The Ministry of Economy, in a recently released document, has requested that UN agencies, the European Union, and other non-governmental donor organizations in Afghanistan shift their focus from humanitarian aid to development assistance.
This document which was issued last month (June 4), urged donor organizations to consider balance, transparency, public satisfaction, and the laws of the Islamic Emirate when planning and implementing projects.
Abdul Latif Nazari, the Deputy Minister of Economy, said: “We ask related UN agencies, the European Union, and other organizations to focus on shifting projects from humanitarian to developmental and to implement these projects in less-developed areas.”
The document attributed the delay in signing some agreements to high administrative costs and asked all NGO workers to obtain work permits.
Some analysts view the implementation of infrastructural projects instead of humanitarian aid as effective because it creates job opportunities in the country.
“Every country acts based on its national interests and formulates procedures. Over the past 20 years, and even today, aid organizations have not been able to help people transparently,” said Abdul Nasir Reshtia, an economic analyst.
“Humanitarian aid can be a temporary relief but not a solution. Alongside focusing on a consumer economy that increases people’s purchasing power, we should also emphasize a productive economy and develop infrastructures for long-term results,” said Abdul Zuhoor Mudaber, another economic analyst.
The Ministry of Economy has always stressed the continuation of UN humanitarian aid to eliminate poverty in the country and has called for the release of Afghanistan’s frozen funds by the United States.