The Department for International Development has been urged to review its aid programme in Afghanistan to focus on poverty reduction, after an independent report found some projects designed to boost economic growth are performing poorly.
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) rated the DFID's bilateral support for growth and livelihoods in Afghanistan -which makes up one-third of the UK's £190 million annual official aid programme in the country - as performing "relatively poorly" and "significant improvements should be made".
ICAI reported UK-funded projects to remove landmines and build roads had done well, but found there was "no evidence of long-term sustainable change" as a result of a £19m rural development programme.
The report suggested some programmes were over-ambitious and may struggle to survive following the withdrawal of international troops, planned for this year.
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