Remote monitoring could well be the future for U.S. development programs in Afghanistan.
At least that’s the message from some officials who are optimistic that remote monitoring — the variety of techniques that allow limited monitoring to continue when visiting a project’s physical location may be too risky — can help them continue oversight of foreign assistance programs in the conflict-ridden country if U.S. military forces draw down as expected this year.
Typically used as more of a last resort to keep life and death humanitarian assistance programs running, activities like satellite imaging, cell phone surveys, third party informants, and commodities tracking will likely occupy a larger role in Washington’s longer term economic development and reconstruction strategy in Afghanistan, according to a well-placed U.S. official.