- Environment
Environment
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Government of Afghanistan: State of Afghan Cities report 2015, February 2016
The population of Afghan cities is expected to double within the next 15 years and by 2060, one in every two Afghans will be living in cities. In order to manage such a transition accurate data and information is essential.This report provides the first-ever assessment of the conditions in all of Afghanistan’s 34 Provincial Capitals, home to over 8 million people. It shows that Afghan cities are a driving force of social and economic development, state-building and peace-building, yet their full potential has been constrained by the absence of an effective urban policy and regulatory framework, insufficient and poorly coordinated investment, and weak municipal governance and land management.Volume One is a narrative report highlighting key issues including municipal governance, the urban economy, access to land and housing and the urban environment. Volume Two contains maps and data for all 34 Provincial Capitals.
GIROA State of Afghan Cities 2015 Volume_1.pdf, GIROA State of Afghan Cities 2015 Volume_2.pdf -
Global Witness: Letter to NATO Secretary General regarding Afghanistan's natural resources governance, August 2014
Global Witness and a coalition of Afghan and international civil society organisations, including BAAG, have written to the NATO Secretary General calling for a focus on natural resources governance in the upcoming September NATO summit. With the international community placing high hopes on natural resources extraction to improve Afghanistan's economy, there are concerns that the current law, approved this month by President Karzai, does not go far enough to ensure accountability and transparency, and such ommissions may provide opportunities for increased insurgent activity in the sector.
Global Witness CSO NATO Letter 20140821.pdf -
OCHA: Situation Reports Flash Floods, April 2014
Following heavy rain since 24 April 2014, 10 provinces in the north and west of Afghanistan have been affected by deadly flash floods. Unverified sources claim 132 deaths and 39,000 Afghans requiring humanitarian assistance. OCHA produce regular 'sit reps' detailing needs and responses - attached is their 2nd update on the situation, but all further reports can be found on their Afghanistan website: https://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/
OCHA Situation Report_Afghanistan Flash Floods_28April2014_v4-3.pdf -
Global Witness: Building for the Long-term, February 2014
Global Witness' report highlights some areas of concern regarding the Afghan government's approach to extracting the country's extensive natural resources. Touted as a significant revenue stream whilst development aid levels reduce, the governance of this emerging sector is critical. The report poses various recommendations to the current government, published at a time when presidential candidates are also stating their campaign priorities.
Global Witness LONG-TERM_BUILDING_Report.pdf -
AREU: Water rights & conflict resolution processes in Afghanistan, December 2013
Recent research in Afghanistan has paid great attention to justice and dispute resolution processes related to civil and criminal issues. However, studies dealing with water-related conflicts have been extremely limited. This research is an attempt to fill this gap, and focuses specifically on water rights and the resolution of conflicts related to water-sharing at different hydraulic and social levels within the Sari-Pul sub-basin in northwestern Afghanistan. In doing so, it examines the on-going gulf between actual water management practices and the recent “good water governance” models that have been enshrined in the 2009 Water Law.
AREU Water and Conflict.pdf -
Global Witness: Analysing Afghanistan's Draft Mining Law, November 2013
Published as Afghanistan's parliament meet to discuss the proposed mining law, Global Witness's report highlights several areas of concern in the draft. These include no provision prohibiting illegal armed groups, militias or members of the national army from benefiting from mining; lack of safeguards against corruption in the bidding process for mining concessions; provisions that appear to give companies an unlimited right to use water, potentially endangering thousands of livelihoods and creating a huge risk of local conflict; and dispute resolution and local employment clauses which could exclude local communities. Read the report here.
SHAKEY_FOUNDATION_GW.pdf -
BAAG: Letter to Ministry of Mines, June 2013
BAAG and 35 international and Afghan civil society organisations petitioned the Afghan Ministry of Mines to deliver on their commitments for effective oversight of the burgeoning mining sector. The call came ahead of critical meetings in Kabul on 3rd July 2013. At the 2012 Tokyo conference, Afghanistan and its international partners agreed to develop a framework “that governs Afghanistan’s natural wealth through an accountable, efficient and transparent mechanism which builds upon and surpasses international best practices.” The civil society organisations responded to concerns that this could be interpreted as nothing more than publishing mining revenues.A further letter was sent to the international partners party to the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework. Read the letters in full here.
Civil Society Letter to MoM June 2013.pdf, Letter to International TMAF partners re mining June 13.pdf -
Integrity Watch Afghanistan: Hajigak - the Jewel of Afghan Mines , July 2011
IWA reports on the potential opportunities - and risks - linked to plans to exploit Afghanistan’s largest iron mine.
Hajigak - the Jewel of Afghan Mine July 2011.pdf