The Water Sector Improvement Program (WSIP) has been assisting
the Afghan water sector since 2008. It aims to strengthen the institutional and
organizational framework, leading to improved service delivery in the field of
water supply, wastewater management/sanitation and sustainable protection of
water resources. The current phase of WSIP consists of two components dealing
with various aspects of water sector planning, water supply, urban wastewater
and water quality management issues. Landell Mills International is
implementing Component I: Strengthening the Planning and Management Capacity of
the River Basin Agencies.
The Program can be seen
as split in two parts, either side of the Taliban takeover of the country on 15th
August 2021.
Prior to the Taliban
takeover, the overall objective of the project, of which Component I was
a part is as follows: "The capacities of selected institutions of the
Afghan Water Sector to ensure a comprehensive water supply and wastewater
management in Afghanistan are strengthened in the framework of integrated water
resources management."
The specific objective (purpose) of Component I was: "To strengthen the
planning and management capacity of river basin agencies."
The following Indicators were to be achieved through the project:
At
least two river basin agencies use a data management system for investment
planning.
The
Harirud/Murghab River Basin Agency has established a mechanism to involve
all relevant stakeholders in groundwater management.
The
National Environment Protection Agency "feeds" at least five quality
parameters of selected watercourses in Harirud/Murghab River Basin into
the joint database managed by the River Basin Agency (RBA).The following Outcomes were planned:
River
basin planning documents are developed by the RBAs based on a standardised
methodology.
Institutionalization
of the planning process in all RBAs.
A
knowledge management system is operational at RBA and MEW level.
A
sustainable laboratory with trained technicians is operational.
Urban
groundwater management is based on the analysis of hydrogeological and
monitoring data.
The
surface water quality and potential polluters in Herat City are monitored
in a systematic way.
The
technical decision-making processes for Harirud/Murghab RBA are improved.
Harirud
Murghab RBA manages the available water resources of the Harirud/Murghab
river basin based on actual water demand and supply data.
The
role and responsibilities of NEPA and MEW regarding surface water quality
and pollution monitoring are clearly defined.
The
coordination between Harirud-Murghab RBA and relevant stakeholders is
improved.
The
Salma Dam Council and the Harirud Sub-River Basin Council (once
established) are strengthened.Full implementation was not possible due to the Taliban
takeover.
The Project was repurposed from June 2022 with the
following objective “to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan with
emphasis on the maintenance and improvement of water infrastructure, through a
Cash for Work Programme.”
The project will target large numbers of unemployed and
underemployed people and hire them to carry out maintenance/improvement of
water infrastructure in their local areas. This includes infrastructure for
irrigation, water supply (e.g., spring captures & wells) and water resources
management (e.g., rainwater harvesting).
Examples of potential labour-intensive projects include:
• Desilting of irrigation canals
• Slope stabilisation/erosion control in irrigation
catchments
• Repairing of small-scale irrigation structures
• Cleaning/repair of damage caused by recent floods
(e.g., Herat)
• Maintenance of spring captures & hand-dug wells
• Fixing of access roads to pumping stations & other
water supply infrastructure
• Removal of solid waste from sensitive ecological areas
• Rainwater harvesting from the roofs of schools
• Digging of wells for schools