Afghanistan Engineers Association (AEA)

Background

We at the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) have a long-standing working relationship with the Afghanistan Engineers Association (AEA). As the largest professional organization of Afghan engineers outside the country, we recognize that engagement with Afghanistan-based societies like the AEA is crucial for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of our beloved homeland’s infrastructure.

Building Connections and Coordination

Our engagement with the AEA has spanned over a decade. In October 2011, SAE representation was invited to attend an AEA board of directors meeting in Kabul. During this meeting, our leadership discussed the vital need to establish good relations and coordination among engineering associations inside and outside the country, maintain active communication, and jointly participate in special infrastructure projects.

Over the years, the level of correspondence and engagement between our organizations has increased. In early 2015, our Executive Committee had the pleasure of hosting AEA President Eng. Arif Rasuli during his official visit to Washington D.C.. The meeting was highly productive; we shared our concerns, exchanged ideas, and made a firm mutual promise to continue our discussions and coordinate efforts for the benefit of Afghanistan. We are also extremely proud that some of our own dedicated SAE leaders, such as Dr. Gul Afghan Saleh, have served as founding and board members of the AEA, seamlessly bridging our two organizations.

The Union of Afghanistan Societies of Architects and Engineers (UASAE)

We have always encouraged Afghan associations inside the country to work closely with each other, believing that a united front is the key to successfully rebuilding Afghanistan. In 2015, the AEA and the Society of Afghan Architects and Engineers (SAAE) successfully formed a unity under the name of the Union of Afghanistan Societies of Architects and Engineers (UASAE), also referred to as the Union of Engineers and Architects Association (UEAA).

An SAE delegation traveled to Kabul in October 2015 to coincide with the official signing ceremony introducing the UASAE to the Afghan government, and we fully participated in discussions outlining how this unified entity could support the nation. SAE has expressed interest in joining and actively participating in the Union’s future activities. During a trip to Kabul in 2016, our SAE President attended a UEAA board meeting where we engaged on major initiatives, such as the proposed creation of an Institute of Engineers and Architects in Afghanistan that would provide continuing education and issue professional certifications.

Initiatives and Knowledge Sharing

Our history of engagement with the AEA has resulted in meaningful humanitarian and technical initiatives over the years:

• Disaster Relief: Following the devastating Badakhshan landslide, SAE members and friends raised significant funds for the victims. We coordinated with Afghanistan-based associations, including the AEA, who utilized the funds to aid the survivors recovering from the overwhelming damages.
• Technical Volunteer Support: SAE has frequently engaged with AEA board members in Kabul to strategize on how SAE professionals residing in the USA can provide volunteer technical support to various Afghan government departments and ministries.
• Knowledge Transfer: When AEA President Eng. Arif Rasuli reached out to us requesting expert guidance on fire prevention and life safety issues in Afghanistan, we immediately mobilized our network. Our members, such as Dr. Zia Yamayee, stepped up to share their published articles and expertise. The AEA then distributed these valuable technical documents directly to over 800 engineers in Afghanistan, demonstrating the power of our shared knowledge-sharing.

SAE has maintained a deep commitment to its working relationship with the Afghanistan Engineers Association. By combining the vast international experience of SAE members with the AEA’s on-the-ground presence and local expertise, we have strived toward our shared vision of a prosperous and sustainably developed Afghanistan.