The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) was established in 2002 to provide a coordinated financing mechanism for the Government of Afghanistan's budget and priority national investment projects. Today, the ARTF remains the vehicle of choice for pooled funding, with low transaction costs, excellent transparency and high accountability, and provides a well-functioning arena for policy debate and consensus creation (External Evaluation 2012 "ARTF at a Cross-Roads"). It is the largest single source of on-budget financing for Afghanistan’s development and is delivering important results within key sectors including education, health, agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, and governance. The ARTF is supported by 34 donors and administered by the World Bank.

The ARTF is a multi-donor trust fund supported by 34 donors and administered by the World Bank. The Government of Afghanistan is a key player in the ARTF – all funds are channeled through government systems with ministries and government agencies responsible for implementing all projects.

The trust fund modality provides funding predictability for the Government of Afghanistan within a robust fiduciary and monitoring framework. The ARTF also provides a coordination and dialogue mechanism and a platform for policy dialogue on key reforms with the Government.

The ARTF provides financing for key national priority programs (NPPs). It finances the civilian operating budget support. Through the Incentive Program. the ARTF supports a reform agenda led by Ministry of Finance, delivering key policy and economic reforms in support of fiscal sustainability.

"The ARTF remains the vehicle of choice for pooled funding, with low overhead/transaction costs, excellent transparency and high accountability, and provides a well-functioning arena for policy debate and consensus creation". (ARTF External Evaluation Report 2012: ARTF at a Cross-Roads; History and Future).