Poland has been involved in development co-operation with Afghanistan since 2002. Polish aid, administrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is mainly channelled bilaterally through NGOs, Polish Military Contingent and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kabul. Between 2004
and 2008 over 60 projects were implemented. Their total cost amounted to EUR 5.7 million.

Polish support to Afghanistan is focused on specific areas:

• strengthening of state structures and civil society;
• diversification of economy;
• access to potable water;
• health protection;
• education.

Until 2008 the majority of projects concerned construction and modernisation of schools and health centres, support of agricultural education and construction of water pumps. In 2008, in order to strengthen the Afghan state structure, Poland organised the first edition of Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise (S.E.N.S.E). Participants (over 40 representatives of government, media and NGOs) received hands-on experience in the field of managing the process of economic transformation as well as governing democratic state.

In 2009 the volume of bilateral assistance to Afghanistan shall increase up to EUR 8 million (PLN 40 mln).[1] Most of the funds will be allocated to projects implemented by experts within the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Ghazni. Poland has been a part of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2002.

The projects of Polish team in PRT in Ghazni to be implemented in 2009 include:

• infrastructural projects (modernisation of road network and extension of power network in Ghazni province, providing equipment to radio and TV broadcasting station in Ghazni);
• health-care support (medical equipment for the provincial hospital in Ghazni);
• organisation of public space (equipment for district centre in Jaghori, reconstruction of bazaar in Gelan, landscaping items - green areas in Ghazni city).

Until 10 October 2009 37 project proposals of the Polish team within PRT Ghazni amounting to
6,4 mln USD were accepted.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland implements 10 assistance projects whose total cost amounts to over 242 thousand EUR in 2009. Furthermore, development and reconstruction activities in Afghanistan co-financed by the MFA are also conducted by 2 Polish NGOs: Polish Humanitarian Organisation and Association "Peace for Education".

Moreover, Poland provides assistance to Afghanistan through voluntary contributions to international institutions and organisations, whose total value between 2004 and 2008 amounted to USD 3,5 million. In 2009 more than USD 2,6 million was transferred via Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Food Programme (WFP), NATO/ISAF Post-Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund and United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

[1] This is the amount was earmarked in the budget bill for Afghanistan. However, it should be borne in mind that in practice in can be lower due to the savings made by the government as a result of the economic crisis.   

In 2008, PLN 8.5 million was allocated for the development assistance provided to Afghanistan.