 |
  |
|||
The Ministry of Counter Narcotics in partnership with other organisations, launched the Afghan Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF) in late October 2005. The CNTF is designed to provide focused additional resources for the Afghan Government's Counter Narcotics Strategy, to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of funds, to enable the Government of Afghanistan to have greater ownership over implementation of its Counter Narcotics strategic plan, and to promote greater coherence in the funding of Counter Narcotics connected activities. The Afghan Government aims to support all 8 pillars of its Counter Narcotics Strategy through the CNTF, but additional focus and attention will be paid to Alternative Livelihoods, Capacity Building of Law Enforcement Institutions, and Demand Reduction & Treatment of Addicts. Based on consultations with the Ministry of Counter Narcotics, one of the general criteria used to assess the eligibility of project proposals for funding is geographical location. The priority provinces for Alternative Livelihoods are: Badakhshan, Farah, Ghor, Helmand, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Uruzgan. Balkh Province has informally been added to the list because of a recent increase in opium poppy cultivation in that province. At the RALF Steering Committee Meeting of March 19, 2006, in Kabul, the RALF Management was advised by DFID to work closely with RALF Implementing Partners and develop joint research proposals. Please note that our line ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI) will be the lead applicant and that we (RALF Implementing Partners and ICARDA-RALF) will serve as facilitating partners. One of the key objectives of CNTF is to build capacity at the line ministries. Thus we need to work closely with MAI. For additional information on CNTF, please visit the Afghan Government website at: www.mcn.gov.af/english/Alternative livelihoods.htm The CNTF application kit can be obtained from: 1- Mr. Abdul Haleem Wahidi (CNTF & Strategy Director, Ministry of Counter Narcotics): haleem.wahidi@mcn.gov.af , Kabul mobile: 093(0)799305454. 2- Mr. Raul Gasteazoro (CN trust Fund Manager, UNDP-Kabul): raul.gasteazoro@undp.org, Kabul mobile: 093-(0) 799 193 673 |
||||