Ministry of Public Works (MoPW)

Background

At the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), we view ourselves as a vital architectural and engineering link between North America and Afghanistan. A cornerstone of our mission to enhance the nation’s infrastructure and human capital has been our ongoing relationship with the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW). By utilizing the vast expertise of our members, we have actively collaborated with the MoPW to provide technical consultation, review major infrastructure designs, and deliver critical capacity-building programs.

Strategic Dialogues and Collaborative Agreements

Our direct advisory relationship with the MoPW has been shaped by continuous strategic dialogues. In May 2012, our Executive Committee and Board of Directors held a pivotal joint teleconference with MoPW leadership, including then-Minister H.E. Najibullah Aoudjan and his technical team. Together, we brainstormed solutions for Afghanistan’s pressing technical deficiencies, focusing on the need for national design standards for roadways and bridges, the establishment of central materials testing laboratories, and guidelines for quality control and assurance.

To further solidify this cooperation, we hosted Minister Aoudjan during his 10-day visit to the United States in August 2012, organizing detailed technical meetings with our local chapters in Washington D.C., California, and Colorado. During this visit, our members successfully facilitated the signing of a Technical Exchange Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Afghan MoPW, paving the way for international knowledge sharing.

The Salang Tunnel: Feasibility Studies and Emergency Repairs

A major highlight of our partnership has been our deep involvement in the critical Salang Tunnel infrastructure. When the MoPW and USAID initiated a feasibility study spanning the next fifty years for alternative routes and the rehabilitation of the existing tunnel, the Ministry forwarded the study reports and presentations to our members for expert review and feedback.

Understanding the urgent safety and economic implications of the pass, we formed a special task force that worked tirelessly alongside the MoPW to support the temporary, emergency repair of the Salang Tunnel. Based on site condition surveys provided by MoPW staff, our team prepared and submitted a comprehensive 30-page document comprising repair plans and specifications. In recognition of our dedicated assistance in the design of these emergency repairs, we were deeply honored to receive an official certificate of appreciation from the Ministry.

Capacity Building and Technical Training

Addressing the severe lack of professional technical capacity within Afghanistan’s ministries has always been a top priority for us. In accordance with our operational policies, our members frequently travel to Afghanistan to voluntarily transfer their technical knowledge to MoPW staff through seminars and training workshops.

We have conducted extensive, multi-day training sessions for the MoPW covering a diverse array of specialized topics, including:

• Project management with an emphasis on quality control.
• Highway operations and maintenance.
• Rockfall mitigation, snow removal, and the design of rest areas along highways.
• Hydrology and drainage structure design procedures.

Crucially, our members introduced the concept of avalanche mitigation to the Ministry. Following our training sessions, the MoPW, with assistance from the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), developed and implemented avalanche control measures for the first time in the history of Afghanistan.

Furthermore, our members serving directly as advisors within the Ministry have performed thorough surveys of professional development needs and developed essential operational manuals for the MoPW, including manuals on Quality Assurance of Roadway Design, QA/QC of Roadway Construction, and Safety in Roadway and Bridge Construction.

Future Outlook and Continued Advisory Services

We remain steadfast in our commitment to acting as a technical advisor to the Afghan government. We continue to engage with MoPW leadership to address their identified priority areas, which include the creation of technical advisory boards, expertise in contracting laws, advanced design consultation, and the continuous development of road construction design standards and manuals. Through the unwavering dedication of our members, we stand ready to provide the professional services necessary to help build a safer, more sustainable infrastructure network for the people of Afghanistan.