, representing 96% and 98% of the targeted children reached in each campaign. In addition, in January, approximately 17,000 children—including over 9,000 girls and 7,900 boys—were vaccinated by “transit teams” deployed in the border areas.

Progress Indicator:  The number of polio cases reported.

Baseline: 17 cases reported nationally (2007).

2011 Target: Eradication by 2009.

Quarterly Result: Seven new cases were identified this quarter. No cases were reported in Kandahar.

2. Public institutions able to plan and coordinate emergency assistance and support to vulnerable populations in Kandahar.

Progress Indicator:  Quantity of humanitarian food aid delivered in response to need.

Baseline: 6.7 million Afghans (approximately 21%) supported with food aid, representing 214,000 metric tonnes of food against an identified need where 30% of the Afghan population were considered chronically food insecure (January-December 2007).

2011 Target: Maintain and/or improve the number of Afghans receiving food assistance in proportion to need.

Quarterly Result: During the quarter, Canadian funding helped the World Food Programme provide over 22,300 tonnes of food nationally.

In 2009, a total of 275,000 tonnes of food were provided to over 9 million beneficiaries.

Progress Indicator:  The capacity of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) and Kandahar Provincial Disaster Management Authority (KPDMA) to put in place effective disaster preparedness plans.

Baseline: The PDMA and United Nations in Kandahar developed a comprehensive contingency plan for a severe winter in 2007 and anticipated spring floods. Two training sessions were provided for the PDMA on disaster management.

2011 Target: By 2011, PDMA will have developed comprehensive strategies and coordination mechanisms for responding to disasters.

Quarterly Result: In response to severe flooding in Kandahar this quarter, the PDMC organized a joint assessment and verification exercise in three key districts to distribute food and medical supplies to flood-affected families.

Progress Indicator:  The access that vulnerable populations— women, children, disabled persons, returnees and internally displaced persons — have to essential quality health services.

Baseline: 111 healthcare staff have received training (June 2008).

2011 Target: 500 health care workers trained.

Quarterly Result: TARGET ACHIEVED: Reporting from implementing partners indicates that, to date, over 1,200 health care workers have been trained.

Progress Indicator:  The amount of land released and made available for communities as a result of survey and clearance of mines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) nationally and in Kandahar.

Baseline: From March 2007 to March 2008, 180 square kilometres of land were released and made available nationally.

2011 Target: A cumulative total of 500 square kilometres of land released and made available.

Quarterly Result: To date, a cumulative total of 426 square kilometres of land have been released nationally and made available. This includes all Kandahar-specific land as reported in previous quarterly reports.

Progress Indicator:  The number of people receiving mine awareness education in Kandahar.

Baseline: From March 2007 to March 2008, 33,500 individuals were provided with mine- awareness education.

2011 Target: 200,000 individuals provided with mine-awareness education.

Quarterly Result: TARGET ACHIEVED: During the quarter, an additional 26,929 Kandaharis received mine-awareness education, for a cumulative total of over 246,900 individuals.