Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations (RAMP UP) – South

The program's objective is to increase the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's (GIRoA) municipal officials, improve the delivery of municipal services to citizens, and increase municipal capacity to enable, support, and sustain economic growth. RAMP UP-South is working in six municipalities in southern Afghanistan, including Kandahar City, Lashkar Gah, Nili, Qalat, Tirin Kot, and Zaranj. The program is supporting the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) and the General Directorate of Municipal Affairs (GDMA) to increase institutional capacity to implement policy, provide resources, and increase revenue. The program's activities are focused on building institutional capacity and systems within the Afghan Government. The program's work plan for option period three, which spans from June 2013 to March 2014, outlines plans to implement the Municipal Improvement Plans (MIPs) of the six municipalities. The MIPs were developed in coordination with municipal officials and approved by IDLG and GDMA. The work plan describes how RAMP UP-South will accelerate efforts to increase institutional transparency and efficiency of key municipal systems, enhance revenue generation and local economic development opportunities, and boost public participation in governance. A key component of the RAMP UP-South implementation strategy is Afghanization, which involves building the capacity of Afghan program and municipal staff to lead implementation of program and municipal activities. The program has helped all target municipalities take concrete steps towards Afghanization, including increasing citizen trust and participation in government. The program's goal for the final nine months is to help municipalities assume ownership of each RAMP UP-South program element and ensure that the tools are in place to expand successful municipal systems at a national level. The program is committed to facilitating a streamlined transition to any follow-on governance program, including providing support through the 2014 budgeting cycle and working with GDMA and donor counterparts to make possible the national adoption of the integrated financial management system (IFMS). RAMP UP-South is also committed to promoting gender mainstreaming and expanding opportunities for women's economic autonomy and women's engagement in local governance. The program is working to engage citizens, particularly youth, in key governance issues and establish a revitalized civic pride in the municipalities. The program's work plan is a living document, and changes to planned approaches, activities, or outputs may be made based on experience in the field and the evolving needs of stakeholders. The program assumes total funding of approximately $101,046,401 through March 2014. RAMP UP-South is working to institutionalize the integrated financial management system (IFMS) and solid waste management (SWM) systems in the municipalities. The program is also promoting public private partnerships critical to local economic development and demonstrating the benefits of entering into such partnerships. The program's work to promote gender mainstreaming has resulted in increased commitment from RAMP UP-South municipalities to expand opportunities for both women's economic autonomy and women's engagement in local governance. Public outreach efforts to engage citizens, particularly youth, in key governance issues will help to establish a revitalized civic pride in the municipalities. RAMP UP-South is committed to facilitating a streamlined transition to any follow-on governance program, including providing support through the 2014 budgeting cycle and working with GDMA and donor counterparts to make possible the national adoption of IFMS.