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On 29 May, a Latvia-financed development co-operation project in Afghanistan came to a close[1]. Within the framework of the project, a spring water storage and supply system was installed in three villages - Sayed Kojan, Dalan, and Khoshbay – of the Almar district in Faryab Province. Troops of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) are also stationed in Faryab Province.
With the implementation of this project, roughly 4800 people in these villages are provided with potable water. Potable water is also fed to a school of about 1300 schoolchildren. The project was realised within six months and its expenses total 58,044 USD (approximately 31 thousand LVL). The project received 50,000 USD (25 thousand LVL) from the Foreign Ministry development co-operation budget while the remaining amount was contributed from local resources - through village community participation in the project implementation.[2]
It was initially scheduled to complete the project as early as the end of April. However, in accordance with the application from The Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development (ACTED)[3], the extension of the project implementation period until 31 May was approved on 1 May. The reason for the extension of the implementation period was the delay in works due to a severe winter. The delivery of the project to the development committees of the involved villages has already taken place, and on 3 June the project was accepted also by the Almar district. The agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the ACTED provides that the project's final report is to be submitted within a month after the project completion date, on 30 June.
This is Latvia's first development co-operation project in Afghanistan, which demonstrates Latvia's ability to offer aid also to countries that are outside the traditional group of development co-operation target-states. The project was implemented under extremely difficult circumstances: in a country with ongoing military operations, where currently no Latvian NGO's are present. Project realisation was possible due to the development co-operation budget funding and the combined efforts of diplomats and National Armed Forces troops.
Development co-operation projects are a part of the planned vectors of action for Latvia's involvement in rebuilding Afghanistan as determined by the Cabinet of Ministers regulations No. 712 of 15 November 2007 On guidelines for comprehensive involvement of Latvia in the restoration of Afghanistan 2007-2013. The Foreign Ministry also plans to continue work on development co-operation projects in Afghanistan next year.
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[1] Agreements between the Foreign Ministry of Latvia and an NGO The Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development (ACTED, France) on the implementation of a Latvia-financed development co-operation project in Afghanistan were concluded on 6 December 2007 in Kabul.
[2] Given the contribution of the village community, there exists a stronger possibility that the end product will be utilised in accordance with its purpose, and will be properly maintained.
[3] ACTED is a non-governmental organisation operating in Afghanistan since 1993. Since 1996, it has extended its activities also to the region of Central Asia, as well as to the Balkans, to the Middle East, etc. (a total of 20 countries). Its headquarters are located in Paris. On the average, ACTED implements 150 projects per year in areas such as emergency relief, food provision, health support, economic development, education, etc. ACTED co-operates with several donors, including the European Commission, the Government development agencies of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland and France, and other multilateral and bilateral donors.
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