The use of technology in Afghanistan’s government offices is not yet the norm. However, in the Directorate of Ministry of Finance (Mostofiat) in Kandahar Province, a province associated more with insecurity than with technology, we have used the power of technology to improve transparency and credibility of government offices.

Finance is the backbone of any country’s economy. Therefore, it is very important for it to be transparent and credible so that citizens as well as donors feel committed to the development process. With this in mind, we decided to implement the Afghanistan Financial Management Information System and Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration System (SIGTAS), with the help of the Public Financial Management Reform, a project implemented by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) with support from theAfghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). SIGTAS was also supported through the ARTF Incentive Program. — blog.wb.org/blogs