Special Theme
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction - ADB's Role in Afghanistan and the Region
More than 5 decades ago, in July 1944, representatives of 44 countries met in New Hampshire, United States (US), for a set of meetings that led to the establishment of the Bretton
Woods institutions, and a spirit of a true “international community.” The first test of the new
group’s collective will—and its first success—came in 1948 in Europe as the world community joined under the Marshall Plan to help the continent reconstruct its battered economies and infrastructure in the wake of World War II. Building on this experience, the international community has since compiled an impressive, albeit depressingly long, record of postconflict rehabilitation and reconstruction in many parts of the world.1
Asia has seen several conflicts resolved in recent decades. In 2002, Asia, and indeed the world, again focused on postconflict as Afghanistan began to rebuild after more than 20 years of fighting. As it is doing in Afghanistan, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) played an important role in postconflict rehabilitation in several countries, including Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Timor-Leste.
This chapter examines the rehabilitation and reconstruction process, drawing lessons from postconflict countries with Afghanistan as the case study.
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- The list of transition/postconflict countries or regions is long—
Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Croatia, Djibouti, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Peru, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Uganda, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.
Challenges of rebuilding
From postconflict to reconstruction
Role of MDBs
ADB’s approach and comparative advantage
Afghanistan and ADB: a partnership renewed
Postconflict rebuilding
From postconflict: preconditions for reconstruction
Toward reconstruction: financing the transition
Towrd development: setting the stage
The way forward: lessons from postconflict reconstruction
© Asian Development Bank 2002
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