Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Afghanistan 2009–2013
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WHO-EM/ARD/043/E Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Afghanistan 2009–2013 WHO-EM/ARD/043/E Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Afghanistan 2009–2013 World Health Organization 2010 © All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from Health Publications, Production and Dissemination, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, P.O. Box 7608, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt. tel: +202 2670 2535, fax: +202 2765 2492; email: [email protected]. Requests for permission to reproduce, in part or in whole, or to translate publications of WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, at the above address: email: [email protected]. Document WHO-EM/ARD/043/E Design and layout by Pulp Pictures Printed by WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations 5 Executive Summary 9 Section 1. Introduction 13 Section 2. Country Health and Development Challenges and National Response 17 2.1 Summary of key development and health challenges 19 2.2 Demography and main health problems 20 2.3 Macroeconomic, political and social context 20 2.4 Health status of the population 22 2.5 Socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health 24 2.6 Health systems and services 27 Section 3. Development Cooperation and Partnerships: Technical Assistance, 43 Aid Effectiveness and Coordination 3.1 Key international aid and partners in health 46 3.2 Aid effectiveness 48 3.3 Summary of key challenges and opportunities 49 Section 4. Past and Current WHO Cooperation 51 4.1 WHO cooperation overview 53 4.2 WHO structure and resources 55 Section 5. Strategic Agenda for WHO Cooperation 57 5.1 Introduction 59 5.2 Guiding principles for WHO at country level 59 5.3 Mission statement of WHO in the country 60 5.4 Strategic priorities 60 Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Afghanistan Section 6. Implementing the Strategic Agenda: Implications for WHO 63 6.1 Implications for the country office in relation to the strategic priorities 65 6.2 General implications for the country office 66 6.3 Implications for WHO Regional Office and headquarters 67 Acronyms and Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AHS Afghanistan health survey AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ANDS Afghanistan National Development Strategy (2008–2013) ANHRA Afghanistan national health resource assessment ARTF Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund ARDS Afghan reconstruction and development system ARI Acute respiratory infection BSC Balanced Scorecard BPHS Basic Package of Health Services CCA Common Country Assessment CCS Country Cooperation Strategy CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CSO Central Statistical Office DEWS Disease Early Warning System EC European Commission EHA Emergency Humanitarian Action EMRO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office EPHS Essential Package of Hospital Services GAVI GAVI Alliance GCMU Grant Contract and Management Unit GDP Gross domestic product GFATM Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria HEFD Health Economics and Financing Directorate HIV Human immunodeficiency virus HMIS Health Management Information System JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JPRM Joint Programme Review and Planning Mission ICRC International Committee for the Red Cross 5 CountryCountry Cooperation Cooperation StrategyStrategy for for WHO WHO and andYemen Afghanistan IDB International Development Bank IDUs Injecting drug users IHR International Health Regulations IMCI Integrated Management of Childhood Health MDG Millennium Development Goals MICS Multiple indicator cluster survey MoF Ministry of Finance Mol Ministry of Interior MoPH Ministry of Public Health MRRD Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development MSH Management Sciences for Health NIDs National Immunization Days NRVA National risk and vulnerability assessment NRVS National risk and vulnerability survey OIC The Organisation of Islamic Conference PHD Provincial health department PGC Performance-based grant contract PPA Performance-based partnership agreement PPG Performance-based partnership grant PRB Population Reference Bureau PRR Priority reform and restructuring RAMOS Reproductive-age mortality studies REACH Rural expansion of Afghan community-based health care SOWC State of The World’s Children SWAp Sector-wide approaches TB Tuberculosis TT Tetanus toxoid UNCT United Nations Country Team UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 6 Country Cooperation Strategy for WHO and Afghanistan UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNIFEM United Nations Fund for Women UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime USAID United States Agency for International Development WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization WFP World Food Programme 7 Executive Summary The first Country Cooperative Strategy Despite the continuing conflict, threat (CCS) for Afghanistan was developed in July to human security and political instability, 2005 for the period 2005–2008. The CCS there has been considerable progress in the reflects WHO’s medium-term vision for its country since 2002, especially in the area of cooperation in and with a particular country. political transformation to a democratically In late 2008, it was felt that in view of elected government. Other achievements development since then, the strategy should included: enrolling nearly 6 million children be revised and updated. With this in mind, a in primary and secondary education (35% WHO Mission visited the country from 15– of whom are young girls); availability of 22 November 2008. It comprised staff from Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern in 85% of the country; re-establishment Mediterranean and WHO headquarters of core state economic and social welfare and was led by the WHO Representative institutions; macro-economic stability and in Afghanistan. The Mission held detailed the development of commercial banking discussions with a team specially constituted and telecommunication networks led by by the MoPH, Afghanistan, to revise the first the private sector. However, the country CCS, and were briefed by H.E. the Minister continues to face several critical challenges for Public Health and the Deputy Minister to human development. Some of these of Public Health for Technical Affairs on the challenges include: widespread poverty; Government’s priorities and the technical limited fiscal resources that limit the delivery support that was anticipated from WHO of public services; insecurity arising from during the next five years. The Mission also the activities of extremists, terrorists and met with WHO staff working in the country criminals; weak governance and corruption; office, with representatives of some of the corrosive effects of a large and growing larger donors to the health sector in the narcotics industry and major human capacity country and nongovernmental organizations limitations. who had been contracted out to provide the Afghanistan’s health indicators are Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) currently near the bottom of international in the provinces. The Mission, through indices and far worse than any other country one of its members, also met with the UN in the Region. Life expectancy is low (47 country team to brief them about the CCS years for males and 45 years for females), process and outcome and its potential for high infant, under-five and maternal mortality, shaping the health dimension of the second respectively at 129 per 1000 live births, 191 UN Development Assistance Framework per 1000 live births and 1600 per 100 000 (UNDAF) for Afghanistan that was currently live births, and an extremely high prevalence being initiated in the country. of chronic malnutrition and widespread occurrence of micro-nutrient deficiency. 9 CountryCountry Cooperation Cooperation StrategyStrategy for for WHO WHO and andYemen Afghanistan There is a high burden of communicable programmes with those of the Government. diseases. Some of the major challenges The overarching priority of the health