As a whole, UNODC initiatives will be phased, supporting and reinforcing other international efforts in Afghanistan. A "building-block" approach is to be taken to ensure that cost-effective delivery of assistance is made. Of crucial importance will be the advisory role of UNODC in "mainstreaming" drugs as a crosscutting issue into the strategies and practical delivery of projects by other international organizations.
A key aspect of the UNODC strategy will be to ensure an effective field presence, particularly in the poppy growing areas and where drug abuse is prevalent, in such a way as to ensure that information about all aspects of drug control can be collected, contact with agencies working in the field maintained, and institutional capacity building arrangements monitored. It is essential that UNODC can obtain and update information on crop production, socio-economic studies relating to opium growing, data on alternative livelihood programmes and nature of drug dependency. In order to ensure this capacity and to provide adequate support to government institutions in the various regions and satisfactory monitoring capability, UNODC will initially establish presence through co-locating its project staff in relevant provincial drug control units. The national staff will work in close cooperation with the local authorities focusing on capacity building, opium surveying, alternative livelihoods, demand reduction and law enforcement.
Opium Poppy harming women's and children's health in Afghanistan
