Local Governance in Afghanistan: A View from the Ground

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Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit 2011 Annex 4: Literature Review There is an emerging literature on local governance that ranges from general descriptions and comment to analyses that come with a more focused contribution based on location or sector. Of the literature that takes a wider overview, an early study by the World Bank addresses the key constraints to strengthening local government systems in Afghanistan. 162 In the same year, The Asia Foundation undertook an assessment of local governance that provides a good account of the legal background and description of structures. 163 A comparative approach was seen to be emerging in Larson’s study that was designed to give SIDA basic political, economic, social, cultural and security information on four northern provinces. 164 A general assessment of local government and the role of NGOs in supporting the development of sub-national governance capacity that provides an extensive list of recommendations was commissioned by Afghanistan-based INGOs. 165 Also in 2009, UNDP produced a report on local government that drew on drivers of change theory and produced a social capital measurement framework. 166 The Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium undertook quality research into local government. Their report on provincial councils is required reading. 167 The National Democratic Institute produce a steady stream of highly informative material related to elections and the electoral process. 168 The Asia Foundation has been a consistent contributor to improving knowledge about local government, not least through its 2007 assessment and subsequent perception surveys. 169 A diverse range of governance-related issues have been covered by the Afghanistan Analysts Network. 170 Rubin has written numerous governance-related articles, and one of particular relevance to this research is his contextualisation of public administrative reform. 171 Barfield and Nojumi have presented a practical and realistic set of suggestions for improving local governance. 172 Moving to publications that focus more on specific locations, there are valuable papers by UNAMA on Sar-i-Pul, Jawzjan and Samangan that give a clear and detailed outline of the more formal aspects of local government structures and operation. 173 They are frank in highlighting a number of problems in the operation of local government in the provinces. Papers from the Feinstein International Centre provide a useful description of selected provinces and the specificities of their governance arrangements, particularly as related to aid and security. 174 There is valuable research evidence presented in a Noragric report on Day Kundi, a poorly served province in every sense. 175 CPAU have 162 The World Bank, “Service Delivery and Governance at the Sub-National Level in Afghanistan” (Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2007). 163 The Asia Foundation, “An Assessment of Sub-National Governance in Afghanistan” (Kabul: The Asia Foundation, 2007). 164 Katarina Larsson, “A Provincial Survey of Balkh, Jowzjan, Samangan and Saripul” (Kabul: SIDA, 2008). 165 David Connolly, “Assessing the status of sub national governance and the role of INGOs in building sub national governance capacities in Afghanistan” (York, UK: Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit, University of York, 2009). 166 UNDP, “Local Governance and Development” (Kabul: UNDP, 2009). 167 Nasrat Esmaty and Asadullah Ahmadi, “A Broken Relationship: A Study of the Provincial Councils and their Ability to Serve the Afghan People” (Kabul: Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium, 2010). 168 http://www.ndi.org/content/afghanistan 169 The Asia Foundation, “An Assessment of Sub-National Governance in Afghanistan.” 170 http://aan-afghanistan.com 171 Barnett R. Rubin, “The Political Context of Public Administration Reform in Afghanistan” (Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2006). 172 Thomas Barfield and Neamatollah Nojumi, “Bringing More Effective Governance to Afghanistan: 10 Pathways to Stability,” Middle East Policy Vol. XVII, No. 4 (2010): 40-52. 173 UNAMA, “Governance Profile Sari Pul Province” (Kabul: UNAMA, 2010); UNAMA, “Governance Profile Jawzjan Province” (Kabul: UNAMA, 2010); UNAMA, “Governance Profile Samangan Province” (Kabul: UNAMA, 2010). 174 Paul Fishstein, “Winning Hearts and Minds Examining the Nature of Aid and Security in Afghanistan’s Balkh Province” (Medford, Massachusetts, USA: Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, 2010); Geert Gompelman, “Winning Hearts and Minds Examining the Nature of Aid and Security in Faryab Province” (Medford, Massachusetts, USA: Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, 2011). 175 Ingrid Nyborg, Jalaluddin Akramy and Aslaug Gotehus, “Exploring Rural Livelihoods in Afghanistan: A Study of 10 Villages Local Governance in Afghanistan: A View from the Ground 85
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit 2011 done several insightful district conflict analyses with linkages across Afghanistan, one of which has particular relevance to this study. 176 Finally, there are various evaluative studies, such as the refreshingly frank evaluation of the USAID LGCD programme. 177 UN reviews relevant to this enquiry include an assessment of NABDP 178 and a more gnomic commentary on the ASGP. 179 The World Bank has published a profile that provides key poverty, gender, health, education and infrastructure indicators for each province of Afghanistan. 180 With a few exceptions, the more general literature tends to be state or programme orientated. There are also many individual studies that relate to a particular location or that examine cultural practices to good effect. in Dai Kundi Province” in Noragric Report 40 (Noragric/Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian Institute of Life Sciences, January 2008) 176 Sonya Merkova, Christian Dennys and Idrees Zaman, “Conflict Analysis: Chak and Sayedabad Districts, Wardak Province” (Kabul: CPAU, 2009). 177 USAID, “Final Report: Local Governance and Community Development Program (LGCD) Evaluation” (Kabul: USAID, 2009). 178 UNDP, “Mid-term Review of the National Area Based Development Project, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development” (Kabul: UNDP, 2008). 179 Ernest Leonardo, “Afghanistan Sub-National Governance Program Mid-Term Review” (Kabul: UNDP, 2009). 180 “Afghanistan: Provincial Briefs” (Kabul: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Economy, June 2011). Local Governance in Afghanistan: A View from the Ground 86
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Local Governance in Afghanistan: A View from the Ground

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