International DevelopmentWritten evidence submitted by Abdul Ehsan Mohmand

1. Monitoring and Evaluation

(DFID office should carry out this and assign a team from their office; because most of the time what people (Implementing Partners (IP)) do is that they misrepresent these reports to show their achievements. Usually these reports are prepared on the assumption of IPs in their offices.)

2. Reporting of the Projects

(Reporting (facts, data, statistics, quotations from people etc) should be cross checked at field level and different stake holders other than the ones being mentioned in the reports to make sure the accuracy of the report.)

3. Afghan First, Afghan Leadership

(For effective implementation of funds at the field level the projects should be either awarded to Afghans as prime contractor or part of Joint Venture or Subcontract with a foreign company this will help in effective implementation of the projects. The project awarded to a Foreign company is less effective because either they subcontract to Afghans with a less amount of money or if they go by themselves to implement it takes them longer to mobilize and then if they mobilize it takes longer to communicate in a well manner with the Afghan Government or relevant stake holders at the field level.)

4. Program Designs Based on Actual Field Data

(The programs shouldn’t be designed from behind the desk surveys. The programs should be designed within the field. The teams who are assigned to design the program concepts must visit the sites where the projects are to be implemented. If this is not practiced what happens is that usually behind the desk designed programs are not applicable at the field level and have less impact and outcome which leads to waste of funds. Sometimes programs are designed with personal views of people and becomes just a wish list of a limited people.)

5. Limitation of Funding Based on Regional British Presence

(Some of the programs are limited to the regional presences of British for example only limited to Helmand province. It is suggested that the programs should be designed at a National level to insure the people of Afghanistan that UK Government is helping them out.)

If you really want to strategically make sure your presence in the region for a long term? If you really want to have a live presence without military existence? If you really want Afghanistan people to admire your help and support for decades; I have some suggestions.

July 2012