Retired Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, has distributed a memo, which called for major changes in foreign assistance to that country.
"A significant change in contracting, management, resources, and focus of our foreign assistance, to overcome the ‘trust deficit', will help us engage the Afghan people in ways that demonstrate our commitment to promote a responsive and capable Afghan government," Eikenberry wrote.
In promoting the U.S. president's new plan for the region, Eikenberry emphasized the need for Afghans to lead development efforts, with the U.S. playing a supporting role.
The memo proposed building local capacity by empowering local leaders, purchasing local products, and increasing local procurement initiatives.
Eikenberry advocated shifting more financial aid to the Afghan government, and decentralizing field-level assistance to smaller, faster contracts and grants. The memo noted that the degree to which Afghan labor and materials are emphasized will be a key factor in awarding contracts.
"Additional assistance to Afghanistan must be accompanied by new contracting principles and delivery mechanisms to mitigate risks, and to ensure greater accountability, immediate action, and sustained commitment," Eikenberry noted.
The memo, released to diplomatic and foreign assistance personnel, further indicated that U.S. policy will no longer distinguish between counterterrorism and development operations. Rather, U.S. officials envision a "whole-of-government unity of effort approach" to the mission in Afghanistan.
Insiders speculated that the slow pace of project implementation and delayed development goals instigated the ambassador's memo.
The letter mirrored new efforts from European Union ministers to revamp Afghan assistance.
"In short, we seek a stronger and more effective Afghan-U.S. development partnership," Eikenberry wrote.
