Flags of the U.S. and Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan: From the American People

Infrastructure

Objective: Expand and improve access to economic and social infrastructure

Program Photo Gallery

Governor Mangal speaking to press at the dam.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Governor Mangal speaking to press at the dam.

Ghor canal construction

Photo: USAID/FIRUP/Hilda Grigorian

Ghor residents gravel a road and dig a drainage ditch to prevent flooding. Improved roads allow better access to markets, schools, and clinics.

Photo of rough gravel road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Busses and trucks had a difficult time driving on the rough road between Ghazni in Ghazni Province and Sharan in Paktika Province in southeastern Afghanistan.

Photo of difficult driving terrain

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The mountainous Panjshir Valley was isolated over several decades. The road stretches through difficult terrain.

Photo of bicyclists riding on paved road

Photo: Idrees Ilham/USAID/Afghanistan

Every day over 400 bicyclists ride over the Pul-e-Alam road south of Kabul. Many of the riders are students going to-and-from school.

Photo of PRT airstrip

Photo: Jennifer Ragland USAID/PRT

PRT Air is the first flight to take off from the newly constructed airstrip in Qalat.

Photo of mosque, bridge, road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Provisional Reconstruction Team and military members of the PRT work together to get a bridge built in a difficult location close to the community mosque.

Photo of paved road

Photo: Photo: USAID

USAID rebuilt a key portion of Afghanistan's national road system which links its two largest cities and economic centers.

photo of paved road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The newly reconstructed 64 km Ghazni to Sharan Road has successfully decreased the travel time from four hours to one hour between the two communities.

photo of paved road in Panjshir Valley

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The completion of the paved road in Panjshir Valley has reduced travel time from Kabul and provided people a chance to enjoy fresh mountain air and the Panjshir River on weekends.

photo of men with shovels digging canals

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

“Men would come every day to work and be happy to work because we are making our land better and we have a chance to begin again.” –A returned refugee

photo of farmer and child in field with produce

Photo: Matt Herrick

Nadir, a farmer in Baghram, says his irrigation has improved significantly in 2003, even at 6.5km from the Ghorband dams.

photo of boy in truck on road

Photo: USAID/Jennifer Lindsey

"We like the road because now it's easy for cars… and easy for us to get to school. Not only my parents but all the villagers are very happy with the new road because we can get sick people to the clinic faster. And now, because the road is paved, there is no longer so much dust“ -Asif Haseebkhan, 10 years old, Durani Village

photo of family standing outside on road

Photo: USAID/Matt Herrick

"Now my children can walk safely and easily to school. The cars move faster and the drive is smoother. Now it’s much easier for me to take my fruit and vegetables to the market. This paved road is very good“ - Sultan Mohammad and his six children, walking along the road from their village of Andar to attend a wedding in Shahkabul, Wardak Province.

photo of man standing next to taxi

Photo: USAID/Jennifer Lindsey

"Thank you to everybody who helped to build our road. It is very good. What used to take one hour to drive, now takes only 10 minutes. Before, it was so bumpy and dusty. And we used to travel at 30 km/hour, at most. Now we can go up to 110 km. /hour. This is very good for my business.” - Noor Rahman, Taxi Driver, Wardak Province

Photo of boys singing at opening ceremony

Photo: Mohammad Afzal Muhsini, OIEE, USAID/Afghanistan

Students sing the Afghan national anthem during the Faizabad Connector Road opening ceremony in Jawzjan province's Faizabad district.

work on an industrial park

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Work commences on an industrial park.

Building a retaining wall in Badakhshan

Photo: USAID/IRP

A worker builds a retaining wall during the construction of the Kishim to Fayzabad Road, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Winding through mountains and rough terrain, the road will facilitate transportation in the remote northern province of Badakhshan.

girls schools construction in progress

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

USAID continues to support construction for girl's schools around Afghanistan.

girls schools construction in progress

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

USAID supports construction for girl's schools around Afghanistan.

A construction worker at the Sabawoon Feed Mill

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

A construction worker at the Sabawoon Feed Mill.

laying the school

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Laborers worked overnight to avoid disrupting daytime school operation.

students currently study outside

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The new school will provide classroom space for students who currently must take exams outside.

Artist’s rendition of Ghazi School after construction.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Artist’s rendition of Ghazi School after construction.

Ghazi High School Construction Team

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Members of the construction team worked overnight to lay the school’s foundation.

Newly installed lights increase security at the Garmsir Bazaar.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Newly installed lights increase security at the Garmsir Bazaar.

touring Kajaki dam

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki engineers explain to journalists how the new turbines will function.

signing contracts to maintain the country

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Afghan businessmen sign contracts to maintain the country's roads.

Keshim to Faizabad Road excavation

Photo: USAID/IRP

The Keshim to Faizabad Road, under construction in Badakhshan, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Winding through mountains, the road will facilitate transportation over rough terrain.

Kajaki Dam in Helmand province.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki Dam in Helmand province.

ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tagab

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Representatives from Tagab’s 80 villages attend a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the beginning of road construction.

Mendrawar to Qarghayi Road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Mendrawar to Qarghayi Road serves nearly 105,000 citizens of Laghman Province.

Charikar-Panjshir Road gabion baskets

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Workers protect against erosion during the construction of the Charikar-Panjshir Road.

North West Kabul substation, Afghanistan

Photo: Wakil Naseri

North West Kabul substation, Afghanistan.

Afghan boys, Kabul

Photo: Lizette Potgieter

Afghan boys huddle around a fire, Kabul.

North West Kabul substation

Photo: Wakil Naseri

سب ستیشن شمال غرب، افغانستان

North West Kabul Substation

Photo: USAID/Wakil Naseri

Power flows to Kabul through the North West Kabul Substation.

Trucks bring drilling equipment to Shibirghan

Photo: USAID/IRP/Steve Pearce

USAID is conducting gas field exploration in Jawzjan Province to investigate ways to provide electricity to the Afghan people. In March 2009, a convoy of 36 trucks loaded with 550 tons of drilling equipment travelled 3,000 km to reach the Shibirghan gas fields.

Residents wait for convoy in Shibirghan

Photo: USAID/IRP Steve Pearce

Shibirghan residents and government officials welcome the much anticipated convoy.

Shibirghan convoy

Photo: USAID/IRP Steve Pearce

A convoy of 36 trucks loaded with 550 tons of drilling equipment travelled 3,000 km to reach Shibirghan gas fields.

Paving on Kishim-Fayzabad Road

Photo: USAID/LBG/B&V Joint Venture

Paving begins in Fayzabad.

Kajaki Dam

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki Dam in Hilmand Province.

Inaugurating the power line to Kabul

Photo: Advanced Engineering Associates Intl.

President Hamid Karzai and Minister of Energy and Water Ismail Khan inaugurating the power line from Uzbekistan to Kabul.

Distributing relief aid

Photo: USAID/SPR-SEA

Shirzad families receive earthquake relief aid.

Karzai energizes substation

Photo: USAID/IRP

President Karzai energizes a substation to begin the transfer of electricity from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.

Student engineers

Photo: USAID/AECP

The first class of engineers improve their knowledge of Afghanistan’s energy sector.

Water conference 2009

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Water conference participants, including Minister of Energy and Water Mohammed Ismail Khan, discuss sustainable water use.

Sanitation agreement signing

Photo: USAID/CAWSA

USAID Rep. Eng. Gul Afghan Saleh noted the U.S. Government’s commitment to strengthen Afghan institutions.

Launching Kabul Power Plant

Photo: USAID/Dan Wilkinson

U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, President Hamid Karzai, and Minister of Energy and Water Ismail Khan celebrate the launch of Tarakhil Power Plant.

School construction

Photo: USAID/UNOPS

Construction begins on a high school in Kabul.

DABS launch with Amb. E. Anthony Wayne

Photo: U.S. Embassy/Kabul

Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne (seated, second from right), Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, joined Afghan officials (from left to right: Minister of Urban Development Pashtun, Minister of Economy Shams, Minister of Energy and Water Khan and Minister of Finance Zakhilwal), and other international donors to announce the Afghan Government’s launch of a new utility corporation on September 30, 2009 in Kabul.

Solar panels along K-F Road

Photo: Lizette Potgieter

The construction of the Kishim-Fayzabad Road has brought prosperity – and electricity – to the village of Gunbaz Balocha. Solar panels now dot the rooftops of many homes.

GMIC briefing with MEW

Photo: Government Media and Information Center

Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismail Khan briefs the media at the Government Media and Information Center.

Fans and lights switched on

Photo: USAID/ADP/E

Fans and lights are switched on for the first time in village head Malik Mir Alam Khan’s guest room.

Naiabad Switchyard

Photo: Advanced Engineering Associates Intl.

The Naiabad Switchyard is a key component of the transmission line that brings electricity to major cities in Afghanistan.

Potable water in rural communities

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Potable water supply is a fundamental public service for rural Afghans and contributes to improved health and quality of life.

Sardar Kabuli Girls

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

In late October 2009, USAID laid the massive earthquake-resistant foundation for Sardar Kabuli Girls' High School. When completed, the school will serve more than 4,000 girls in Afghanistan's capital.

Nangarhar Industrial Park project

Photo: USAID/LGCD

Afghan officials, international donors, and community leaders celebrate the launch of the Nangarhar Industrial Park construction.

Solar panel in Logar

Photo: USAID/LGCD

More than 100 families in Logar Province will have clean, affordable energy this winter thanks to solar panels provided by USAID and Afghan Community Development Councils.

Woman trainee with her embroidery

Photo: USAID/SPR-SEA/Gul Agha Baturi

Halima displays a dress that she has embroidered in the cherma dozi style. Cherma dozi is a tradition in Afghan culture. Gold and silver threads follow a lace-like pattern around the neckline, sleeves, and borders of women’s dresses.

Literacy training course

Photo: USAID/SPR-SEA/Shahpoor

Women attend a literacy training course. Halima has learned to read and write thanks to the course, and noted, “Now I am able to help my daughter study her textbooks.”

Ghor canal construction

Photo: USAID/FIRUP/Hilda Grigorian

Water flows freely through a cleaned irrigation canal, nourishing farmland and pastures in the Chaghcharan area of Ghor province.

On the Road filming in Paktya

Photo: USAID/IRP

On the Road host Mujeeb Arez on location in Paktya province.

Kajaki Dam

Photo: Lizette Potgieter

Kajaki Dam’s water is used to generate power for Kandahar and Hilmand provinces.

Packaged soap

Photo: IRD/SPR-SEA/Lutfullah

The soap is packaged professionally before it is delivered to market.

Inspecting soap

Photo: IRD/SPR-SEA/Lutfullah

A trainer inspects bars of soap made by community members in Wazir. The USAID-funded factory enables workers to make soap for use in the village and for sale to outside markets.

Solar light distribution to Kuchis

Photo: USAID/ACEP

USAID and MRRD provided solar lights to Kuchi nomads.

Fish farm in Laghman

Photo: IRD/SPR-SEA/Javed Khan

Ali Jan’s fish farm holds 2,500 fish and provides him with an income of $200 per month. All of his school-aged children are now able to attend school.

Fish farm construction

Photo: RD/SPR-SEA/Javed Khan

Ali Jan supervises the construction of his fish farm, supported by a grant from USAID.

Engine plate cleaning at Tarakhil

Photo: USAID/IRP

An Afghan engineer cleans an engine plate at the Tarakhil Power Plant.

Sherzad Girls Middle School

Photo: USAID/CHEF

USAID built the new Sherzad Girls Middle School in Nangarhar province after an April 2009 earthquake destroyed the original school. This school can accommodate up to 400 girls studying in two shifts.

Road repair in Uruzgan

Photo: USAID/LGCD

Sakhar villagers work to widen and improve their road.

IRP internship program

Photo: USAID/IRP Mustafa Yasa

Interns watch as Engineer Eshaq performs a California bearing ratio (CBR) crushing test, which measures the load-bearing capacity of materials used to build roads.

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Infrastructure

The building and refurbishing of infrastructure boosts economic growth and agricultural yields, connects rural Afghans to services, and provides schools, clinics, and courthouses for its citizens.

FY02-07 Infrastructure Spending: $2,117 M
FY08 Infrastructure Budget:  $527 M
FY09 Infrastructure Budget:  $282 M
(incl. supplemental request)

Related Links

Afghanistan Energy Information Center

Infrastructure Snapshot

  • Donors cooperated to reconstruct 1,866 km (86 percent) of the Ring Road; the USG reconstructed 831 km at a cost of $500 million.

  • Currently, approximately 26,000 Afghans are employed on USAID infrastructure projects.

  • One of the largest USAID projects in Afghanistan, a 105MW power plant, will provide electricity to greater Kabul.  It is currently partially operational and will be fully online by the end of 2009.

(Data as of October 2009)

Last updated March 21, 2010

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