1. Programme, Policy and Strategy

Transcription

1 1. Programme, Policy and Strategy Programme Goal The overall goal in Urban Management Sector is to invest in a balanced urban development programme across the country to create cities that are economically viable, environmentally healthy and inclusively governed, and that are organically linked to rural areas. Economic viability refers to financial self sustainment and growth generation. Environmental health includes the concept that all citizens have access to basic services. Inclusively governed indicates that all citizens have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making processes related to city governance. 1.2 Priority Needs to be Addressed Priority needs are grouped in the following four sub-programmes: i) Planning and Management: Master Plans remain suspended since they no longer realistically reflect the cities growth and value system. Strategic Plans for Kabul and other major cities are urgently needed to guide the development of the cities The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing Policy is responsible for the policy and programming for all urban development activities. In this connection, technical assistance is crucial at this point for the Ministry to effectively carry out the Urban Development Programme The urban land management system is currently dysfunctional. It must be reestablished to stimulate investment in urban development. The latter includes the completion of the city s cadastre, the streamlining of land registration and transfer, the granting of tenure to settlers in informal settlements and the formulation of a system to settle disputes. These actions are integral to reestablishing a properly functioning land market. Capacity-building is urgently required at all levels, from local to central governments, for the effective management of the sector ii) Housing: Massive assistance is required for returnees and vulnerable families in urban centers to reconstruct their houses, in order for the cities to recover to their prewar level as well as to accommodate a rapidly growing population. Upgrading of informal settlements (which constitute over one half of all cities), with regularization of tenure and the provision of infrastructure, is urgently required to reassure returnees of their rights to stay and to encourage them to invest in building their homes. Newly serviced land for housing must be made available in order to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population. Serviced land must be provided to the homeless and landless, as well as those families who are currently cohabiting

2 with one or more other households and who lack adequate living space. The needs and requirements of middle income families must also be considered. iii) Infrastructure and Services: Water supply systems in all cities must be rehabilitated and extended to cover as many people as possible. Appropriate sanitation systems must be introduced to replace the currently dysfunctional and unhygienic systems. Solid waste management has been revived in Kabul and other main cities. However, more investment is required in this sector for its efficiency and sustainability. Although significant achievements have been recorded in the improvement of urban roads, additional efforts are still needed to provide people access to homes and markets. The rapid increase in the number of commercial and private vehicles in Kabul City currently severely strains traffic circulation there. Urgent measures are therefore needed to control traffic and ensure its smooth flow. iv) Government Building Programme: Afghanistan s public sector infrastructure has suffered from extensive destruction reducing the Government presence in the provinces. To provide good public service to the citizens, functioning Government offices need to be established in the provincial cities. 1.3 Policy Issues Regularization of informal settlements with appropriate security of tenure. Promoting balanced development in 32 provinces. Preparation of Strategic Plans for each city to replace the Master Plan to generate urban growth. Provision of new serviced land to landless families. Establishing a sound land management system. Stimulate the economy by strengthening the urban centres as catalysts for commercial growth. Strengthen the weak local private sector in order to deliver housing and jobs. Ensuring that the extension of basic services is based on affordable operation and maintenance costs. Establishing hygienic systems of sanitation, noting technical feasibility and cost. Establishing a sound system for solid waste management that is affordable to local authorities. Strengthening the Municipal revenue base in order to promote selfsufficiency. Promoting transparent and accountable local governance. 2

3 1.4 Integration of Cross-cutting Issues 3 Gender Integrating Women s Community Development Committees within the community needs identification in Informal Settlements Upgrading Projects and Municipal Public Works Programmes Women playing the lead role in the Community Based Sanitation and health education programme Targeting widow headed and female headed households in the shelter reconstruction programmes Incorporating differentiated gender needs in structure planning of the cities Environment Improving the living environments of informal settlements is one of the objectives of the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programmes and Public Works Programmes apart from providing access to basic services The sanitation programmes are mainly targeted at creating healthy livable environments for the people The use of natural resources in the reconstruction programme is carried out with careful consideration Humanitarian Affairs Shelter reconstruction programmes are specifically targeted to returnees and IDP with prioritization given to widows and disabled Infrastructure improvement programme is targeted to areas of high returnee intake Human Rights Ensuring land tenure to all bona fide occupiers of informal settlements in the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Management 1.5 Management Management of the Urban Management Sector Public Investment Programme is the responsibility of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing. In this task, the MUDH is assisted by the Consultative Group, including donors and the implementing agencies of the sector. It is envisaged that in the new year (1383), there will be a restructuring of the MUDH, and this should improvement Programme Management with greater transparency and accountability (see below, monitoring and evaluation ).

4 1.5.1 Coordination Mechanism 4 The Urban Management Consultative Group (UMCG), which is chaired by MUDH, has been established to facilitate coordination between the Government, donors, UN agencies and NGOs. MUDH has asked UN-HABITAT to serve as co-focal point, until a donor co-focal point can be identified. Other members of the UMCG include the Kabul Municipality, CAWSS, representatives from Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Refugees and Returnees, the CIDA/MUDH Technical Advisor, CARE, Mercy Corp, AKDN, UNHCR, UNDP, JICA, KfW, the World Bank, the EC, ECHO, representatives from the Governments of Japan, Italy, Norway, the U.S., and Sweden; and ISAF- CIMIC Coordination Between National and Sub National Government In theory, the programme at the city levels is coordinated by the respective Municipalities who, with the exception of Kabul Municipality, are under the supervision of Ministry of Interior. As the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing is responsible for policy formulation and programme design, constructive dialogue and coordination between it and the MOI is essential for the effective and efficient functioning of the municipalities. The Municipalities, in turn, are responsible for urban programme implementation Financial Management With the exception of technical assistance, all funds for projects in the Urban Management Sector are disbursed either directly from donors to first level implementing partner, or from donors through the National Development Budget (MoF). As MUDH is not an implementing partner in the NDB framework, it does not receive any direct donor support, other than technical assistance Procurement Arrangements. There is an arrangement in place whereby the MOF Procurement Unit posts bids, and requests for Expressions of Interest. The Unit is also to follow through on these processes. The MUDH has not yet utilized this Unit for major construction bids. 1.6 Monitoring and Reporting THE MUDH itself has direct responsibility for monitoring the implementation of all projects included in the Urban Management Sector. On a quarterly basis, the Ministry requests donors and implementing agencies to provide updates on implementation and financial disbursements Nationally Funded Projects The arrangements for monitoring the implementation of projects funded through ARTF and other budget support are totally dependent upon requests for updates from the respective trust and other funds Donor Funded Projects

5 Arrangements for monitoring the implementation of projects funded through donor/un/ngo funded projects involve MUDH requesting donors and implementing agencies to provide updates on their projects and on their financial disbursements. As the Monitoring and Reporting of both donor and nationally funded projects depends on source response, there are often gaps in information about current project status and disbursements. MUDH must therefore take a more proactive role in project monitoring. In order to do so, it is strongly recommended that a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit be established within MUDH. This Unit could draw upon one staff person from each of its substantive departments, with on-the-job-training to be provided. Source: 01/2004 5