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

The program will increase the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) municipal officials, markedly improve the delivery of municipal services to citizens in target municipalities, and increase municipal capacity to enable, support, and sustain economic growth. RAMP UP North provides assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan under three primary objectives, or components, each of which has a distinct Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) and is tied to a specific goal. The first objective, CLIN 1, focuses on capacity building of GIRoA officials at the municipal level. This includes on-the-job mentorship, training, and advising to enable more visible, responsive, and accountable governance at the municipal level. The second objective, CLIN 2, supports the GIRoA to provide responsive, effective, and visible municipal service delivery programs. Activities carried out under CLIN 2 support municipalities in delivering visible, tangible, and desirable services to citizens in the form of municipal service delivery projects. These projects fill two purposes: they provide citizens with marked improvements in daily life, helping them gain satisfaction with and confidence in their municipal government, and they build capacity with a clear learning-by-doing approach, solidifying the GIRoA's capacity to sustainably deliver services to citizens in the long term. The third objective, CLIN 3, supports the GIRoA to improve economic development and revenue generation at the municipal level. Activities implemented under this CLIN directly support the growth of local economic development and strengthening of revenue generation, and thereby the municipality's ability to finance its service offerings and operating costs. As RAMP UP North activities under CLINs 1 and 2 strengthen municipal capacity and service delivery, activities under CLIN 3 use the capacity, service improvements, and infrastructure to facilitate business growth and job creation. RAMP UP North will achieve its objectives through a combination of on-the-job mentorship, training, and advising, as well as the implementation of municipal service delivery projects and economic development initiatives. The program will focus on building the capacity of municipal officials, managers, and technicians to perform their core municipal management responsibilities, and will work to improve the delivery of municipal services to citizens in target municipalities. The program will also focus on increasing municipal capacity to enable, support, and sustain economic growth. This will be achieved through the implementation of economic development initiatives, such as business growth and job creation, and through the strengthening of revenue generation and local economic development. By achieving these objectives, RAMP UP North will contribute to the creation of effective, responsive, democratic, transparent, and accountable municipal governance in the four provinces that comprise the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF's) Regional Command North. RAMP UP North will work closely with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as with other stakeholders, including the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations. The program will be implemented over a period of time, with regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure that its objectives are being met. The program's success will be measured through a range of indicators, including the capacity of municipal officials, the delivery of municipal services, and the growth of local economic development. By achieving its objectives, RAMP UP North will contribute to the creation of a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan, and will help to build the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to deliver effective and accountable governance to its citizens. RAMP UP North will also work to improve the lives of Afghan citizens, particularly in the areas of municipal service delivery and economic development. The program will focus on building the capacity of municipal officials, managers, and technicians to perform their core municipal management responsibilities, and will work to improve the delivery of municipal services to citizens in target municipalities. The program's success will be measured through a range of indicators, including the capacity of municipal officials, the delivery of municipal services, and the growth of local economic development. By achieving its