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Afghanistan :: Restoring Infrastructure
INFRASTRUCTURE SNAPSHOT
As of the summer 2006,
USAID will have repaired 715
km of the Ring Road, roughly
equivalent to the distance between
Washington, D.C. and
Boston, MA
Built 605 km of canals and
340 km of irrigation structures
boosting agriculture
Built 31 judicial facilities
Completed 524 schools and
539 clinics with others under
construction
Infrastructure
Profile
(pdf - 165k)
CONTACTS
Mission Director
Robin Phillips
USAID/Kabul
6180 Kabul Place
Dulles, VA 20189-6180
Tel: 873-762-311955
Desk Officer
Caroline Brearley
Tel: (202) 712-0324
Email: cbrearley@usaid.gov
www.usaid.gov/afghanistan
Background
Decades of war, harsh climate conditions, and neglect due to poverty
have left the country’s infrastructure in rubble and decay. In many remote
areas, it was never developed at all. The lack of infrastructure has had a
huge impact on Afghans who could not reach health facilities in time to
give birth or farmers who could not get their produce to market before it
spoiled. Most Afghans lack access to electricity or safe water; and some
mountain villagers have to walk two weeks to the closest road. However,
Afghanistan has made incredible progress in the past four years.
Program Overview
Reconstruction in Afghanistan is a huge endeavor. Construction can be
delayed due to intense snows or floods or disrupted by insurgent attacks.
The remoteness of villages and severe weather creates enormous engineering
and transporting challenges. USAID uses locally available materials
and trains Afghans to construct roads and courthouses themselves
to disengage dependence on foreign assistance.
USAID’s building of roads, schools, and clinics began in 2002 to show
immediate progress to the Afghan people. While these programs continue,
USAID is shifting its focus to improve energy and power. The
building and refurbishing of infrastructure boosts economic growth and
agricultural yields, connects rural Afghans to services, and provides
schools, clinics, and courthouses for its citizens.
Reconstruction Roads
USAID is reconstructing a regional and national road system which links
the major cities and economic centers. The “Ring-Road”, a highway that
connects Kabul to Kandahar to Herat, is critical to trade in that 60 percent
of Afghans live within 50 kilometers of this road. USAID has completed
the 389 km link from Kabul to Kandahar and is working on 326 km
section between Kandahar and Herat, which is expected to be complete
in August 2006. Three-quarters of the employees working on this project
are Afghans gaining technical expertise.
USAID is also reconstructing provincial and district roads. About 900 km
of secondary roads are being rehabilitated, with about 75% completion,
helping villagers living in outlying areas of the country.
Water Management and Produce Storage
USAID has increased agricultural production through better irrigation and
preserved the freshness of fruits and vegetables through refrigeration
and storage. To date, USAID has built 147 storage and market centers.
The construction 605 km of canals and 340 irrigation structures have
benefited farmers. USAID installed 18 km of water pipelines and provides
water to Kabul, Kandahar, Ghazni, and Gardez with support from
the ministries. The completion of 1,700 wells and 3,250 latrines boosts
health and sanitation.
Energy
Bolstering Afghanistan’s energy sector through rehabilitating infrastructure
and building the capacity of the energy workforce will be critical to
the economic growth of the country. USAID is rehabilitating Kajaki hydroelectric
dam in Helmand, helping to supply power to the southern part
of the country to about 1.7 million beneficiaries. In Nangarhar, work is
underway in rehabilitating the Darunta hydroelectric power station near
Jalalabad. When finished, it will provide power to 9,000 customers. In
Kabul, USAID funded nearly $3 million in repairs and spare parts to the
city’s northwest power station, a critical source of electricity for the country’s
capital and provided $84 million since November 2003 in emergency
fuel. USAID is providing technical assistance for the Northeast
Power System (NEPS), a $700 million multi-donor effort. Other donors
are financing the transmission lines for NEPS. USAID support is primarily
for the development and signing of Power Purchase Agreements between
Afghanistan and its three northern neighbors to make low cost
power available from the northern countries for the eastern part of the
Afghanistan down to Kabul.
USAID programs are providing training in diesel fuel procurement, as
well as technical training to diesel generator operators. Additionally, the
construction of a complex that will house the Afghan Energy Training
Center, operated under the Ministry of Energy and Water with the Afghan
Geological Survey, will help develop Afghanistan’s natural energy reserves.
Lastly, USAID is helping Afghans develop and implement an appropriate
billing and collection system in Kabul.
Telecommunications
Communications networks are now operational in 26 of the 34 provinces.
This marks the first step in the installation of provincial and district telecommunications
networks, which will enhance private sector growth and
assist local government. A number of Afghan universities are bridging to
international universities through electronic alliances in a program that
uses the internet to build the knowledge and skills of Afghans.
Economic Growth
Infrastructure development helps revive the economy. The construction
of three industrial parks in Bagrami, Kandahar, and Mazar-e Sharif will
stimulate investment and minimize potential business risk to investors.
Democracy and Governance
USAID is building judicial and administrative buildings to promote democratic
reforms and extend the rule of law. USAID constructed 31 judicial
buildings including courthouses, Ministry of Justice offices and
prosecutors’ offices. An additional ten mixed-use district administration
buildings and two courthouses are under construction. USAID established
33 radio stations to inform and encourage citizen participation.
Education and Health
USAID has constructed 524 schools and 539 clinics to promote a better
educated and healthier population. Another 148 schools and 128 clinics
are currently under construction. The rehabilitated Kabul Women’s Dormitory
provides housing for 1,100 women and enables women from rural
villages to attend one of seven colleges in Kabul.
Implementing Partners
More Information
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