Who we are

• The Helmand PRT has been run by the UK since 1 May 2006, when we assumed responsibility for it from the US.  However we are a multinational team, with staff from the US, Denmark and Estonia.  
• The PRT has approximately 80 civilian and 40 military staff.
• The term Civil-Military Mission in Helmand (CMMH) is used to refer to the wider body of the PRT and the Task Force Helmand Brigade HQ, which are co-located in Lashkar Gah and work closely together.

What we do

• The PRT is helping the Afghan Government deliver effective government and security in Helmand Province.

Why we're doing it

• It is vital that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state that is able to suppress violent extremism within its borders.  We cannot allow Afghanistan to again become a safe haven for terrorists.  
• Success in Helmand, where the drugs trade and insurgency create particular challenges will be integral to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Where we work

• The PRT is headquartered in Lashkah Gar, with a staff of seventy.  We also have PRT Stabilisation Teams in the outer districts of Gereshk, Garmsir, Sangin, Musa Qalah and Nad e Ali. 
• A Stabilisation Team typically consists of 1 to 3 civilian stabilisation advisers, a political adviser and a six person Military Stabilisation Support Team (MSST).  The teams bring together people with a range of backgrounds including development, politics, engineering and project management.
• The Stabilisation Teams work hand in hand with the District Brigade HQs to co-ordinate civil and military activity.

How we work

• We are working to deliver a province-level plan that has been agreed between the Government of Afghanistan and international partners.
• The plan is structured around seven themes: Politics and Reconciliation; Governance; Rule of Law (Justice, Police and Prisons); Security; Economic and Social Development; Counter Narcotics; and Strategic Communications.
• The PRT has specialists in each of these themes, supporting the government in Helmand with advice and projects.
• The PRT projects budget for this financial year is £22.5m

How we're funded

• The PRT is funded by the UK, Danish and Estonian Governments.

Related activity in Helmand

• The UK military operates in Helmand as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
• USAID, the UK Department for International Development and Danish representatives sit within the Civil-Military Mission in Helmand, but have development programmes separate to those of the PRT: USAID delivered $282.4m in development support to Helmand between 2007 to 2008; DFID has set aside £21.5m for projects in Helmand this year; Denmark earmarked $7.5m for Education in Helmand.
• The UK’s Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit will spend £6.2m in Helmand this financial year.