"Aid Responses to Afghanistan: Lessons from Previous Evaluations" was a key background paper prepared by Niels Dabelstein for the DAC Experts’ Meeting on "Afghanistan Reconstruction and Recovery: Seeing Round the Corner" (May 2002, OECD, Paris). It was also discussed at the DAC Senior Level Meeting in December 2001. The DAC Afghanistan meeting provided some useful independent advice to policy makers and practioners by discussing openly the complex, fundamental issues underpinning reconstruction and relief strategies. Participants delved into questions of governance and security, capacity building in government and civil society, and the regional dynamics, such as the role of the war economy; topics that were in keeping with the broader set of priorities identified at the Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, 21-22 January 2002 and the Implementation Group meeting on 10-11 April 2002.