The government requires continuous funding support to reconstruct its damaged infrastructure and build the capacity to formulate and implement appropriate development policies and programmes.  There is a clear shortage of resources and capacity flowing in to the urban sector. Building knowledge on key issues such as land, rural-urban linkages and community development will help ensure that urban development policies are properly designed and implemented. 

Some sub-sectors, such as water and sanitation, have received strong support but other important activities, such as urban planning, shelter reconstruction, municipal capacity building and policy advice remain under-funded. Based on the government’s priorities, UN-HABITAT is helping the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing to address the key areas of strategic planning for cities, land information and management, municipal support for better service delivery, shelter construction, neighbourhood support including improved security of tenure, construction and waste management.

City support
Strategic planning support for six major cities - Urban reconstruction efforts are impeded due to rigid and outdated master plans that have long ceased to accurately reflect the reality on the ground. Urgent support is required to:

1. Facilitate the release of land for development by the people and the private sector
2. Produce new maps to support urban development
3. Engage ministries, municipalities and communities in participatory strategic planning
4. Develop city action plans to phase and guide investments.

Land support
Land Management Strategy, including Land Information System. Access to land is impeded by a variety of legal, institutional and policy constraints. A functioning land market would release the stress on Afghan cities while laying the foundation for sustainable municipal revenue sources in the future. Key objectives of this project include:

1. Organizing information regarding the location and status of property and services.
2. Clarifying the range of tenure types, percentage composition and their relative security.
3. Recommendations for legal, policy and institutional reform.
4. Strengthening capacity at all levels to manage urban information

Municipal support 
Municipal Support Programme Municipalities have a central role to play in the provision of services such as water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, as well as regarding the provision of new land. Municipalities are also expected to be self-sufficient, raising their own revenues from local sources. While there is a need to progressively expand the municipal tax base, any taxation must be clearly linked to service delivery benchmarks and must provide for a strong community role in the design, implementation and, particularly, the maintenance of these services. The programme is designed to:

1. Improve the quality of urban service delivery and infrastructure investments, through the collection of baseline indicators and the development of performance benchmarks.
2. Promote participatory budgeting to improve access to services and revenue collection.
3. Train municipal staff in various issues related to service delivery such as infrastructure supply, municipal finance systems, single window service, as well as general management and administration.

Shelter
Shelter Construction - To be implemented by a private contractor, UN-HABITAT is helping the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing prepare detailed terms of reference to facilitate the release of new land for housing construction. The programme is expected to:

1. Identify and release hectares of new land for development.
2. Provide road access and supply basic infrastructure and services.
3. Facilitate the construction of shelter using self-build methodologies.

Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhood Upgrading Programme - Because many informal settlements do not conform to the Master Plan, people face the risk of eviction, will not invest in reconstruction, and have no legal claim to receive municipal services. Building on existing Community Forums, the programme would:

1. Provide security of tenure to facilitate investment and service delivery.
2. Support housing reconstruction in selected areas.
3. Increase access to basic services such as water supply, sanitation and solid waste collection.
4. Provide employment and training for construction and building materials sector.
5. Strengthen community, municipality and ministry collaboration.

Construction
Construction and Building Sector Strategy - The construction and building materials sector has the highest labour content of any industry and therefore the highest multiplier effect on income and employment. Furthermore, this sector provides jobs for young, low-skilled labour including demobilised soldiers and therefore can significantly contribute to political stability. Support is required for a study of the structure of construction sector inputs including supply constraints and a strategy for promoting its development.

Waste
Municipal Solid Waste Management Programme - Afghan cities suffer from three main problems in waste management: collection, education and awareness and disposal. Building the linkages between Community Forums and municipalities into an integrated and comprehensive waste management programme is the objective of this programme. It includes a solid waste collection strategy with a viable system both at the city and neighbourhood level, a health education and hygiene promotion programme, a recycling and composting programme and Improved and safe landfill sites.