Afghanistan Civilian Assistance Program II (ACAP II)

The Afghan Civilian Assistance Program II (ACAP II) will assist Afghan families and communities suffering losses from military operations against the Taliban and other insurgent groups. ACAP II is a follow on program to the original ACAP activity, expires in September 2011. The original ACAP supports Afghan civilian families and communities that have suffered losses as a result of the being caught between fighting among ISAF troops and the Taliban and anti-government elements (AGEs), dating back to October 2001 when American-led military operations began. The focus of the program, known as the Leahy Initiative, provides tailored, relatively small-scale assistance packages to eligible families. There are no cash disbursements; ACAP provides assistance based on family needs. ACAP II will continue to build upon the success of ACAP. The armed conflict has increased dramatically in recent years and the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A), International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have intensified their operations against the Taliban and other insurgent groups. This increased level of violence has resulted in a higher number of civilian families and communities suffering losses. ACAP II will provide appropriate assistance to those who have suffered losses as a direct or indirect result of military operations. This 36 month, $64 million activity is nationwide, with a robust focus where there is the most combat and the largest concentration of military forces. USAID anticipates ACAP II to begin on August 1, 2011 and will have a two-month transition period and overlap with ACAP, during which time ACAP will also continue their close out process through September 30, 2011 when the award ends.In collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, or MoLSAMD, ACAP II will find the best ways to assist eligible Afghan families and provide them with assistance to restore their lives after a traumatic event. ACAP II will ensure the provision of essential assistance for eligible Afghan civilian families and communities available through other assistance, relying as needed on ACAP II to either supplement or fill the gaps in assistance. The program will not provide compensation, condolence payments or cash assistance. Moreover, the program will refer civilian victims to USAID and other donors programs to help families in different circumstances rebuild their lives. ACAP II will facilitate coordination of programs, systems and processes to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of assistance from all available resources. ACAP II will also facilitate the proactive collaboration of relevant local government and traditional governance structures to increasingly lead and coordinate the overall assistance effort to families.ACAP II funds are provided by annual congressional earmarks specified to assist Afghan civilian victims harmed by military operations. Assistance to Afghan civilians will be provided regardless if the loss was incurred due to military forces targeting the Taliban and other insurgent groups involved in the armed conflict or due to Taliban and other insurgent groups targeting military forces. Military forces include all foreign soldiers of ISAF as well as USFOR-A. ACAP II is a ‘no-fault’ program. To assist Afghan civilians who have been harmed, it is not required by ACAP to know the reason for the incident and the persons responsible, whether military forces or the Taliban and other insurgent groups.