But these advances could be eroded without continued support from Afghan and American leaders.
As the Soviet central government gradually lost control over the economy at the republic and local levels, the system of central planning eroded without adequate free-market mechanisms to replace it.
Investing in African farmers is a moral necessity but also an economic imperative, according to the head of the Alliance for the Green Revolution in Africa (Agra), who fears that recent progress in the continent's agriculture sector could be eroded without further investment.
Ms Jones told the Guardian that the relationship with producers would be eroded without extra funding to subsidise S4C's contribution to switching off the analogue TV signal in Wales and to assist the move into new media, such as broadband internet.
In a letter to the Treasury Select Committee earlier this year, John Griffith-Jones, Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority said "public confidence could be eroded without further action".
Britain's ability to respond to military threats from Russia will be "eroded" without further investment, the head of the Army has said.
And with the last of the coalition troops set to leave the country by the end of this year, there are worries that the small amount of freedoms Afghan women have won are going to be further eroded without Western forces keeping watch.
As a result, many Senegalese exporters have seen their competitive position eroded without getting any relief measures from the government, especially in the fruit and vegetable sectors.
