Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund ( ARTF )

The ARTF was set up in May 2002 to provide coordinated financial support to Afghanistan. The fund has two windows: the recurrent window channels funding for the recurrent costs of government, including salaries for teachers, health workers, and civilian staff throughout the country. The investment window channels funding for investment projects as per the ANDS: such as agriculture and rural development, justice, private sector development, capacity development, education, urban development, transport and energy. As of March 20, 2009, 30 donors had pledged over US$3 billion to ARTF, of which US$2.9 billion has been received. More than US$1.7 billion has been disbursed to the Government of Afghanistan to help cover recurrent costs and over US$1 billion had been made available for investment projects.

The ARTF is managed jointly by the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the World Bank. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance participate in the monthly Management Committee meetings as observers. A Monitoring Agent ensures proper fiduciary management of all recurrent cost financing under the ARTF.