"Significant corruption challenges hindering progress in Afghanistan's development"
In the heart of Afghanistan, land distribution and real estate have become a political battleground for elites, exacerbating the struggles of the country's impoverished population. This corruption-ridden sector is a significant obstacle to development, with forms such as bribery, abuse of office, nepotism, and hindrance of humanitarian aid through corruption networks causing severe damage to the country's infrastructure, healthcare, and access to essential services.
The international military forces have maintained a perception that corruption is an inherent aspect of Afghan culture, a destructive narrative that undermines efforts to combat corruption. Afghanistan, however, is officially a sovereign nation with an elected government, but the legitimacy of this government is being questioned due to allegations of fraud in the last elections.
The economy of Afghanistan is weak and underdeveloped, with the black economy surpassing the legal one. Corruption affects the lives of Afghan citizens by creating barriers to accessing basic public services, as they are often required to pay bribes for documents like ID cards and driving licenses. The high price of oil and petrol in Afghanistan, with a large portion of the cost going unaccounted for, raises questions about where the money is going and who is benefiting.
The withdrawal of international military forces from Afghanistan is expected to lead to an economic crisis due to the significant impact of their budget on the country's GDP. The mining sector, in particular, is becoming increasingly vulnerable to corruption and needs attention to prevent future consequences arising from irresponsible exploitation of natural resources.
The General Independent Anti-Corruption Agency (GIAC) was dismantled by the Afghan Government due to political bias and corruption within the organization. However, efforts to combat corruption continue, with organisations like Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) working tirelessly to improve accessibility to and efficiency of public services, ensure correct spending of funds in infrastructure projects, and encourage communities to monitor infrastructure projects and find solutions to problems.
IWA, led by Director Yama Torabi, conducts nationwide surveys showing that Afghan citizens consider corruption as the third most important problem in the country. The organisation often works with government bodies, the media, donor agencies, and other partners to make a difference in the fight against corruption.
Despite these efforts, there is no trust between the people and the government in Afghanistan, and citizens do not believe in the anti-corruption efforts of the government. The lack of accountability for funds from the international community is a significant issue, with funds often being spent uncontrolled and contributing to corruption at local levels. A joint Afghan-international committee was established in April 2011 for thorough monitoring and evaluation of the devolution of funds every three months.
In the midst of these challenges, institutions like the National Environmental Agency (NAE) and the Ministry of Mines are making progress in transparency and environmental awareness. The Ministry of Mines, in particular, shows promise in its efforts to ensure responsible exploitation of natural resources.
The strong ambivalence towards corruption in Afghan society, with people often tolerating and accepting it due to the context in which they find themselves, makes the fight against corruption a complex and ongoing battle. Yet, organisations like IWA remain committed to making a difference and ensuring a brighter, more corruption-free future for Afghanistan.
