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Introduction

Background: 

Since the political changes in August 2021, Afghanistan has been grappling with a severe, multifaceted crisis. In April 2022, the de facto authorities (DfA) issued a stringent ban on poppy cultivation and narcotics. Historically, poppy cultivation has been a crucial economic pillar, supporting over 100,000 full-time jobs annually and affecting roughly a third of Afghan villages. The ban led to a 95% reduction in cultivated areas, eliminating the main income source for numerous communities, causing widespread economic instability without providing alternative livelihoods. Furthermore, Afghanistan is highly susceptible to climate change, ranking 6th in vulnerability and 4th in disaster risk globally. The country frequently faces disasters that affect agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Chronic water scarcity, driven by outdated irrigation systems, inefficient water management, and the ongoing impacts of climate change, poses a significant barrier to developing sustainable alternative livelihoods opportunities.

The ban reduced the area under cultivation to a mere 10,800 hectares, slashing farmers’ income from opium harvests by more than 92 percent (from $1.36 billion to $110 million in a year). This drastic decrease in income has affected approximately 200,000 households and 1.5 million people, leading to the loss of about 590,000 jobs. Communities that heavily depended on opium production now face a severe lack of viable economic alternatives, compounded by an overall economic downturn.

UNDP, is a year-long initiative designed to offer alternative livelihoods to individuals and communities affected by a humanitarian crisis, including food insecurity, the poppy ban, and climate-induced disasters. Focused on mitigating climate risks such as water scarcity, which significantly affects agricultural productivity and alternative livelihoods especially in rural areas, the project addresses challenges in agriculture, livelihoods, and water management. By investing in land and water ecosystem restoration, these efforts will create job opportunities and sustainable income for 100,000 Afghan farmers, women and youth across two provinces: Balkh (North) and Uruzgan (South).

ABADEI – PALPA is centered on addressing addresses challenges in agriculture, livelihoods, and water management. By investing in land and water ecosystem restoration, these efforts will create job opportunities and sustainable income for 100,000 Afghan farmers, women and youth across and worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale critical infrastructure for essential needs while creating immediate sources of income through cash-for-work and agriculture infrastructure that are under threat, due to crisis, climate change and economic collapse.

 

Project Area:
This project is located at center of Shulgara district, Balkh Province, Afghanistan.

 

Nature of Contract:

 

Balkh is one of the provinces of Afghanistan, and its capital is Mazar-e-Sharif. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for most of the residents of Balkh, with many relying on the cultivation of crops to support their families. However, Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, ranking 6th globally in vulnerability and 4th in disaster risk. Furthermore, the recent ban on poppy cultivation in the region led to a 95% reduction in cultivated areas, eliminating the main income source for numerous communities and causing widespread economic instability without providing alternative livelihoods.

Shulgara district, located in the southwest of Balkh, is one of the largest districts of the province. It is home to various ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Pashtuns, and Uzbeks. The district covers an area of 1,663 square kilometers and has a population of around 150,000 people. The district is bordered by Chamtal, Gosfandi, Kishandeh, Dara Souf Bayan, Chaharkant, and Dehdadi districts. A key commercial route runs through the district, linking it to other areas like Dara-i-Suf, Gosfandi, Sancharak, and Zari. The Shulgara River flows through the center of the city, and the district's primary agricultural products include rice, wheat, barley, maize, and seasonal vegetables.

However, in the past decade, the district has faced significant challenges due to war, the ruined state of infrastructure, and the ban on poppy cultivation. These factors have left Shulgara distanced from government support and infrastructure development, with the local market remaining outdated despite its central role in commerce between surrounding districts and Mazar-e-Sharif.

 According to the urban master plan, Shulgara market road is 2060 meters long and 10 meters wide from the beginning of the market to the end of the market. Unfortunately, this road remains in a graver shape, which causes the following things in the winter and summer seasons, which are non-working for the residents of Shulgara and businesses:

·       In the winter and the beginning of spring, the road becomes completely muddy, it interrupts the buying and selling of citizens and causes many problems.

·       In the summer and autumn seasons, monsoons in the north cause wind and dust to move to the city and bring various diseases.

·       Next to the mentioned road, a large agricultural ditch flows in a non-standard way. In the spring season, the water rises and cuts off the existing road for the citizens.

·       Most of the residents do not take their agricultural products to the market due to the bad road.

 

It is worth mentioning that 500 meters of the Market Road with RCC drainage (from the total 2,060 meters) were completed in Phase One by UNDP in 2024. In Phase Two, 230 meters of the Market Road, along with an RCC irrigation canal and culverts, will be constructed.

Due to the numerous issues with the city road, citizens are unable to bring their crops to the market or reach the clinic on time. The rehabilitation of a culvert and RCC ditches will allow water to pass beneath the road safely, preventing erosion and damage to the road structure. It will also ensure that the road remains passable during the rainy season, improving overall accessibility for the community. This project is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the road, enhancing the community’s resilience to floods and improving the quality of life for all residents.

The Qepchap irrigation canal, which flows alongside the PCC Market Road and originates from the Shulgara River, crosses the new PCC Market Road and supplies water to 200 jeribs of irrigation land. This is also a priority concern for the villages of Qepchaq, Nawabad Qepchaq, Torpaqly, and Mahajer Qeshlaq.

To address these challenges, the Rehabilitation  of next 500 meters of the Market PCC Road, an RCC ditches and construction of  1 big culvert with 5m span is necessary in Shulgara Bazaar to facilitate access for all villagers, traders, students, livestock, and farming activities. The UNDP/ABADEI project plans to address these community needs and requests.

The nature of the contract for this project involves the construction of an access 5m culvert and 500m Market PCC Road in Shulgara district Balkh Province, designed to facilitate safe and reliable transportation for residents of over 70 villages, including three districts (Dar-e-Suf, Aqkobrok and Zari), connecting them to the districts of Shulgara. Currently, the local population faces serious transportation challenges, particularly during the rainy season, when seasonal floods render existing routes impassable. The construction of this culvert and market PCC road will significantly improve connectivity, enhance livelihood opportunities, and ensure the safe movement of pedestrians, vehicles, and goods throughout the region.

Scope of Work:

A.      Construction of a 5m span and 8m long.

B.      Construction of approach slab and wing walls.

C.       Construction of Access culvert deck with girders and approach slabs.

D.      Stone masonry and pointing for wing walls repairing.

E.       Construction 500m PCC market road with RCC drainages

 

The completion of all the above construction items includes the following activities:

1. Excavation for culvert foundation to ensure structural stability.
2. Bed preparation, backfilling, and compaction at the foundation and approach roads.
3. Laying base course material on road pavement and ditches.
4. Rubble/Stone Masonry for abutments and retaining walls.
5. Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) for foundation bed and coping of walls.
6. Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) casting for bridge deck and supporting structures.
7. Joint filling and PVC water stoppers to enhance durability.
8. Guardrails and protective barriers for pedestrian and vehicle safety

Documents :

Negotiation Document(s) (Before Accessing other negotiations Document(s), please click on this link)