Afghanistan National Development Strategy (A Strategy for Security, Governance, Economic Growth & Poverty Reduction) 2008-2013.

The Afghanistan National Development Strategy is a multi-sectoral national strategy. The overriding objective of the document that covers the period of 2008-2013 is to substantially reduce poverty, improve the lives of the Afghan people and create the foundation for a secure and stable country. The Strategy is organized under three pillars: (i) security, (ii) governance, rule of law and human rights, and (iii) economic and social development. The last pillar contains agricultural and rural development as one of its components. Its long term strategic vision for agriculture and rural development is to ensure the social, economic and political well-being of rural communities, especially poor and vulnerable people. In addition, the Strategy notes that the government should develop gender-sensitive design in its efforts to implement the policies under the document.
The document provides for several programmes that address the issue of hunger, food security and malnutrition. More specifically, Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development program (CARD) is envisaged which includes a program such as the National Food Security Program among others. The latter will promote and implement food security opportunities at the household level, benefiting over 1.2 million households by 2010. According to the document, this will decrease the malnourishment rate from 57 percent to 35 percent.
Agriculture and rural development will improve the quality of life for rural citizens, increase food security, improve the delivery of basic services, increase incomes and contribute to the establishment of a safe and secure environment.
The document’s long term strategic vision for agriculture and rural development is to ensure the social, economic and political well-being of rural communities, especially poor and vulnerable people, while stimulating the integration of rural communities within the national economy. The central focus is on supporting the poorest and most vulnerable segments of rural society while promoting the development of medium and large scale commercial agricultural activities. Further, the CARD also is designed to improve rural livelihoods and reduce rural poverty. This objective also forms a part of various programs that the CARD consists of, including the ones that relate to horticulture, livestock, water supply, irrigation, natural resources, rural enterprises, research and extension system, emergency response and capacity building. The Strategy also provides a detailed overview of social protection issues including in connection with agriculture.
The Strategy will give particular consideration to perennial horticulture, animal health, and food security through the institution of specialized support agencies and financial service delivery mechanisms design to support farmers’ associations, brand national products, disseminate timely price and weather-related information and statistics, provide strategic research and technical assistance, and secure access to irrigation and water management systems. Natural Resource Management-related interventions will be based on broad consultations with local communities (to include marginalized groups like pastoralists or indigenous groups).
In the area of increasing resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the Strategy indicates that the Government will initiate the establishment of community- based crop insurance schemes to enable the poor to minimize the consequences of a lost harvest. Further, under the CARD, the National Resource Program will establish National Resource Management committees and develop resource management plans for forests, rangeland, wildlife and desertification control.
At the national level, key institutions that will lead the implementation of the Strategy will be the Ministries in their competencies, the cabinet and Inter-Ministerial Committees. At the sub-national level, the Independent Department for Local Governance, under the President’s Office, will be responsible for the overall coordination of local governance. Also, at the provincial level, the Provincial Councils, Provincial Development Committees and Provincial Governors will be directly involved in the implementation of the Strategy. Co-ordination structures will also be established. They will function in order to ensure overall coordination and oversight on the implementation, as well as to co-ordinate with donors, within specific sector areas and among local self-governing entities, donors and civil society.