12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) assist the government to extend its authority and to establish security; PRTs have been established in 25 locations throughout Afghanistan ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22547]

"In addition to ISAF troops, international and coalition military forces have established so-called Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). The objectives of the PRTs are to assist the Government of Afghanistan extend its authority, to facilitate the development of a secure environment in the regions, including the establishment of relationships with local authorities, to support security sector reform activities, and the reconstruction effort. The PRTs are managed via five Regional Commands, located in Kabul (central), in Mazar-e Sharif (north), in Herat (west), in Kandahar (south) and in Bagram (east).

The PRTs have now been established in 25 locations, namely:

• Kunduz, Meymaneh, Pol-e Khomri, Mazar-e Sharif and Feyzabad (north);
• Herat, Farah, Qaleh-ye Now and Chaghcharan (west);
• Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Tarin Kowt and Qalat (south); and
• Bagram, Bamyan, Sharan, Ghazni, Gardez, Asadabad, Jalalabad, Panjshir, Mehterlam, Khowst, Nuristan and Wardak (east).

The PRTs remain an important element of ISAF/NATO strategy. Efforts are ongoing to realign activities of the PRTs with the overall development goals of the Government of Afghanistan. In August 2006, President Karzai endorsed the ISAF concept of Afghan Development Zones in the south. The zones correspond to strategically important geographic locations where improvement of security and governance is a priority for Afghanistan."

Document(s): Open document

11.2004 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Provincial Reconstruction Teams ("The political conditions, the security and human rights situation in Afghanistan; Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul, Afghanistan 20 March – 2 April 2004") [#27424],  [ID 1691]

"Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), which consist of small military and civilian units started as part of the coalition forces effort to ensure stability in the country. As of 19 March 2004 there were 11 PRTs in Afghanistan of which ten are part of the coalition forces. The PRT unit in Kondoz is part of the ISAF. It is planned that the ISAF should take control over additional PRT units.
The UNAMA stated that the ISAF still does not operate to any great extent outside Kabul, despite the fact that the number of peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan seems increased.
According to the Danish Chargé d’ Affaires in Afghanistan the ISAF has between 4000-5000 men.
The UNAMA informed that the mandate of the PRT units has never been clearly defined, and that PRT units operate in different ways. The PRT units can be divided into two groups: the northern group which has a stabilizing role within security, and the southern group which functions more as the military’s “gentler hand”. How well a PRT unit works depends on its resources, the local security situation, and to which extent importance is added to the security of the unit. The source did not find that PRTs are the final solution to obtain increased security in Afghanistan. However, there are examples of PRTs improving safety standards in the areas in which they operate. The UNAMA mentioned as an example the British PRT in Mazar-e-Sharif and their work in maintaining the cease-fire among the contending parties. The source also mentioned the New Zealand PRT in Bamian, which has reduced pressure on the international aid community. The source underlined that it was positive that the PRT unit has separated its military and political activities. As an example of problems facing PRTs, the UNAMA mentioned the PRT unit in Asadabad, the provincial capital of Konar, which had to abandon its work, as it could not secure its own security.
The Danish Chargé d’Affaires in Afghanistan was also of the opinion that different PRT units deal with their tasks differently. The PRT units in southern and southeastern Afghanistan are mainly dealing with the implementation of rehabilitation projects, whereas other PRT units are primarily focused on improving the security situation to create a better context for the political and economic development. The source found that establishment of PRTs was a good solution for the country, even though it is not the optimal solution.
The Afghan Interior Ministry was of the opinion, that PRTs have had a positive influence on the development in the areas in which they operate especially in connection with the reconstruction of the country."

Document(s): Open document

19.03.2004 - Source: UN General Assembly

Deployment of provincial reconstruction teams contributes to stability ("The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A/58/742–S/2004/230") [#20724],  [ID 1692]

"[...] 35. As part of the stabilization effort by the coalition forces, over the past several months the United States has established four more provincial reconstruction teams in Jalalabad, Konar, Khowst and Ghazni. There are now 11 provincial reconstruction teams nationwide, 10 under coalition command and the first ISAF team in Kondoz. Additional coalition-led provincial reconstruction teams are scheduled to open in Qalat (Zabol) in April and Tarin Kowt (Oruzgan) by early May.
36. The deployment of provincial reconstruction teams has contributed to stability in a variety of ways: improvement of the security environment through patrols and contacts with local authorities, assistance to the deployment of national police forces and the Afghan National Army, support to UNAMA in local conflict resolution, security advice and support to voter registration and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and support to local security forces through the provincial security task forces. As provincial reconstruction teams are gaining increased access to funds for project implementation, it is important to reaffirm the existing understanding that the teams focus on the creation of a secure environment, and that projects under the team umbrella are implemented in high-risk areas rather than in the safe areas where the assistance community can operate freely. UNAMA will continue to work with the coalition and ISAF to facilitate the all-important dialogue with the aid community.
37. As the number of provincial reconstruction teams increase, as well as the number of countries involved in them, issues of consistency and coordination with the Government and the international community are increasingly relevant. Special attention should be paid to ensuring that a unified vision and common policy are implemented countrywide. [...]"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

03.12.2003 - Source: UN General Assembly

UNAMA cooperates with provincial reconstruction teams to support security needs ("Report of the Secretary General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security (A/58/616)") [#18064],  [ID 1693]

"[...] 34. Beginning in December 2002, the United States-led coalition forces began deploying provincial reconstruction teams outside of Kabul (in Bamian, Gardez and Kunduz). The teams have assisted with reconstruction and contributed to the overall security environment by building confidence, assisting in the extension of government authority and providing a platform for the training and deployment of new national security institutions. UNAMA has worked closely with the teams, helping them to support the security needs of Afghanistan by proposing functions such as providing police training and rehabilitating government and transportation infrastructure.
35. A number of countries have shown an interest in setting up additional teams, including New Zealand, which assumed command of the Bamian team. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland earlier deployed a team to Mazar-i-Sharif, where it has taken an active role in supporting the mediation and disarmament work of the Joint Security Commission (see para. 17 above). Germany is establishing a team in Kunduz, which is under the authority of the International Security Assistance Force, as opposed to the other teams functioning under Coalition supervision. The United States has established teams in Herat and Kandahar. In total, 13 teams are planned to start by early 2004. Priority is being given to creating a chain of provincial reconstruction teams across the unstable south of Afghanistan, in Kandahar, Khost, Kunar and Zabul. [...]"

Document(s): Open document