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Summary
- In Afghanistan, progress in strengthening security, governance and development is always hard won; the environment for implementing Canada’s new approach in Afghanistan was daunting, and dangerous. The dual nature of our whole-of-government effort—in Kandahar and nationally—made for an especially challenging engagement, one that became the largest Canadian mission abroad since the Korean War more than 50 years ago. At its peak, approximately 2,950 Canadian soldiers and over 120 civilian personnel were deployed to Afghanistan.
- Of the 44 targets announced by the Government of Canada in 2008, and to be completed by December 31, 2011, a total of 33 targets have been fully achieved or surpassed. Another 5 targets have been partially achieved as of the tabling of this report, although 2 of them are expected to be fully achieved this spring. While 6 targets will not be achieved at all, progress has been made and significant work has been undertaken to advance them.
- Four of the six targets that were established by Canada to increase the capacity of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to conduct operations and sustain a more secure environment in key districts of Kandahar, with support from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), have been met. In particular, ANA kandaks (battalions) are capable of planning, executing and sustaining near-autonomous operations, the force strength of the ANA has improved significantly, and the majority of Kandaharis feel secure or perceive security to be improving.
- Canada placed considerable emphasis on strengthening the rule of law in Kandahar, and has met or surpassed all benchmarks and targets that were established for Kandahar’s policing, corrections and justice sectors.
- Education was a central aspect of Canada’s development work in Kandahar. Canada exceeded its target for the education signature project in Kandahar with the construction, expansion or restoration of 52 schools in key districts. Canada also exceeded its targets to improve the quality of education through the training of over 3,000 teachers in Kandahar, and the provision of literacy training to more than 27,000 individuals and vocational training to over 6,500 Kandaharis.
- Recognizing the vital importance of agriculture to Kandahar’s economic growth going forward, Canada has completed the major components of its signature project to rehabilitate the Dahla Dam and Arghandab irrigation system, which created over 5,000 construction jobs. As a result of Canada’s work, when the spring irrigation waters flow, an additional 30,000 hectares of land should benefit from increased irrigation, creating another projected 5,000 seasonal jobs in the agro-economy.
- Availability and access to essential, quality health services was improved considerably, especially for vulnerable groups. Since 2008, Canada has provided support to help train over 2,000 health care workers, including doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers. Canada’s target for 2011 was to train 500 health workers.
- Recognizing the critical need for the Afghan people to safely access arable land, Canada supported mine action between 2008 and 2011, helping to clear over 772 square kilometres of land from mines, which is well over the established target of 500 square kilometres. Canadian-supported mine risk education was also provided to over 650,000 people, surpassing the target of 200,000.
- Canada has played an important role in providing much needed support for the delivery of food assistance to Afghans in need, through a partnership with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), surpassing established targets.
- Canada played a key role in improving working relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Canada-facilitated Dubai Process, which is now called the Afghanistan Pakistan Cooperation Process (APCP). Canada helped to establish a stronger foundation for border security between the two countries by providing support for the new Afghan Border Police Faculty, which provides additional training capacity for the Afghan Border Police. In addition, experts from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) developed customized training modules for the Afghan National Customs Academy in Kabul that were used to train over 200 Afghan customs officials, surpassing Canada’s targets for this work.
- Canada’s contribution in the area of electoral reform in Afghanistan focused on improving the political participation of women as voters, candidates and election workers; civic education; the monitoring of election preparations; and pressing the Government of Afghanistan to undertake electoral reforms, building on the lessons learned from the flawed elections of 2009 and 2010.
- Through the 2008–2011 period, human rights has been a key area of focus for Canada in Afghanistan. Canada served as a lead donor to important human rights initiatives in Afghanistan, supporting the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and strengthening the protection of Afghan’s rights, notably those of women and other minority groups. Canada assumed the chairmanship of the AIHRC Donor Committee in January 2011.
- Canada also recognized the vital importance of empowering leadership and decision making at the community level in Afghanistan. Through the National Solidarity Program, Canada supported the development of democratically elected Community Development Councils (CDCs) across much of Afghanistan. Over 27,900 CDCs have been formed, giving communities a key role in developing their own future.
- In supporting Afghan-led efforts toward political reconciliation, Canada contributed to the completion of the Afghanistan Government Media and Information Centres in Kabul and Kandahar, thus meeting another 2011 target. The Centres enable the Afghan government to communicate with its citizens by sharing information about national and provincial programs, policies and objectives for reconciliation. Canada will also continue to advocate, for broad, inclusive, Afghan-led efforts at reconciliation.
