RONCO in the News: Archives

USAID/OTI RONCO Afghanistan Project

WASHINGTON, September 2002 - On March 11, 2002, the RONCO Consulting Corporation was awarded a six-month contract to implement the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives' (USAID/OTI) Afghanistan Political Transition Grant Project (PTG). The project supports Afghanistan's new government in laying the groundwork for long-term democratic reforms and the rehabilitation of Afghanistan's economic and social infrastructure.

In the first three months, RONCO created an OTI and RONCO support unit in Kabul, and support offices in Islamabad, and Dubai. All locations provide procurement, financial and operational support activities in the implementation of grants.

Then, RONCO entered the grant administration phase and has effectively coordinated 45 Political Transition Grants (PTGs) totaling over 1.5 million dollars. The initial grants focused on immediate "high impact" assistance to help the economy and create social stability. Examples:

• Purchasing satellite communications equipment for Radio Afghanistan to expand the broadcasting capacity of local and national shows.
• Establishing kindergarten and day care facilities in several Ministries to enable Afghan women to resume work outside their homes and support the Administration's objective to support women in government work.
• Providing computer equipment and securing AWCC connections for the D'Afghanistan Bank to enable them to link all their branch banks; providing the funds for $51,000 application fee to obtain a "SWIFT CODE" allowing for communications and transfers of funds with national banks around the world.