Minister Mohammad Ehsan Zia of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) signed 83 rural development projects contracts worth USD 8,589,381 with private companies.

The contracted projects include: digging of 1095 drinking water wells, the construction of 1 hospital, 1 VET clinic, 1 health clinic, 2239 latrines, 3 clean drinking water networks, 1 water reservoir,3 bridges, construction of 2.4 km road, 4 schools with 8 classes, 6 schools with 16 classes, and procurement of 2 generators, establishing satellite and internet services for MRRD provincial departments.

These projects will be implemented in the provinces of: Badghis, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Parwan, Paktia, Paktika, Takhar, Juzjan, Khost, Daa-e-Kundi,Zabul, Sar-e-Pul, Samangan, Faryab, Ghoor, Kabul, Kundoz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Hirat, and Helmand.

The completion period for these projects is expected to be 6 months – creating an estimated 294,685 labor days immediate employment and in the longer-term benefiting 2,600,216 rural people.

“In its rural development work, MRRD adheres to a people-centered approach, integrated and sustainable forms of development, environmental protection, gender equality and a respect for and promotion of traditional local indigenous culture, said Mohammad Ehsan Zia Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. ” The aims of implementing these projects are to apply an integrated and participatory development approach to rural communities and to enhance the sustainable development capacity of poverty-stricken areas.” He added.

The digging of 1095 drinking water wells and construction of drinking water networks will provide access to safe drinking water for 198,880 villagers in 22 provinces, thus reducing the water born disease in the mentioned areas to a large extent.

Also, with the installation of the satellite equipments MRRD 34 provincial departments will be connected with the internet, improving quality of work and will significantly reduce communication problems with MRRD’s provincial department.

The funding for these projects comes from UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, CIDA, DIAG, the Governments of JAPAN, NORWAY, INDIA, and BELGIUM, and from the ordinary budget of MRRD.

With the support of international community, MRRD is working to rebuild rural Afghanistan through its various national programmes such as the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP), Water and Sanitation Programme (WATSAN), National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), and the Micro-Finance Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA).