Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

Abstract

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are prepared by member countries in broad consultation with stakeholders and development partners, including the staffs of the World Bank and the IMF.Updated every three years with annual progress reports, they describe the country's macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing.This country document for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, dated March 18, 2006, is being made available on the IMF website by agreement with the member country as a service to users of the IMF website.• • •To strengthen the political, social, economic, and defense institutions of the country; To ensure a prosperous life and sound environment for all those residing in this land; And, finally, to regain Afghanistan's rightful place in the world community.The I-ANDS aims to move Afghanistan towards these obligations by asking and answering four fundamental questions:This question drives the Government's policy formulation.This question drives our analysis.This question drives our strategy and determines the mix and sequencing of programs the Government will prioritize in the I-ANDS.This question will drive the implementation of the I-ANDS.The structure of this Executive Summary follows this logic, and reviews (1) our vision, (2) our context analysis, (3) our strategy and (4) our plan for implementation of the I-ANDS.This Government's vision for Afghanistan is fully consistent with our Islamic and cultural values as stated in our Constitution.In the next fifteen years, we aim to ensure that Afghanistan meets .If we realize this vision, we will all but eliminate extreme poverty and hunger in Afghanistan.All our children, boys and girls alike, will complete their primary educations.Afghanistan's women will enjoy greater equity in education, political participation and justice.We will cut by more than half the number of children dying before they reach five and the number of mothers that die in childbirth.We will halt the spread of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other diseases and ensure that our development is environmentally sustainable.And we will accomplish all of this through a strong partnership with the international community that helps to provide the security and to support the stable political environment upon which our economic development will depend.Like the Circle of Justice, this vision has mutually reinforcing security, political, and economic dimensions.is to create a peaceful and just society, where the state has a legitimate monopoly on the use of force and uses it to protect the rights of all Afghans.With the support of our international partners, we aim to build a well trained, affordable, representative and professionalized national army and police force that provide security and uphold the law.is to develop Afghanistan into a stable and mature Islamic constitutional democracy where the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) provide 1.What are our vision, goals and objectives? 2. What are the contexts and constraints that must be understood and overcome to achieve our vision and objectives? 3. What investments and strategies should we prioritize to overcome those constraints and achieve our objectives? How should we resource, monitor, coordinate and consult on these strategies? "Our vision for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is to consolidate peace and stability through just, democratic processes and institutions, and to reduce poverty and achieve prosperity through broad based and equitable economic growth." Our security visionOur governance vision all of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)1. VISION