U.S. and Afghanistan Sign Agreement for $30 million in “On Budget” Counternarcotics Support for the Good Performers Initiative

June 18, 2012

Acting Coordinating Director for Rule of Law and Law Enforcement Brigadier General Dixie Morrow, and Afghanistan’s Minister for Counter Narcotics Zarar Moqbel Osmani and Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Zakhailwal signed agreements effective June 9, 2012 for the U.S. Government’s continued support for counternarcotics programs implemented by the Ministry of Counter Narcotics.  These programs include the Good Performers Initiative (GPI), Governor-Led Eradication (GLE), and capacity-building efforts. 

Among the agreements signed was a Memorandum of Understanding to transfer $30 million “on budget” for the Good Performers Initiative program.  In line with the commitments made in the Kabul Communiqué of July 2010 and the Strategic Partnership Agreement of May 2012, “on budget” assistance refers to a process of delivering donor assistance directly through the Afghan Government.  Today’s ceremony marks the first “on budget” agreement for counternarcotics programs that has been signed by the Afghan and U.S. Governments. 

Since GPI was launched in 2007, the U.S. Government has committed more than $128 million in awards for development projects in provinces that have made measurable progress in reducing poppy cultivation or maintaining poppy-free status.  GPI projects help build infrastructure, employ local citizens, and encourage governors to demonstrate strong leadership in reducing and eliminating poppy cultivation in their provinces.  To date, the GPI program has supported more than 100 development projects, including roads, schools, clinics, and other infrastructure projects.  The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) funds GPI, GLE, and the capacity building programs for the Ministry of Counter Narcotics in support of efforts to reduce poppy cultivation and opium trafficking in Afghanistan.