Major donors failing Afghanistan due to $10bn aid shortfall

Publié le : 20 Mars 2008

Forty per cent of aid spending returns to rich countries in corporate profits and consultant costs.

The prospects for peace in Afghanistan are being undermined because Western countries are failing to deliver on their promises of aid to the tune of $10bn and because aid going to the country is used ineffectively, according to a new report written by ACBAR, an alliance international aid agencies working in Afghanistan.

The international community has pledged $25bn to Afghanistan since 2001 but has only delivered $15bn. The US is the biggest donor to Afghanistan but also has one of the biggest shortfalls - according to the Afghan government between 2002 and 2008 the US only delivered half of its $10.4bn commitment.

The same sources show that over this period the EC and Germany distributed less than two-thirds of their respective $1.7bn and $1.2bn commitments, and the World Bank has distributed just over half of its $1.6bn commitment. The UK pledged $1.45bn and distributed $1.3bn.

An estimated 40% of the money spent has returned to rich donor countries such as the US through corporate profits, consultant salaries and other costs, vastly pushing up expenditure. For example, a road between the center of Kabul and the international airport cost the US over $2.3m per kilometer, at least four times the average cost of building a road in Afghanistan.

Around 90% of all public spending in Afghanistan comes from international aid so the massive shortfall hinders efforts to rebuild infrastructure damaged by over two decades of war, and to ensure the widespread delivery of essential services such as education and health.

The report’s author Matt Waldman, Afghanistan policy adviser at international aid agency Oxfam, said: “The reconstruction of Afghanistan requires a sustained and substantial commitment of aid - but donors have failed to meet their aid pledges to Afghanistan. Too much aid from rich countries is wasted, ineffective or uncoordinated.

“Given the slow pace of progress in Afghanistan, and the links between poverty and conflict, the international community must urgently get its act together.

“Spending on tackling poverty is a fraction of what is spent on military operations.

“While the US military is currently spending $100m a day in Afghanistan, aid spent by all donors since 2001 is on average less than a tenth of that- just $7m a day.”

The report says a level of donor under-spending can be expected because of the lack of government capacity, large-scale corruption and challenging security conditions. But the size of the shortfall highlights the importance of donors making concerted efforts to address these issues.

The report also shows that a disproportionate amount of aid follows the conflict and is being used for political and military objectives rather than reducing poverty.

Mr. Waldman said: “This is a short-sighted policy. There must be strong support for development in the south but if other provinces are neglected then insecurity could spread.”

Looking to the future of aid to Afghanistan, Mr. Waldman said: “The priority now is to increase the volume of aid and ensure it makes a sustainable difference for the poorest Afghans, especially in rural areas. Aid must address Afghan needs, build local capacities and help Afghans help themselves.”

ACBAR’s main recommendations are:

  • Increased volume of aid, particularly to rural areas.
  • Transparency by donors and improved information flows to the Afghan government.
  • Better measurement of the impact, efficiency and relevance of aid.
  • An independent commission on aid effectiveness to monitor donor performance.
  • Effective coordination between donors and with the Afghan government.

Read the report: Falling short: Aid effectiveness in Afghanistan

Notes aux rédactions

1. ACBAR – the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief - consists of 94 Agencies including Oxfam, Christian Aid, CARE, Islamic Relief and Save the Children

2. Most full-time expatriate consultants working for private companies in Afghanistan cost $250,000 to $500,000 a year, including salary, allowances and associated costs.

All figures below in $m

Donor Aid committed 2002 - 2008 vs. Aid distributed 2002 - 2008

US 10,400 vs. 5,022

European Commission 1,721 vs. 1,074

World Bank 1,604 vs. 853

UK 1,455 vs. 1,266

Germany 1,226 vs. 768

Canada 779 vs. 731

Japan 1,410 vs. 1,393

Italy 424 vs. 424

Netherlands 493 vs. 407

Norway 399 vs. 277

France 109 vs. 80

Spain 63 vs. 26


For more information, please contact:
Matt Waldman +44(0) 7812 119 615 or + 93 (0) 700 278 838
Sean Kenny +44 7881 655 715