AFGHANISTAN-DENMARK PARTNERSHIP

The strategy establishes the main lines and the frames of Danish development cooperation with Afghanistan for the 2005-09 period, and also presents the full range of Danish efforts – humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, refugees in the countries close by and returned from Denmark, NGO assistance and the military effort.

In spite of great progress, Afghanistan is still in a post-conflict situation with the risk of taking a step backwards. The security situation remains unstable in large parts of the country, and Afghanistan is facing large-scale social and economic challenges to lifting the Afghan population out of poverty. Danish development cooperation with Afghanistan is intended to create improvements in the living conditions of the poor and respect for individual rights, including the rights of women.

Danmark and Afghanistan are in agreement to continue prioritising human rights and democratisation, reconstruction and public sector reform, education, improving the living conditions of the rural population, region of origin efforts for refugees and the internally displaced, and humanitarian efforts. There will be emphasis on strengthening national ownership, furthering development assistance coordination, and reducing the administrative burdens of the Afghan government.