The cost to begin the reconstruction of Afghanistan over the next two and a half years ranges from $ two billion to three billion, according to an early version of a joint United Nations Development Programme-World Bank-Asian Development Bank preliminary needs assessment.
Quick-impact programmes to meet short-term priority needs for Afghanistan could enable the enrollment of 1.5 million children in primary school in the next two years. Over the next six months, 100,000 food-for-work jobs could be created and water could be restored to 15,000 households on an emergency basis.

A team of about 36 staff from the three institutions has been working together on this preliminary needs assessment since the beginning of December.

Progress on their work so far was shared in Brussels on Thursday with the don or steering group for assistance in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Bureau Report