Direct Design and Construction Supervision

Since our establishment, we have endeavored to participate in various technical activities in Afghanistan, including direct project design and construction project management. We serve as a professional technical entity, utilizing the vast expertise of our members to provide assistance in active development projects and capacity-building initiatives.

Our Involvement in Engineering Design

Our members and specialized taskforces have directly contributed to the design and technical planning of critical infrastructure in Afghanistan. Some of our key direct design initiatives include:

• Salang Tunnel Emergency Repairs: We formed a special engineering taskforce to assist with the emergency repairs of the Salang Tunnel. Our team worked extensively on the preparation of the design plan and specifications, ultimately submitting a comprehensive 30-page document comprising the repair plans and specifications to the Ministry of Public Works based on our site condition surveys. We also offered our ongoing assistance to the engineering firms conducting the feasibility studies for the tunnel’s long-term rehabilitation.
• Kajaki Dam and Irrigation Networks: In 2002, our Board of Directors assigned a team of members to visit Afghanistan on a fact-finding mission. During this trip, we conducted site visits and prepared a technical report outlining the rehabilitation of the Helmand Valley irrigation network and the Kajaki Dam.
• Bamiyan Housing Design: Through our Architecture and Urban Design Subcommittee, we launched an international design competition to provide sustainable housing and infrastructure for the displaced families occupying the historic caves of Bamiyan. While this began as an educational design project, our goal is for the design outcomes to serve as a direct catalyst for helping communities address acute housing problems.

Project Management and Construction Oversight

In addition to design work, we have been consistently recognized as a valuable resource for project management and construction oversight.

• National Infrastructure Management: During consultations with Dr. Homayon Qayoumi, the Chief Advisor for Infrastructure and Technology, we discussed the challenges facing major development projects in Afghanistan. Noting a lack of adequate project management in the country, the Afghan government looked to us for assistance in filling this void, proposing that our cooperation begin with specific pilot projects.
• Advisory and Consulting for Kabul Municipality: The Acting Mayor of Kabul recognized our technical capacity and requested an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize a relationship where we would serve as a direct advisor and consultant to the Kabul Municipality to help resolve the city’s technical issues.
• Water Infrastructure Pilot Projects: We have collaborated with the National Water Affairs Regulation Authority (NWARA) to jointly work on potential pilot projects, which includes the implementation of solar-powered water lifting stations in the Sorobi and Murghab rivers.

Strategic Vision for Future Engagements

Our long-term vision is to operate at a higher level and gain official recognition as a professional technical entity by both the Afghan government and the international donor community in overseeing critical development projects implemented in Afghanistan.

Through our Afghan Government Agencies Subcommittee, we have set concrete objectives to implement independent projects and deliver soft engineering services to the Afghan government, international donors, and private sector organizations. To achieve this, we continue to actively explore prospects for how we can be engaged directly in projects of a high engineering caliber inside the country, coordinating closely with local authorities through our Resident Representative in Kabul.