Afghanistan : An Assessment of Conflict and Actors.

At the same time the risk is great that Norwegian development actors might be associated with a provincial administration, a police and a judicial system by local people seen as corrupt, oppressive and inefficient.

The relation and the balance between the central state in Kabul and the local authorities on provincial and local level are of utmost importance for any future developments.

It is recommended a more clear demarcation between the military involvement and the humanitarian and development activities.

Questions related to governance are seen as very important and difficult, not the least given the very mixed situation with some governance bodies drawing their legitimacy from the constitution, others growing out from development programmes in addition to the traditional structures often experiencing the strongest legitimacy of them all.

The ethnic dimension constitutes a possible line of conflict not only in Faryab.

Lack of information in the local population about the mandate of the Norwegian military presence through the Provincial Reconstruction Team should also be viewed as a challenge for the humanitarian engagement. A wider dissemination of information on the Mandate and activities financed by Norway should be secured.

Violence against women has a high occurrence in Faryab. It should be prioritized to make work outside the homes available for women and to strengthen the availability of higher education.