OVERVIEW

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Engineering Support Program (ESP) provides architectural, engineering and construction management services for infrastructure projects related to energy, transportation, drinking water, sanitation, health, education, and agriculture.

ESP also trains Afghan government staff and technicians working for the national power utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), local contractor personnel, and university students on industry best practices and internationally accepted engineering principles and standards.

ACTIVITIES

• Energy Sector Support: Contribute to Afghan-led growth by supporting the power sector, by assisting DABS and facilitating private sector investment in power generation. ESP supports planning, design, improved national procurement processes, and construction quality assurance on electric power transmission and generation projects throughout Afghanistan.
• Transportation: ESP provides independent construction management services for road projects.
• Engineering and Construction Support: USAID ESP provides civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design reviews; technical support, and construction management support for education, health, water and other public services and facilities.
• Technical Services: ESP provides technical reviews and assessments of proposed construction activities.
• Capacity Building: ESP provides training and professional advancement opportunities for Afghans to build national engineering and construction management capacity. Currently, ESP is developing the skills of 62 Afghan engineers working on USAID infrastructure projects. Their USAID-supported training includes project management, computer-aided design, international building codes, technical writing, technical reviews, and leadership principles.
• Empowerment of Female Engineering & Architecture Students: ESP conducts an intensive internship program that provides fourth-year female engineering and architecture students on-the-job experience in the operations of an engineering firm, including construction oversight, shop drawing reviews, technical presentations, computer-aided design, and other engineering principles and practices. By 2017, 24 women had graduated from the program, which was started in 2011 by the previous USAID Afghanistan Engineering Support Program.
• Media Assistance: ESP helps with mass media and social media outreach efforts to inform Afghans about USAID infrastructure development projects.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Ensure the quality of over $1.2 billion USAID-supported infrastructure construction in Afghanistan meets international standards and adheres to best practices.
• Train Afghan partners to operate, sustain, and maintain USAID-supported infrastructure.