EMBASSY KABUL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING GOVERNANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001986

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG,
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV EAID AF
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KABUL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING GOVERNANCE
IN AFGHANISTAN

Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) Post has developed a Sub-national Governance Strategy
Paper (shared with Department and NSC) to both guide USG
efforts and encourage greater international investment and
coordination in support for governance -- to complement the
significant increase in investments being made in the
security activities. The plan's key principles and elements
are reflected in this message, whic we hope will be
incorporated into Washington discussions on how to strengthen
governance in Afghanistan.


2. (C) Governance in Afghanistan depends on a revitalized and
strengthened social contract between citizens and the
government, consistent both with Afghan traditions and the
constitution. Before Afghans, including traditional leaders,
will be willing to work in partnership with the government,
they must have confidence the government will be a reliable,
effective, accountable and inclusive partner. The government
will earn this trust by demonstrating it is able to provide a
level of security, deliver core services (particularly health
and education),and dispense justice. Progress in these
areas will make it easier for citizens and local leaders to
turn away from alternatives (warlords, druglords, and the
Taliban) that have become institutionalized and which both
undermine legitimate state functions and in some cases fuel
the insurgency.


3. (U) The Embassy's strategy has three major components:
strengthening the state institutions to ensure they are able
to meet their responsibilities; providing support for the
services which the state is expected to deliver; and
encouraging outreach with the traditional and local leaders
in order to facilitate a partnership with the state. Ongoing
efforts to strengthen institutions at the central level are
being complemented by new initiatives at the provincial and
district levels. These include a new Provincial Governance
Fund to encourage and help sustain improved performance by
governors as well as significant expansion of existing
programs at the provincial, district and community levels.


4. (U) The second element provides for major support for the
core services expected from the state, including health,
education and municipal services. Under the social contract
understood by Afghans, the state's ability and willingness to
deliver these services, along with security and basic
justice, will determine citizens' and local leaders'
willingness form a partnership. Under the constitution,
these services will be funded through the line ministries,
which operate at the provincial and district levels. These
ministry functions will be strengthened, along with their
links to representative bodies, including the elected
Provincial Councils and Community Development Councils.


5. (U) The strategy also addresses the need for active
outreach to and inclusion of those currently not part of the
government process. Specific targets are traditional and
local leaders who themselves have found their own roles and
influence weakened by years of political disruption and
violence. In many cases they face a choice between
illegitimate power bases (warlords, druglords, and the
Taliban) and state institutions. Programs will work through
still-fragile district and community-level institutions to
both extend the services and influence of the state and at
the same time incorporate the legitimate local leadership.
These programs will support the GOA's efforts to extend the
network of 17,000 Community Development Councils -- widely
regarded as a success story. It also includes an effort led
by President Karzai,s Chief of Staff to encourage
partnerships with traditional leaders.


6. (SBU) Efforts will be intensified to fight the corruption
which is endemic in Afghanistan. The Government must prove
it is willing to be accountable and is able to deliver
justice if citizens and local leaders are to give it their
allegiance. Corruption will not be a discrete item on the
agenda at the International conference in Rome this July, but

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the conference is designed to give donor efforts in the area
of Rule of Law greater coherence and leverage. This will
facilitate the campaign to address the corruption issue.


7. (U) The U.S. is acknowledged to have the lead on
governance policy in Afghanistan. Success depends on our
long term strategy and investments, but we need to encourage
other donors to do their part. We are using the JCMB
process, established in the London Compact, to encourage
other donors to play a more active role and to reinforce that
Afghans have a stake and sense of ownership in the processes,
institutions, and services being developed.
WOOD