The Netherlands has since 2002 made considerable contributions towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan and belongs to the major bilateral donors.  An important part of Dutch aid is given in the form of general budget support, through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) of the World Bank.  From that fund, apart from civil service salaries, a number of important development programmes are financed as well.  In 2003 and 2004 the contribution was EUR 35 million annually, in 2005 25 million, in 2006 40 million and in 2007 30 million.  In addition, the Netherlands contributes EUR 10 million annually to the Law and Order Trust Fund (LOTFA). 

Furthermore, the Netherlands makes considerable contributions to various UN organisations which, inter alia, are engaged in the repatriation of millions of Afghan refugees from the neighbouring countries (UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF).  Contributions in 2006 amounted to EUR 4 million for that purpose, in 2007 to 8,5 million. 

Support was also given to the organisation of democratic elections in Afghanistan, in total EUR 10 million during the past years.

Baghlan: in connection with the presence of a Dutch PRT in Baghlan province, a ‘Facilitating Fund for Reconstruction’ was established for that province, with a ceiling of EUR 5 million.  From this fund a number of short-term activities were funded:

• reconstruction of roads, schools and bridges;
• rehabilitation of the livestock sector including the construction of a cheese factory;
• training of civil servants;
• small-scale rural development projects (through the ‘Community Development Committees’).

After the Netherlands left Baghlan province, some of these projects were still ongoing; in  2007 a contribution of EUR 1 million was made available for the implementation of the national education programme EQUIP in Baghlan.

Uruzgan: since the deployment of Dutch troops in Uruzgan in August 2006 a reconstruction programme for this province started as well.  As per October 2007 an amount of over EUR 28 million had been committed for activities to be implemented in the period 2006 – 2008.  These programmes include:

• Development of the security sector;
• Strengthening local government;
• Health facilities;
• Education;
• Rural development and infrastructure;
• Micro-credit facilities.

The Development Cooperation programme for Afghanistan does not aim at supporting (a) specific sector(s), though as from 2006 particular attention is given to the justice sector and to the development of parliamentary democracy.  During the special conference in Rome (June 2007) the Minister for Development Cooperation pledged EUR 15 million, for a 3-year period, for the construction of the justice sector, including the Action Plan for Transitional Justice.

The Embassy, finally, has a small budget to support small-scale ‘once-only’ activities of private organisations in Afghanistan (the ‘PKP’ programme).  The volume of applications tends to be much higher than the available funds, so that selection is competitive and the  approval rate low.