Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations – Regional Command North Monthly Report: July 2011

The program, also known as RAMP UP North, seeks to increase the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) municipal officials, improve the delivery of municipal services to citizens, and increase municipal capacity to enable, support, and sustain economic growth. RAMP UP North provides assistance to the GIRoA under three primary objectives, or components, each tied to a specific goal. The first objective, CLIN 1, focuses on capacity building of GIRoA officials at the municipal level. This involves on-the-job mentorship, training, and advising to enhance the capacity of municipal officials, managers, and technicians to perform their core municipal management responsibilities. The second objective, CLIN 2, supports the GIRoA in providing responsive, effective, and visible municipal service delivery programs. Activities under this component support municipalities in delivering visible, tangible, and desirable services to citizens through municipal service delivery projects. These projects aim to improve daily life for citizens and 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, focuses on supporting the GIRoA to improve economic development and revenue generation at the municipal level. Activities implemented under this component directly support the growth of local economic development and revenue generation. This includes providing training and technical assistance to municipal officials to help them develop and implement effective economic development strategies. RAMP UP North targets nine provinces in Regional Command North, including Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Mazar-e-Sharif, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, and Takhar. The program aims to improve the lives of Afghan citizens by providing better services, increasing transparency and accountability, and promoting economic growth. Implementation of RAMP UP North involves a range of activities, including introductory meetings with mayors, internal and external surveys, civil society and business community surveys, and expeditious projects. The program also focuses on building the capacity of municipal officials through training and technical assistance. The program's target municipalities include Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Mazar-e-Sharif, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, and Takhar. The program aims to improve the delivery of municipal services, increase municipal capacity, and promote economic growth in these municipalities. RAMP UP North is implemented by DAI, a contractor under a contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program is funded by USAID and is part of the USAID/Afghanistan portfolio. The program's success is measured through a range of indicators, including the capacity of municipal officials, the delivery of municipal services, and the promotion of economic growth. Overall, RAMP UP North is a critical program aimed at improving the lives of Afghan citizens by promoting effective, responsive, democratic, transparent, and accountable municipal governance in the nine provinces of Regional Command North.