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Afghanistan National Strategy for Combating Corruption
Pillar 1: Political Leadership and Empowered Reformers
In Afghanistan, top-level political commitment to fight corruption and restore integrity in government is crucial. However, to translate these commitments into effective reforms, it’s essential to protect reformers and promote reform networks.
Key Actions (2017-2019)
- Conduct annual national outreach and feedback discussions on the anti-corruption strategy led by the President and CEO
- Hold a national consultative conference on ensuring electoral integrity for the 2019 presidential election
- Advance the use of biometric electronic voting technology in all large cities
- Enforce full (100%) compliance with asset disclosure and verification requirements for senior officials
- Support parliamentary leadership to develop an anti-corruption action plan for the Parliament and support its implementation
Pillar 2: Ending Corruption in the Security Sector
Afghanistan’s security sector employs over 350,000 people and receives billions of dollars in international and domestic funds every year. Reforming this sector will be a key driver in the fight against corruption.
Challenges
- Corruption in the defense forces costs lives and territory
- Corruption in the police forces and defense costs the lives and trust of the people
Pillar 2: Reforming the Security Sector
The security sector’s anti-corruption plan consists of five elements:
- Creating a clear appointments process
- Ensuring a transparent defense planning and budgetary process
- Instituting civilian fiduciary oversight control systems
- Eliminating ghost soldiers and police officers
- Expanding the security sector’s dialogue with civil society
Specific Actions (2017-2019)
- Competent and qualified leadership in the Ministry of Interior
- Provide guidelines and audit senior security-related appointments
- Strengthen an Independent Board for Senior Security Official Appointments
- Monitor enforcement of strengthened “open government” laws in the revenue and high spending ministries
Pillar 3: Providing Exemplary Leadership
Political leaders must enlist the population in the fight against corruption. Strengthening value-driven politics will require conversations and consensus among the younger generation of political leaders and activists.
Key Commitments
- The President will take the lead in setting the moral standard not only in Kabul but also bring up the themes of anti-corruption and moral renewal during provincial visits across the country
- High-level commitment to the rule of law, further transparency in government operations, increased engagement with the media, enhanced support from religious and business leaders, continued freedom for advocacy and whistleblower groups, and more public awareness of civil rights are key to increasing government accountability.