Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KABUL433
2010-02-03 09:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
AVIPA PLUS PROGRESS IN RC-SOUTH
VZCZCXRO3418 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBUL #0433/01 0340946 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 030946Z FEB 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5361 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000433
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INR/B
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR PREL AF
SUBJECT: AVIPA PLUS PROGRESS IN RC-SOUTH
REF: A. (A) 09 KABUL 3739
B. (B) 09 KABUL 2939
KABUL 00000433 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000433
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INR/B
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR PREL AF
SUBJECT: AVIPA PLUS PROGRESS IN RC-SOUTH
REF: A. (A) 09 KABUL 3739
B. (B) 09 KABUL 2939
KABUL 00000433 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary. The visibility of the USAID-funded
Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Production in Agriculture
Plus (AVIPA Plus) program is growing in Regional
Command-South (RC-South),and we are seeing progress in seven
key districts in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. AVIPA Plus
is a key stabilization program to bring agricultural
development to recently cleared districts in RC-South. The
carrot of receiving cash and critical agricultural inputs
with future benefits to their livelihoods is contributing to
the shaping operations and stability within RC-South. Paras
3-5 contain anecdotal examples of AVIPA Plus accomplishments.
End Summary.
AVIPA PLUS IN RC-SOUTH
--------------
2. (SBU) AVIPA Plus operates in seven districts in RC-SOUTH:
Kandahar province ) Arghandab and Spin Boldak and Helmand
province ) Nad Ali, Nawa, Garmsir, Nahr-e Saraj, and Lashkar
Gah. It is poised to commence operations in two other
districts within Kandahar: District Eight of Kandahar City
and Zhari. AVIPA Plus is implemented by International Relief
and Development (IRD),an international NGO, and programming
consists of four components: cash-for-work, training, small
grants, and vouchers for agricultural inputs.
FIGHTING THE TALIBAN WITH AVIPA IN NAD ALI
--------------
3. (SBU) Following a recent clearing operation to prepare for
military operations in Marjah, villagers approached the
District governor to register for cash-for-work programs
under AVIPA Plus. A few after registering, the local Taliban
villagers began to intimidate the villagers and left night
letters at the homes of elders. Elders have welcomed
economic support to their areas, including AVIPA Plus, and
reported to the U.S. staffed-Nad Ali District Support Team
(DST) that they went to the Taliban leaders to negotiate with
them. In the meeting, the elders questioned the insurgents
why their village should not receive the same work benefits
as other villages in the district. The elders told the
Taliban leaders that they would not obey their directive and
instead if they tried to prevent the villagers from taking
part in the AVIPA Plus program, they would raise a force in
opposition to the insurgents. (Note: Residents of Nad Ali
are fully aware of the widely publicized upcoming operations
in Marjah, a community near the district center. End Note)
LAYING DOWN ARMS FOR WAGES IN NAWA, HELMAND
--------------
4. (SBU) Since September 2009, AVIPA Plus has provided
approximately 1900 Afghans with short term cash for work
opportunities, with plans to employ 4000 in the near future.
Project locations have focused on secure areas near the
district center, but as the Community Council and District
Governor have begun to take greater responsibility for
assigning projects and holding communities accountable for
security, there is concerted effort by the DST and
implementing partners to expand geographical coverage.
Insurgents have reportedly begun laying down arms, choosing
to participate in the certainty of cash for work wages rather
than face the dangers of the upcoming operations. (Note: The
population centers of Nad Ali and Nawa are contiguous, with
senior tribal elders of Nawa having great influence over
nearby Marjah. End Note) By working closely with the DSTs,
the AVIPA Plus program is contributing to the shaping
operations in Nad Ali.
PROGRESS IN ARGHANDAB
--------------
5. (SBU) In the Nagahan area of western Arghandab district,
villagers have reacted positively to AVIPA Plus program,
launched by the Provincial Governor in the district in
November 2009. Through cash-for-work, approximately 1800
local villagers have been employed to do orchard management
projects, such as removing dead fruit and underbrush. AVIPA
Plus also brought agriculture experts from the local
university to teach orchard owners how to properly prune
their trees that will result in higher, noticeable yields.
The program works closely with the USAID-funded Afghanistan
Stability Initiative (ASI) program, which focuses on
non-agriculture needs, to provide stability projects in the
valley. Western Arghandab Valley has been a no-go area due
to the high level of insecurity; since last September,
village elders have been repeatedly told that security must
KABUL 00000433 002.2 OF 002
be improved before any assistance would arrive. In recent
weeks, U.S. Special Forces moved into Adira village,
indicating significantly improved security, paving the way
for continued engagement with GIRoA and for ASI and AVIPA
Plus to program in the district.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) AVIPA Plus activities are having a positive impact
throughout key areas of RC-South. The carrot of receiving
cash and critical agricultural inputs with future benefits to
their livelihoods is contributing to the shaping operations
and stability within RC-South. We will continue to build on
these initial steps and expand the program to support
governance and development efforts in the South.
Eikenberry
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INR/B
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA
USFOR-A FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR PREL AF
SUBJECT: AVIPA PLUS PROGRESS IN RC-SOUTH
REF: A. (A) 09 KABUL 3739
B. (B) 09 KABUL 2939
KABUL 00000433 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary. The visibility of the USAID-funded
Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Production in Agriculture
Plus (AVIPA Plus) program is growing in Regional
Command-South (RC-South),and we are seeing progress in seven
key districts in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. AVIPA Plus
is a key stabilization program to bring agricultural
development to recently cleared districts in RC-South. The
carrot of receiving cash and critical agricultural inputs
with future benefits to their livelihoods is contributing to
the shaping operations and stability within RC-South. Paras
3-5 contain anecdotal examples of AVIPA Plus accomplishments.
End Summary.
AVIPA PLUS IN RC-SOUTH
--------------
2. (SBU) AVIPA Plus operates in seven districts in RC-SOUTH:
Kandahar province ) Arghandab and Spin Boldak and Helmand
province ) Nad Ali, Nawa, Garmsir, Nahr-e Saraj, and Lashkar
Gah. It is poised to commence operations in two other
districts within Kandahar: District Eight of Kandahar City
and Zhari. AVIPA Plus is implemented by International Relief
and Development (IRD),an international NGO, and programming
consists of four components: cash-for-work, training, small
grants, and vouchers for agricultural inputs.
FIGHTING THE TALIBAN WITH AVIPA IN NAD ALI
--------------
3. (SBU) Following a recent clearing operation to prepare for
military operations in Marjah, villagers approached the
District governor to register for cash-for-work programs
under AVIPA Plus. A few after registering, the local Taliban
villagers began to intimidate the villagers and left night
letters at the homes of elders. Elders have welcomed
economic support to their areas, including AVIPA Plus, and
reported to the U.S. staffed-Nad Ali District Support Team
(DST) that they went to the Taliban leaders to negotiate with
them. In the meeting, the elders questioned the insurgents
why their village should not receive the same work benefits
as other villages in the district. The elders told the
Taliban leaders that they would not obey their directive and
instead if they tried to prevent the villagers from taking
part in the AVIPA Plus program, they would raise a force in
opposition to the insurgents. (Note: Residents of Nad Ali
are fully aware of the widely publicized upcoming operations
in Marjah, a community near the district center. End Note)
LAYING DOWN ARMS FOR WAGES IN NAWA, HELMAND
--------------
4. (SBU) Since September 2009, AVIPA Plus has provided
approximately 1900 Afghans with short term cash for work
opportunities, with plans to employ 4000 in the near future.
Project locations have focused on secure areas near the
district center, but as the Community Council and District
Governor have begun to take greater responsibility for
assigning projects and holding communities accountable for
security, there is concerted effort by the DST and
implementing partners to expand geographical coverage.
Insurgents have reportedly begun laying down arms, choosing
to participate in the certainty of cash for work wages rather
than face the dangers of the upcoming operations. (Note: The
population centers of Nad Ali and Nawa are contiguous, with
senior tribal elders of Nawa having great influence over
nearby Marjah. End Note) By working closely with the DSTs,
the AVIPA Plus program is contributing to the shaping
operations in Nad Ali.
PROGRESS IN ARGHANDAB
--------------
5. (SBU) In the Nagahan area of western Arghandab district,
villagers have reacted positively to AVIPA Plus program,
launched by the Provincial Governor in the district in
November 2009. Through cash-for-work, approximately 1800
local villagers have been employed to do orchard management
projects, such as removing dead fruit and underbrush. AVIPA
Plus also brought agriculture experts from the local
university to teach orchard owners how to properly prune
their trees that will result in higher, noticeable yields.
The program works closely with the USAID-funded Afghanistan
Stability Initiative (ASI) program, which focuses on
non-agriculture needs, to provide stability projects in the
valley. Western Arghandab Valley has been a no-go area due
to the high level of insecurity; since last September,
village elders have been repeatedly told that security must
KABUL 00000433 002.2 OF 002
be improved before any assistance would arrive. In recent
weeks, U.S. Special Forces moved into Adira village,
indicating significantly improved security, paving the way
for continued engagement with GIRoA and for ASI and AVIPA
Plus to program in the district.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) AVIPA Plus activities are having a positive impact
throughout key areas of RC-South. The carrot of receiving
cash and critical agricultural inputs with future benefits to
their livelihoods is contributing to the shaping operations
and stability within RC-South. We will continue to build on
these initial steps and expand the program to support
governance and development efforts in the South.
Eikenberry