The Mission of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) is to ensure the social, economic and political welfare of rural society, especially the poor and vulnerable, through the provision of basic services by strengthening local governance and promoting sustainable livelihoods. MRRD accomplishes this mission through donor funded national programs in the areas of governance, infrastructure and economic growth.

The newly formed Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme (AREDP) is aimed at harnessing the potential of the private sector for inclusive economic growth and sustainable job creation in rural Afghanistan over an anticipated 10 year time period. The program aims at building on the social capital gained under the National Solidarity Program (NSP) and transforming it into economic capital.

AREDP is to start full operations in January 2010. The initial stages have included a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) which is funded by the World Bank and is facilitating the preparation of the project and implementing the initial activities which include the establishment of functional and programmatic units at the project management office (PMO), in Kabul. The PMO is developing compliance manuals and operational procedures; hiring national and international staff and consultants; purchasing equipment; implementing a Pilot Project Initiative in Parwan Province; conducting training and workshops for skill development and generally building a solid base from which AREDP will grow. Initially the first phases are funded through the World Bank’s IDA facility and bi-lateral donors including DFID and others with a focus on particular regions of the country.