US trying to reverse Afghan aid corruption - 30 Dec 09

The US government plans to spend more than $10bn in Afghanistan next year on non-military aid.

But much of that will be wasted or swallowed by corruption, unless new efforts to tighten the contracting process succeed, US government-appointed auditors say.

Since 2001, Washington has spent around $40bn on reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan.

Almost one-third of the funds have been directed at economic and social development projects. The rest has gone to improving governance, rule of law, human rights and countering narcotics.

But as Kimberly Halkett reports, US government watchdog groups face big challenges in making sure that aid money is spent as intended.

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