Idea of the Day: Improve Oversight of Afghanistan Reconstruction Efforts

August 4, 2008

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Since the U.S.-led invasion of  Afghanistan, reconstruction goals have not been met due to inadequate coordination and implementation of  a reconstruction strategy insuffcient funding, the mismanagement of  reconstruction monies and corruption, the sidelining of  the Afghan government, and growing insecurity.

There are several strategies that the United States can implement in order to improve oversight of reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Legislation passed in 2007 to create an offce of  the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to monitor U.S. assistance for reconstruction. The SIGAR offce would oversee funding for all of  the U.S. agencies currently working in Afghanistan, including Defense, State, USAID, and Agriculture. The offcial should be able to perform audits and conduct investigations. Corruption and waste have siphoned off  a large amount of  U.S. aid to Afghanistan and must be stopped.

The United States can also create an expeditionary non-military force in the U.S. government. The State Department has begun to create an expeditionary non-military force for the U.S. government. Members of  this team should be deployed to Afghanistan to work on priorities of  the Afghanistan government. This could include working on Provincial Reconstruction Teams, serving as advisors and mentors in the Afghan government, assisting in alternative development projects, and more.

Finally, the United States should publicize a blacklist of  bad performers. The U.S. Agency for International Development should share its list of  poorly performing contractors and non-governmental organizations with other agencies and countries. Organizations that waste taxpayer dollars should not be given contracts repeatedly.

For more information on this topic, please see:

• Forgotten No Longer: Afghanistan by the numbers
• The Forgotten Front, by Caroline Wadhams and Lawrence J. Korb