American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
The Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) has had a working relationship with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), having engaged in efforts to promote global engineering excellence and support the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Through jointly sponsored capacity-building initiatives and the coordination of international fellowship programs, this engagement has empowered Afghan professionals and has elevated local engineering standards. This connection has helped ensure that the highest international practices have been integrated into SAE’s mission to build a robust, self-sustaining future for our homeland.
Background
We at the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) value our strong collaborations with global engineering institutions, particularly our longstanding relationship with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Our joint efforts have been instrumental in promoting engineering excellence, sharing technical expertise, and supporting the infrastructural reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Through the years, SAE and ASCE have collaborated on major contracts, coordinated international fellowships, and engaged in strategic dialogue to further our shared mission of building human capital in Afghanistan.
Landmark Collaboration: The 2007 Capacity Building Project
One of the most significant milestones in our relationship was a major capacity-building contract awarded jointly to SAE and ASCE in 2007. In this initiative, ASCE served as the prime contractor, while SAE played a critical role in executing the training programs. The overarching objective of the project was to establish a program hosted by Kabul University designed to enhance and create private-sector engineering consulting capabilities across all engineering disciplines in Afghanistan.
Through this joint endeavor, twelve SAE members and five Kabul University staff members collaborated to deliver comprehensive training. As a result of this collaboration, 74 Afghan engineers, which notably included three female engineers, successfully participated in specialized 10-day workshops taught by SAE trainers. As part of this jointly sponsored capacity-building project, prominent SAE member Dr. Abdul Wahed Hassani also conducted a dedicated two-week lecture series for Afghan professionals at Kabul University.
Coordinating the 2012 UNESCO Fellowship Program
Our relationship with ASCE was further highlighted during the 2012 UNESCO Fellowship program. Funded by the U.S. State Department and UNESCO, the objective of this program was to strengthen and support professional engineering societies in Afghanistan so they could better represent the profession in matters with the government and industry.
To facilitate this, the UNESCO/State Department initiative involved ASCE to make arrangements to bring two leading Afghan professionals—Professor Jamil Khalid and Ms. Dalia Akbarmir from the Society of Afghan Architects and Engineers (SAAE)—to the United States. Recognizing our unique position and expertise, ASCE requested SAE’s assistance in coordinating the program. Throughout the spring of 2012, SAE volunteers proudly accompanied the Afghan delegates as they visited educational institutions, engineering design offices, and construction sites. During their visit to the Washington D.C. area, the delegates visited ASCE headquarters and held highly productive meetings with key ASCE leadership, including Mike Sanio, Director of Sustainability and International Alliances, and Thomas W. Smith III, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel.
Strategic Dialogue and Knowledge Sharing
SAE and ASCE have engaged in strategic dialogue to explore new avenues for collaboration. In 2015, the SAE President, our Executive Committee, and the President of SAAE held a strategic meeting with ASCE officials. During this productive gathering, we engaged in extensive discussions regarding the possibility of future joint cooperation, specifically focusing on ongoing capacity-building efforts for Afghanistan.
Furthermore, ASCE’s leadership has provided support for SAE’s internal events. For example, during the SAE Annual Membership General Assembly in January 2014, we were honored to host Mr. Mike Sanio, ASCE’s Director of Sustainability and International Alliances, as our keynote speaker.
Shared Professional Values
The bond between SAE and ASCE is deeply personal as well as organizational. Many of our distinguished SAE leaders, board members, and general members are also active or lifetime members of ASCE. This widespread dual membership ensures that the highest international standards of civil engineering, professional ethics, and sustainability are continuously infused into our society’s work.
Through joint training contracts, international fellowship coordination, and continuous strategic meetings, the relationship between SAE and ASCE has been a vital cornerstone of our mission. We have looked forward to building upon this fruitful relationship to develop a robust, self-sustaining engineering sector for the people of Afghanistan.