Country strategy: Afghanistan 2002-2004 Reference No.: UD 02.042

The present country strategy was drawn up by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Sida as a guide for Swedish assistance to Afghanistan during the forthcoming three-year period. It is based on a recently conducted experience analysis of development assistance during the period 19952000 and a country analysis of Afghanistan. The conclusions of the experience analysis were that development cooperation programmes for the latter period were successfully implemented and significant results were achieved, despite very trying working conditions and severe difficulties. Sweden, which has contributed an average of SEK 100 million per year, is the fourth largest donor after the EU, the USA and Japan. Over the years, Sida, along with its Swedish and international cooperation partners, has acquired considerable experience of assistance to Afghanistan. In many respects, the picture which emerges from the country analysis of conditions in Afghanistan is extreme. Twenty years of conflict and recurring natural disasters have devastated the economy and its social institutions.