Washington, DC — March 30, 2009 — Today at IRD headquarters, Deputy Minister for Water from the Ministry of Energy and Water in Afghanistan, Shojauddin Ziaie, came to discuss future development of the water sector. The visit is part of the Minster's two week trip to the United States to explore public/private cooperation, and to build on the existing cooperation between the Afghan government and IRD.

"Ten years of IRD involvement in international development has yielded great successes that can be a model for all of us," said Ziaie, reflecting on the partnership between IRD and the Afghan government. "If IRD has accomplished so much in 10 years, then IRD involvement in Afghanistan should yield similar results."

Deputy Minister Ziaie explained the water sector in Afghanistan, future planned funding, and how integrated water resources plans and programs are presently outsourced. He was joined Colonel Thomas O'Donovan of the Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for Corps oversight of reconstruction in Afghanistan. The guests joined IRD senior management for lunch following the presentation. Later in the week, the Minister will participate in a reception held at IRD in his honor.

Afghanistan is influenced by a dry continental climate, where approximately ninety percent of the annual precipitation falls as snow during the winter months. But nearly three decades of war, coupled with prolonged droughts, have imposed tremendous challenges on the water sector. Deteriorated infrastructure, lack of integrated governance mechanisms and tenuous security continue to hamper the water resources management. Still, fair and efficient management of water resources is an essential condition for regional peace, security and stability.

"IRD, and in general the U.S., need to be tackling problems that affect people in Afghanistan the most," said Gilbert Richard, Chief of Party for the Human Resources and Logistical Support (HRLS) program. "And the issue that's affecting people in the countryside the most right now is water."

IRD has been working in Afghanistan since May 2004 to provide tools to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and economy. IRD is currently implementing three USAID-funded programs: AVIPA, to train and provide seeds for drought-affected farmers; the HRLS program, to oversee construction projects across Afghanistan; and Strategic Provincial Roads, to build 1505 km of gravel roads in the particularly challenging eastern and southern provinces. And IRD recently completed a project to create the now self-sufficient Construction Trades Training Center in Jalalabad to help basic labor workers receive training to increase their skills.