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DAI fielded a team that spent from June to September
in the field, and achieved the following:
- An approach to strengthen the Afghan government's
strategic planning and policy-making capacity related to management
of irrigated agriculture and water resources was prepared and presented
to USAID and to the main Ministries involved in water resource management.
This plan is currently being discussed.
- Contact was initiated and maintained with key
players from local and international NGOs and government ministries
(Ministries of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Rural Development) including
brief meetings with the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah and
interim head-of-state, Hamid Karzai.
- The main large irrigation systems (9) were visited
and evaluated with the use of a diagnostic framework for irrigation
system assessment specifically developed for that purpose. Opportunities
for rehabilitation were identified, along with an assessment of the
cost and the evaluation of potential partners (local NGOs).
- A diagnostic of the irrigation sector in Afghanistan
was prepared, identifying strengths, weaknesses, potential trends
and opportunities for intervention.
- A drought assessment report was prepared, evaluating
the extent and severity of the current drought in Afghanistan.
- An office/guest house was established in the Wazir
Akbar Khan neighborhood of Kabul that will also serve as permanent
quarters throughout Phase II/implementation. Local administrative
and technical staff were hired.
This Task order is closed, but activities continue
under Phase II.
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