As part of the civil military cooperation Norway is leading the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Faryab a northern province of Afghanistan. PRT is part of the ISAF-mandate to Afghanistan and consists of a military and civilian part. PRT Meymaneh is based on a model which entails that the PRT does not implement development projects of its own. Instead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo and the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul channel funds to programmes in Faryab, which are implemented through the World Bank, United Nations and NGOs. These programmes are chosen according to Afghan national priorities and the recommendations of the PRT.
Photo: PRT Maimana
PRT Meymaneh (Faryab province)
The Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are part of ISAFs concept of operations, and their mission is
“ to assist the Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority in order to facilitate the development of a stable and secure environment… and enable security sector reform (SSR) and reconstruction efforts” (PRT Mission Statement).
At present there are PRTs in 25 of the 34 provinces. The PRTs mandate is based on close civil military cooperation in Afghanistan. The military component contributes to security in the province, while the civilian component follows matters such as good governance, reconstruction and development. Norway places strong emphasis on close civil-military coordination, while at the same time maintaining a clear division of roles between military and civil actors.
Photo: PRT Maimana
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Meymaneh is part of the NATO-led international Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The PRT is a joint military-civilian unit and has set the following mission statement:
“As directed by Regional Command North and co-ordinated with national authorities, PRT Meymaneh will assist Government of Afghanistan in Faryab province in building security, governance and promote development in order to establish a safe and well governed Afghanistan”.
The first ISAF PRTs were established in 2003. While UK founded PRTs in Mazar-e-Sharif and Meymaneh in 2004, Norway took over the lead nation responsibilities in Meymaneh in September 2005, accompanied by Finnish and Latvian contingents. The PRT has two pillars: one military and one civilian. The two components are separated in terms of mandate and employees, however close cooperation and multidisciplinarity is a key to success including respect for each other’s competences. The task of the military part of the PRT is, as part of the ISAF operation, to promote a good security environment in the Faryab province and to facilitate development and reconstruction. The civilian component consists of police liaison officers, prison officers and civilian advisors, including a development and political advisor.
The role of the police liaison officers are to strengthen Afghan National Police (ANP) through training and mentoring ANP and visit districts in order to meet with chiefs of police and map out the situation regarding equipment and resources. The prison officers monitor the rule of law, including safety for the prisoners and ensure that human rights law is applied. The role of the civilian advisers in the PRT is to ensure a good flow of information about the local and national authorities’ priorities; to monitor, collect information and report on the development and political situation; and to facilitate development initiatives by building contacts and sharing information with all relevant actors. This approach - under which civilian and military efforts are coordinated - has yielded positive results. The PRT cooperates closely with the provincial and districts authorities, the UN and other civilian actors, including Norwegian NGOs. As the problems in Afghanistan are closely interrelated and mutually underpinning, so the response to them has to be based on an integrated approach.
Faryab is a priority for the Norwegian Government; a fact that is reflected in the directing of development aid into the province. The model of PRT Meymaneh could be called the “Norwegian Model in Faryab” where one of the guiding principles of the PRT Meymaneh is that it does not implement development projects of its own. Based on Afghan national development priorities, local needs and the recommendations of the PRT, all Norwegian development aid is channeled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Embassy through the World Bank, United Nations and NGOs.
Norway has constructed a new PRT camp close to Maimana airport which was completed in June 2007. Over 300 local workers have been used during the construction period which builds competence in the local population and provides much-needed jobs. When Norway one day no longer has a presence in Maimana and there will be no need for a PRT, the camp will be donated to the local authorities.
Norwegian development aid to Faryab province
The population is seeing tangible benefits from development efforts. Since the summer of 2006 the Norwegian Government has increased its efforts by supporting several programmes in Faryab province. For a short overview of the supported programs, please see under “more”; 2006 supported programs and 2007 supported programs (as for the oversight of 2007 this will be agreements signed before 01.07.07).
Norwegian support is either through Afghan national programmes which include Faryab, or a direct support of programmes in Faryab managed by NGOs. All development agreements are made by the Norwegian Embassy in Kabul or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway. The civilian part of the PRT is responsible for the follow up of the agreements in Faryab province.
School under construction by NRC in Faryab. Photo: NRC
As for 2007 the following programs are supported by the Norwegian Government;
Support is given to “Governance” in order to strengthen the capacity of local authorities in Faryab. At the province level the Afghanistan Sub National Governance Project (ASGP) is aiming at moving the Public Administrative Reform process to the sub-national level by strengthening the provincial Governor Offices, Provincial Council and Municipality Administration. The Norwegian government supports this as a national programme, including a special pilot project for Faryab province. We also support programmes for the local authorities at both district and village level which includes funds for development projects managed by the local authorities. At district level Norway supports the National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP) with a special pilot project in Faryab in order to finance the establishment of district plans and capacity building of the District Development Assemblies (DDAs), including grants for implementing part of the district plans. In addition Norway supports the National Solidarity Program (NSP) (as described under the heading “rural development”), financing capacity building, villages plans and grants for implementing part of the community plans.
In Faryab the Norwegian Government is the main donor for rebuilding the basic education system. Norway has contributed both in 2006 and 2007 to school building and of support teacher training. In 2006 the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) build 7 schools and rehabilitated 1, in 2007 the NRC will build additional 10 schools. Also close to 2000 teachers will receive teacher training courses within this period through Norwegian funded NRC projects. However, the needs for school buildings are immense as present education of children is either conducted in tents or open air. The Norwegian Government signed 8 of July 2007 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education in order to fund 82 new school buildings by the end of 2008.
Girl waiting for the Minister to open her school. Photo: NRC
Minister Atmar and Ambassador Leikvang opening of schools in Maimana. Photo: NRC
Norway contributes to several programs under the heading “rural development”, which includes rebuilding the agriculture system, alternative livelihood income, literacy training, vocational training, water and sanitation, energy supply and gender projects. The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) receives funds from the Norwegian Government for an integrated rural development program consisting of several projects. Norway also supports a program of water and sanitation by the NGO Dacaar. In addition the above mentioned NSP and NABDP programs contribute to implement projects within rural development needs.
The Embassy in cooperation with the civilian part of the PRT in Maimana has initiated a program of drinking water, irrigation and sanitation in Faryab province. A special team from Norad, Oslo, is assisting in this effort. The team released a report “Analysis of the Water Situation in Faryab Province, Afghanistan” which will be the basis for the support of ongoing and future programs in the province.
Other relevante documents:
Norwegian Embassy