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India and Afghanistan sign pact on local governance

NEW DELHI: India and Afghanistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for setting up of a Joint Working Group on local governance.

The MoU was signed by Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Afghanistan Mohammad Ehsan Zia in Kabul on Saturday.

The Joint Working Group on local governance will recommend a schedule of activities for bilateral exchanges between the two countries to the Joint Forum on local governance, with the two Ministers as its co-chairs.

This will include technical assistance programmes for strengthening local self-governance in Afghanistan, including capacity building of individuals, institutions, and elected representatives of local administration focussing on areas relating to micro-planning, devolution of powers and funds as well as mobilisation of resources.

During his three-day visit to Afghanistan, Mr. Aiyar will tour some local level community development programmes in Kapisa and Pagham provinces for gaining first hand knowledge of the functioning of the existing institutions. He will also co-chair a symposium on sub-national governance.

India has a robust assistance programme for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, with commitments of over $850 million.

Mr. Aiyar’s visit will focus on India’s assistance programme particularly institutional linkages and capacity development between the sub-national institutes of the two countries at the village, district and provincial level.

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