Two officials from the Uruzgan Provincial Government in Afghanistan recently visited Australia to improve their understanding of agricultural and water management systems.
Engineers Hashim and Kabir were brought to Australia on an AusAID funded study tour, spent three weeks in Australia furthering their understanding of effective water management techniques that could be used in Uruzgan.
The pair visited water and agriculture organisations in Canberra, Perth and Adelaide, including visits to rural water and sewage treatment facilities, training farms, irrigation systems, small and major dam construction projects.
Engineer Hashim, the Director of the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, manages rural infrastructure activities such as canal, bridge and road construction, as well as water supply and sanitation.
Engineer Kabir, Director of the Department of Energy and Water, manages water supply, helping to improve access to clean water in Uruzgan.
They were accompanied by Mr Hamidi, who is contracted by AusAID to work with the Uruzgan Provincial Reconstruction Team as a cultural adviser and interpreter. His work is vital to ensuring effective communications between AusAID’s development advisers, local communities and the Provincial Government.
Engineer Kabir said that Australia had a lot of experience that would benefit their work.
“There are similarities between the climate in Afghanistan and Australia, it is useful for us to see how Australia uses water, and protects water,” he said.
“As I have told many times to colleagues at AusAID, we will not tell them to give us the fish, but will ask how to catch the fish.”
Engineer Hashim said it was useful to see how the Australian Government provides clean water to its population.
“I want future generations [in Afghanistan] to have access to clean water,” he said.
AusAID contracted AGWEST International, the commercial arm of the WA Department of Agriculture and Food, to deliver the study tour.
The tour also helped build networks for Afghanistan’s Government with Australia, linking their officials and engineers with agricultural and water management expertise here.
The tour is part of Australia’s broader efforts to build the capacity of the Afghan Provincial Government in Uruzgan to deliver improved services to its people.
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