Siphon, Canal Lining, and Flood Protection Wall through Cash for Work modality in Garmi Abad, Gozara district, Herat Province

Background:

The post-15 August 2021 power shift in Afghanistan resulted in severe political and social-economic instability in a climate of heightened uncertainty. Since then, the country has been facing challenges on multiple fronts, including poverty, food insecurity, droughts, energy crisis and micro- and macro-economic impacts. The climate crisis has particularly exacerbated over the last few years. Afghanistan experienced severe droughts and adverse climate events in 2021 and 2022, and is ranked 5th among the most climate at-risk countries worldwide. This resulted in a 9.8 percent reduction in agricultural output in 2021 and an additional 6.6 percent decrease in 2022. Over the last two years, the total decline in agricultural production amounted to 15.7 percent. Afghanistan’s agrarian output is prone to the impacts of climate change. In a country where nearly 80 percent of the population depends on agriculture, the severe impacts of climate change and water scarcity are placing substantial hardships on people's livelihoods. These challenges have considerably exacerbated subsistence conditions for more than half of the population reflecting the need for support on climate resilience and sustainable recovery.

The Western Region, including Herat province, has been most affected by climate adverse events. In 2023, Herat province experienced extreme drought conditions affecting 20% of its area (17,000 km²), and severe drought impacting an additional 13,000 km², as reported by the FAO. The province is also affected by seasonal flooding which destroyed property and arable land, disrupting agricultural output and leading to income losses. 

Garmi Abad and Khatim-ul-Anbia villages in Gozara district, Herat province, have a population of approximately 700 and 12,000 people respectively. They are located near each other, in the proximity of the Harirod river. They have been vulnerable to recurrent flash flooding over time. The villages’ economy relies on agriculture, with the main crops being wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, vegetables, okra. Across Garmi Abad there is a canal that irrigates around 50 geribs of land belonging to the people of this village as well as nearby villages, such as Qala-e-Mirgul and Ali Abad. All this area suffers from the impact of the floods, every time they occur. In addition, the canal gets particularly affected, as it gets filled with mud. The people are then obliged to clean the canal and remove the mud, which is a costly and timewasting activity.  

Khatim-ul-Anbia is a nearby village, inhabited by a minority group (hazara). In this village, women are particularly active, however they lament a lack of job opportunities. UNDP already set up a community kitchen (CK) in this village and in 2024 it will scale its support with the aim of strengthening the capacities of the women and making the CK a fully independent enterprise which helps women generate income.

Furthermore, in Khatim-ul-Anbia UNDP will set up a greenhouse with hydroponic system to promote an efficient and innovative water-saving irrigation technique.  

The people of the two villages are highly connected. The improvement of agricultural output in Garmi Abad thanks to the water scheme will benefit the CK in Khatim-ul-Anbia through increased availability of produces for food preparation by the CK.

UNDP support:

Against this background, ABADEI intends to offer support on water management and income generation. UNDP will support the construction of a protection wall to protect the people and the land in Garmi Abad and neighbouring villages. In addition, UNDP will construct a siphon to avoid the canal from getting filled with mud, and will do canal lining works to further protect and maintain the water scheme.   

The overall works will guarantee improved water supply for various uses, predominantly irrigation for crops and livestock, in addition to human consumption. As a result, farmers will sustainably irrigate their land throughout the year, without suffering the consequences of the flooding, as their canal will be protected and safe from mud filling. The flood will not disturb the water in the canal, and the farming land will have water for irrigation without interruption.  

UNDP will carry out these construction activities through the Cash for Work modality. 376 labourers will be engaged in cash for work activities, around 358 unskilled labours, each will work for 12 days and about 18 skilled laborers each will work for 70 days.

The described infrastructure activities will contribute to the following ABADEI output and result:

-       Output 1: Essential services improved in the area of infrastructure, agriculture, health, education and energy: Activity results-1.1: Essential physical critical infrastructure constructed, rehabilitated, repaired, equipped and maintained, including infrastructure for water management, shelter, WASH, transportation, agriculture, health, education, basic services.

-       Output 2: Local economies improved through gender-responsive community-based livelihoods. Activity results -2.2: Local-level livelihoods and economies sustained through Cash for Work (CfW) including women and girls, vulnerable groups accessing CfW.

Nature of Contract:

The required civil works for the flood protection wall project will be excavation, compacted backfilling, Stonemasonry (main activity of the project), PCC, PVC pipe for weep holes, etc.

a.     Specific Objectives

The objective of the project is to protect houses and agricultural land from the risk of flooding.

b.     Scope of work

The works shall be done as per scope of work, specifications, design, drawings, BoQs and general contract conditions, this project requires an experienced registered contractor to design and execute the job, the contractor shall provide all labour, material tools, equipment, supervision services, and other related items required to complete the project as per the scope of work and specifications.