MRRD to receive $102m aid from UNDP

KABUL): A contract for $102 million (4.71 billion afghanis) aid was signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) on Monday.

The agreement was inked between UNDP Deputy Country Director for Afghanistan Vekhtang Svanidze and Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Jarullah Mansoori in Kabul.

The aid would be spent on 2,100 infrastructure projects, including power supply to rural areas, strengthening of local institutions, exploiting natural resources and economic development, Mansoori said.

In response to a query, Mansoori told Pajhwok Afghan News security in the provinces was getting better. He believed that 95 percent of the aid would be utilised in the stipulated period.

MRRD spent 55.4 percent of its development budget in the last solar year, ending on March 21. The ministry plans to expend $1.5 billion in different parts of the country over the next five years.

Svanidze said they had increased aid to MRRD. The money would be spent on infrastructure schemes to create work opportunities for the people and boost their economy, he added. Major UNDP donors are Japan, England, Canada, Spain and Europe.

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