"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.

« Mesures d’aide à prendre face à la situation en Afghanistan : enseignements se dégageant des évaluations passées » est au départ une note de synthèse rédigée par M. Niels Dabelstein réunion d’experts du CAD consacrée au thème « Reconstruction et redressement de l’Afghanistan : Imaginer l’avenir » (mai 2002, OCDE , Paris). Cette note a également été examinée à la réunion du CAD au niveau des hauts fonctionnaires qui a eu lieu en décembre 2001. La réunion du CAD sur l’Afghanistan a permis à des responsables de l’action gouvernementale et à des praticiens de recueillir de précieux avis auprès d’experts indépendants en abordant dans un esprit d’ouverture les questions fondamentales complexes qui sous-tendent les nouvelles stratégies en matière de reconstruction et de secours. Les participants ont étudié en profondeur des sujets ayant trait à la gouvernance et à la sécurité, au renforcement des capacités des administrations publiques et de la société civile et aux dynamiques régionales, notamment au rôle de l’économie de guerre, qui tous cadrent parfaitement avec l’ensemble plus vaste de priorités recensées lors de la conférence ministérielle de Tokyo, qui s’est tenue les 21 et 22 janvier 2002, et de la réunion du Groupe de mise en œuvre, qui a eu lieu les 10 et 11 avril 2002.

This chapter explores a number of examples of contracting out in Afghanistan. The lessons elaborated in this report stem from a number of sectors, including finance, aid effectiveness and justice. Several important recommendations are drawn, which can support other post-conflict and fragile states to strengthen the delivery of government services to their citizens.

Afghan women are among the most vulnerable in the world. Under the Taliban regime, women and girls were systematically discriminated against and marginalised, and their human rights were violated. Women and girls were also severely restricted in their access to education, health care facilities and employment.

This report reviews the implementation in Afghanistan of the Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States and Situations two years after they were endorsed by ministers of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, and identifies priority areas to improve the collective impact of international engagement. The Afghanistan Country Report reflects the findings from a national consultation among stakeholders representing both national and international institutions, complemented by interviews and data collection.

This working paper is a case study on Afghanistan as a refugee country of origin. The case study looks at whole-of-government efforts by OECD member countries in Afghanistan, specifically looking at how states have co-ordinated development, diplomatic and defence resources in a refugee country of origin. The case study also examines efforts by the international community to promote stability and state building objectives. The case study was undertaken as part of a wider research project on learning from evaluations to improve responses to situations of forced displacement and supports the synthesis paper "Responding to Refugee Crises in Developing Countries: What Can We Learn From Evaluations?"