by Commander Michael Hallett, Small Wars Journal
New Potentials for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (Full PDF Article)
The promulgation of the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS) as the overarching reconstruction and development policy guidance in conjunction with the development of Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GOIRA) capabilities over the past 6 years, (as seen in the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the 2007 creation of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG)) has significantly influenced the Afghan environmental dynamics and has thus created new opportunities for PRTs to engage in governance support activities.
Responding to this situation, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Strategic Vision issued at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008 said the following on PRTs: "Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) play a significant role in enabling security, governance and development. We pledge to provide all the PRTs need, enhance their unity of effort, strengthen their civilian component and further align their development strategies with Afghan Government priorities until such a time as Afghan Government institutions are strong enough to render PRTs unnecessary." Enabling this ultimate transition requires that PRTs shift from helping the people of Afghanistan directly through activities like project, funding, medical assistance and disaster relief materials provision to supporting the government of Afghanistan in executing these activities. Or, as some have put it, Afghan government capabilities have advanced to the point that it is "time to take off the training wheels".
New Potentials for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (Full PDF Article)
