Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations – RC West Final Report: March 2011– March 2014

The program was implemented from March 2011 to March 2014 and focused on building the capacity of municipalities to deliver core services to citizens. The program's mission was to create and improve effective, responsive, democratic, transparent, and accountable municipal governance in urban areas of Afghanistan. To achieve this goal, RAMP UP West implemented a range of activities, including establishing baselines, developing municipal management and capacity building plans, building Afghan training capacity for municipalities, delivering core skills, and supporting performance-based budgeting. One of the key accomplishments of the program was the establishment of baselines, which provided a foundation for measuring progress and evaluating the effectiveness of the program. The program also developed municipal management and capacity building plans, which helped to identify areas for improvement and prioritize interventions. Additionally, RAMP UP West built Afghan training capacity for municipalities, delivered core skills, and supported performance-based budgeting. The program also focused on improving service delivery, promoting public engagement and citizen participation, and developing service delivery improvement plans. RAMP UP West implemented service delivery improvement plans, improved municipal performance management systems, and developed municipal master land use plans. The program also strengthened Afghan implementing partners and established citizen service centers. In terms of revenue collection, the program achieved significant results, with a 27% increase in revenue collection compared to the baseline. The program also increased household and business registration, developed municipal economic development plans, and strengthened municipal capacity to support economic development. Additionally, RAMP UP West improved municipal services to business, leveraged municipal assets for economic growth, and generated greater awareness about innovative public-private partnerships. However, the program faced several challenges, including budget constraints and uncertainty, USAID staff turnover, and the failure to pass the new municipal law. The program also encountered difficulties in coordinating with other sub-national governance programs and public-private partnerships. Additionally, the program faced challenges in communicating with municipalities and dealing with turnover of mayors. Despite these challenges, RAMP UP West made significant progress in building the capacity of municipalities to deliver core services to citizens. The program's accomplishments demonstrate the importance of investing in municipal governance and capacity building in urban areas of Afghanistan. The lessons learned from the program can inform future initiatives aimed at improving municipal governance and service delivery in Afghanistan.