Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL)

Background

At the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE), we have maintained a longstanding, strategic, and highly productive relationship with the Ministry of Urban Development and Land (MUDL)—formerly known as the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Our shared mission is to ensure the sustainable, safe, and orderly development of Afghanistan’s urban infrastructure and built environment.

As a professional network of engineering and architectural experts, we see ourselves as a vital bridge, bringing international best practices, technical capacity, and advisory services directly to the Ministry’s decision-makers.

A History of Capacity Building and Collaboration

Our active collaboration with the Ministry dates back to 2003, when our members began providing direct technical assistance and serving in high-level advisory roles. SAE members have proudly served as senior advisors and deputy ministers within the Ministry, driving forward major national projects.

To address the Ministry’s historical challenges with human capacity and technological resources, our experts spearheaded the establishment of a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Center for technical staff. By organizing short-term courses in computer skills and basic architectural programs, we helped the Ministry dramatically increase the speed, efficiency, and quality of its project completions. Furthermore, our architects and engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ministry departments to design and oversee the construction of the New Parliament Complex, ensuring it met high international standards for Afghanistan’s future needs.

Expert Advisory Services and Peer Reviews

One of the most significant ways we support MUDL is through expert peer reviews of critical national infrastructure documents. When MUDL facilitated the drafting of the “Housing Standards of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” through a foreign consulting firm under a World Bank grant, they urgently reached out to SAE for an independent professional review.

In response, we rapidly mobilized a Peer Review Committee comprising our most experienced and knowledgeable members. In less than ten days, our team reviewed over 300 pages of the detailed technical standards. We provided MUDL with crucial feedback to ensure the codes were culturally sensitive, practical, and tailored to Afghanistan’s unique environment. For example, we advised against the impractical implementation of pitched truss roofs, advocating instead for the culturally appropriate flat roofs with privacy parapet walls that are standard across the country. Our review ensured these foundational documents were clarified, properly formatted, and standardized for the Afghan workforce.

Strategic Initiatives and Memorandums of Understanding

We have continuously engaged with MUDL leadership to formalize our technical cooperation through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). The Ministry has frequently sought our collaboration to address top national priorities, including master plan development, affordable housing, and water and sewer systems.

Our strategic framework for collaboration with MUDL targets several key initiatives:

• Code and Standard Development: Partnering to develop, review, and modernize building codes, standards, and zoning regulations across the Ministry’s various departments.
• Major Urban Projects: Providing technical reviews of documents, plans, and guidelines for massive infrastructure endeavors, such as the Kabul New City project.
• Academic and Research Facilities: Assisting the Ministry in conceptualizing and designing the International University in Jalalabad, as well as establishing a dedicated engineering Research Center at Kabul University.
• Conferences and Knowledge Sharing: Co-organizing regional engineering and urban development conferences to share modern best practices with local professionals.

Sustainable Housing and Urban Master Planning

We work closely with MUDL’s regional directorates to tackle localized urban planning challenges. For instance, our representatives have met with MUDL’s Urban Development, Housing, and Land directorate in Bamiyan province to address the resettlement of displaced families living in historic caves. We consulted with the Ministry on approved residential master plans, such as the Gunbadak and Tapa-i-Jalal projects, advocating for standard residential facilities equipped with schools, clinics, parks, and proper sanitation networks.

Establishing Professional Licensing and Standards

To guarantee long-term accountability, public safety, and professional competency within Afghanistan’s construction sector, we are partnering with MUDL to launch a formal professional licensing program for architects and urban designers.

We are actively working alongside the Ministry to establish the “Afghan Institute of Architects” (AIA) and create an architectural examination and certification board. By continuing to support the adoption of frameworks like the International Building Code (IBC) and modernizing the Ministry’s building permit processes, we remain dedicated to elevating the Afghan engineering and architectural professions to world-class standards.