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Afghanistan

Collective Commitment to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies: Afghanistan Report, April 2017

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Executive Summary

This report presents findings from the Afghanistan case study for the Collective Resolution to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies (CREATE) initiative, led by Transparency International. The goal of the study was to produce an evidence base concerning corruption risks and prevention and mitigation measures in relation to the implementation of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. In its mapping of corruption risks, the study describes those corruption risks that are well-documented by existing empirical studies as well as perceived risks, as perceived by the stakeholders consulted.

Considerable research suggests that corruption is deeply entrenched in the economy and systems of governance in Afghanistan. The country ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, at 166 out of 167 on the 2015 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Previous studies have also found that the humanitarian sector is significantly affected. A 2007 study, Corruption Perceptions and Risks in Humanitarian Assistance, found a ‘devastating’ picture and called for more concerted action on the part of the government, aid agencies and donors to address corruption risks.

This study sought to generate additional evidence on current general patterns of perceived corruption risks within the humanitarian sector in Afghanistan and to capture the mitigation measures being utilised. The research consisted of over 120 key-informant interviews and community consultations and focused on three key sectors: food, shelter and health. It took place in three provinces – Badakhshan, Herat and Nangarhar – as well as Kabul. In addition to the interviews and consultations, the study draws on material from the three-year Secure Access in Volatile Environments (SAVE) study, which looked at corruption as a factor affecting humanitarian access in Afghanistan’s insecure provinces. It also compares the findings with and situates them within those of other relevant studies on corruption in Afghanistan as well as other sources summarised in a background report produced for the project.

The research team was supported by a stakeholder group consisting of key actors within the humanitarian community working in Afghanistan. This group met in Kabul to initiate the research in March 2016 and in November that year to discuss the findings and recommendations, before finalising the report.