USAID/LGCD

Local laborers constructing a culvert for a road in Jaji District.

On January 26, the Jaji district governor and USAID’s Local Governance and Community Development (LGCD) project held a closing ceremony for a cash-for-work road rehabilitation activity. The tertiary roads in Jaji District of Paktya Province are in severe disrepair due to its mountainous terrain, harsh winters, and remote location and development assistance in the district has been minimal. The poor road condition inhibits transport of goods to market, resulting in decreased income of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. This rehabilitation will help improve commerce, sanitation, health, and traffic flow for local residents. Further, the winter months are an especially difficult time in agriculturally intensive areas, when many farmers are unemployed and idle. Seven kilometers of road were graveled and 12 drainage culverts constructed by employing 649 local residents, for a total of 8,582 verified person days of employment. Through this activity, district level bodies of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan demonstrated a commitment to providing targeted service delivery in even the most remote areas of the district.

Along the rehabilitated road, a community elder from Aryoub Village, described the importance of the activity: “During past years, if we had patients to bring to the hospital – especially pregnant women – many died on the way to the hospital because of the poor road conditions. Now this is the first time that cars and vehicles are coming to our village.”

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 1/15/2011-1/31/2011