{
  "id": "RL31759",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31759",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 101530,
      "date": "2003-02-26",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:52:17.398544",
      "title": "Reconstruction Assistance in Afghanistan: Goals, Priorities, and Issues for Congress",
      "summary": "Afghanistan has taken the first step toward reconstruction. According to many observers, the\nmost\nserious challenge facing Afghans and Afghanistan today remains the lack of security. Most experts\nagree on the need for substantial, long-term reconstruction with international support, but questions\nare raised about the funds required, the priorities, and the coordination necessary for this process. \nThis report examines U.S. foreign aid to Afghanistan in the context of the international effort and\nexplores the major issues for Congress.\n  As a result of decades of violent conflict, Afghanistan is in great need of substantial\nreconstruction, from roads and schools to a broad range of development projects encompassing the\nwhole country. Decades of civil war and proxy regional wars have created four intertwining and\ncompeting economies in Afghanistan revolving around war, drugs, agriculture, and humanitarian aid\nthat drive conflicting incentives for Afghans and their neighbors. Effective reconstruction assistance\ncould reconfigure these economies and provide incentives for viable economic growth.\n  The international recovery and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan is immense and\ncomplicated, with the Afghan government, numerous U.N. agencies, bilateral donors, many\ninternational organizations, and countless non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to help\nAfghanistan. The international community and the Afghan government have sought to establish\ncoordinating institutions and a common set of goals in order to utilize donor funds most effectively. \nOfficially, international assistance is coordinated through the United Nations Assistance Mission in\nAfghanistan (UNAMA), though there are other coordinating institutions tied to the Afghan\ngovernment.\n  Donor countries have committed $1.7 billion and, from that, disbursed $1.5 billion. Key areas\nof concern include whether the funding levels to Afghanistan are adequate and how much is being\nused for reconstruction. Some have argued that the majority of FY2002 funds--as much as 70%\n--went towards humanitarian aid. \n  The next major donor conference for Afghanistan will take place in March 2003. Some of the\nmajor reconstruction programs are government capacity building, women's programs, employment\ngeneration, road construction, agricultural rehabilitation, urban reconstruction, energy, education,\nhealth, communications, and media. There is concern about creating enough momentum behind\nreconstruction initiatives in the short term and sustaining international focus on Afghanistan in the\nlong term, particularly in light of a possible war in Iraq. This report will be updated as events\nwarrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}