Over five years, the Afghanistan Parliamentary Assistance Project (APAP) has provided extensive technical assistance, which has strengthened the Afghan government's capacity to establish and develop a new parliament that is able to operate as a strong, independent and effective deliberative body.  In 2004, APAP conducted an assessment of the political, legal, and administrative environment for establishing the National Assembly, the first Afghan parliament in 30 years.
In 2005, the Afghan government began hiring staff for the National Assembly, and APAP provided technical assistance to prepare them for their role supporting parliamentary operations.  APAP provided basic staff training programs in office management and administration, word processing, inventory management, and property control.  In addition, APAP provided infrastructural support to the Parliament including a range of commodities such as furniture, computers, and office equipment.  Subsequently APAP funded study visits for Secretariat Department Heads to Indonesia and Europe. In its efforts to support longer-term research capacity building, APAP provided assistance in planning, building, and equipping the Parliamentary Library.  APAP provided internet access points in the library and training to Parliamentary and library research staff on internet-based search engines and law documentation services. 

After initial assistance to establish the National Assembly, APAP designed a comprehensive legislative strengthening strategy and program of activities.  In 2006, APAP provided orientation programs for the newly elected Members of the National Assembly.  From 2006 – 2007 APAP provided basic and intermediate-level training to MPs and Parliamentary staff in bill drafting and legal interpretation, committee operations, the conduct of public hearings, and research and documentation services.  APAP also provided hands-on technical assistance to key committees tasked with processing draft bills and executive decrees.  APAP's technical assistance to the Budget and Economic Committees created the capacity to take the first steps toward review and passage of Afghanistan's annual budget. APAP continued to build Secretariat staff management and administrative capabilities and to provide equipment and infrastructural support in a more limited, strategic manner for the new bifurcated Secretariat structure. 

During 2008 and 2009, with a fledgling Parliament still learning to operate and its leaders exercising their authority over its internal governance, APAP modified its approach, encouraging Parliament to assume ownership of some activities.  APAP succeeded in persuading the National Assembly's leadership of the need to develop a longer-term institutional development plan.  During July 2008 and July 2009, APAP helped the National Assembly conduct strategic planning workshops in furtherance of this goal.   

APAP’s Legislative Unit 

From 2008 – 2009 APAP continued to work consistently and closely with the parliamentary leadership and staff to deepen their knowledge and skills.  Five key committees (Legislative Affairs, Judicial and Justice, Environment and Natural Resources, National Economy, and Budget and Finance) were targeted to receive intensive support through APAP’s on-the-job training and mentoring Committee Support Team (CST), comprised of Committee Members, Committee Staff, and APAP staff.   

APAP’s Budget Support Unit 

With the close engagement of APAP’s Budget Support Team (BST), the National Assembly’s capacity to analyze and approve the annual budget bill and to oversee its implementation by reviewing the annual expenditures report (Qatia), have made dramatic advances.  The budget and finance committees of the Assembly have gained the capacity to undertake substantial modifications to the national budget that more closely reflect the needs of provinces.  The BST has smoothed the way for the on-time approval of the last two budgets in contrast to the conflicts between the Ministry of Finance and the Assembly which caused harmful delays in the approval of the 2006 and 2007 budgets. Furthermore, the BST has given vital assistance to the budget and finance committees in their oversight function.  In one particular case serious anomalies were uncovered in the Ministry of Commerce, which led to the questioning and replacement of the Minister.  

APAP’s Outreach/Representation Unit 

APAP provides assistance to improve the professional capacity of the National Assembly's Department of Information and Public Relations to communicate events of importance.   APAP writes a weekly newsletter for the international community with news of the National Assembly.  In addition, important links are being created between the MPs and their constituents through interactive radio programs and documentaries which discuss budget and social issues.  These programs have quickly become popular and serve as an important tool in provinces that are difficult for MPs to travel to on a regular basis. 

Afghanistan Parliamentary Institute 

In anticipation of the desired transfer of competencies to the National Assembly, APAP established the Afghanistan Parliamentary Institute in 2008 and channels training to the National Assembly through this entity.  The courses offered by the API were designed specifically for the needs of Members and staff of Parliament across a broad range of related fields.  The API provides tools to help Members and staff to more effectively play their roles in improving the lives of Afghan citizens in a complex and ever changing society and world. Besides teaching the skills that are basic for the efficient operation of all legislatures, the API courses include topics specific to the Afghanistan reality.   The courses and programs are presented by lecturers, professional experts and speakers from prominent local and international universities as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations.
In 2008 APAP launched an extensive annual Fellowship Program through the API, placing new university graduates in the National Assembly for one year internships.  This program constitutes a useful recruitment tool for Parliament, as the best qualified of these Fellows are often hired as permanent staff.  APAP also sponsored two promising National Assembly staff on six month Fellowships with the New York State Legislature. 
The challenges inherent in building a strong, independent, and effective Parliament in a relatively short time period in a conflict-ridden nation emerging from decades of authoritarian rule and civil war cannot be denied. Yet APAP has brought significant improvements to the re-emerging National Assembly, and tangible progress has been made towards improving the legislative, oversight, and representation functions on the institution.