Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations (RAMP UP) – RC East Monthly Report: February 2011

The program is comprised of three distinct components, each focused on a specific goal. Component 1 aims to build the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) officials at the municipal level. This component provides a combination of on-the-job mentoring, training, and advisory technical support to enhance the skills, capabilities, and knowledge of municipal staff. The goal is to enable more visible, responsive, and accountable governance at the municipal level. Component 2 supports the GIRoA in providing responsive, effective, and visible municipal service delivery programs. Activities under this component assist municipalities in delivering visible, tangible, and desirable services to citizens in the form of municipal service delivery projects. These projects aim to improve the daily lives of citizens and increase their satisfaction and confidence in their municipal government. Component 3 focuses on supporting the GIRoA to improve economic development and revenue generation at the municipal level. Activities under this component directly support the growth of local economic development and strengthen revenue generation, enabling municipalities to finance their public services and operating costs. RAMP UP East operates in all 14 provincial capitals, excluding Kabul city, within the provinces comprising ISAF Regional Command East. The program works in key terrain districts, which are defined as areas with high population concentration, economic productivity, and key infrastructure. Nine of the 14 target municipalities for RAMP UP East are located within key terrain districts. The program's target municipalities include Asadabad (Kunar), Mahmud i Raqi (Kapisa), Bamiyan (Bamiyan), Charikar (Parwan), Gardez (Paktya), Ghazni (Ghazni), Jalalabad (Nangarhar), Khost (Khost), Pul-e-Alam (Logar), and Sharana (Paktika). RAMP UP East activities in the municipality of Parun (Nuristan) are currently on hold due to logistical and security issues. RAMP UP East's activities under Components 1 and 2 aim to strengthen municipal capacity and service delivery, while activities under Component 3 utilize the developed capacity to improve economic development and revenue generation. The program's ultimate goal is to establish effective, responsive, and accountable municipal governance in the target municipalities, enabling them to provide better services to their citizens and improve their overall quality of life.