A significant goal of ICMA’s funded international technical assistance projects is to leave in place professional municipal staff, standard operating procedures, and streamlined management systems that will enable local participants to sustain improvements in governance and service delivery after the project ends. 

The USAID and ICMA Commercialization of Afghanistan Water and Sanitation Activity (CAWSA) program has made significant strides toward achieving that goal. Most recently, CAWSA arranged a week-long training and study tour for 15 directors and engineers from local water supply companies in Afghanistan to participate in a study tour to Ahmedabad, in Gujarat state, India. The tour, hosted by the Urban Management Centre (UMC), ICMA’s representative in South Asia, focused on water supply and wastewater management systems. 

Tour participants met with municipal leaders in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, heard presentations on leading practices in water and sanitation management, examined the issues and challenges facing this service sector, and visited local facilities for a first-hand look. Highlights included: 

• A visit to the Ahmedabad water intake, treatment, and distribution stations and the city’s customer service center
• Training on water quality monitoring at the Gujarat Jalseva Training Institute in Gandhinagar, followed by hands-on exercises on water testing at the institute’s lab
• A “heritage walk” through Ahmedabad, showing how water and sanitation services are provided in the core city
• Case studies and videos on various aspects of water and sanitation management, including stakeholder mapping and improving cost recovery. 

While in Gujarat, the group also had an opportunity to experience local culture and tourist attractions. 

The CAWSA program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is working with local units of the national water utility (the Afghan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation, AUWSSC) in five cities and four satellite operations to help them improve their management and technical operations.  

Since its start in 2008, CAWSA has upgraded the physical infrastructure of the local water systems, established customer hot lines and accessible customer care centers, identified and addressed illegal connections, improved billing and collection procedures, and developed and documented standard operating and maintenance procedures. 

Speaking of the study tour, Mohammed Baheer, director general of AUWSSC, told a local newspaper in Ahmedabad that the group wanted to learn how water is provided in Indian cities and to learn more about good administration, financial management, and customer service practices. He noted that the focus on water services is consistent with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, which establishes the country’s redevelopment priorities. 

Manvita Baradi, UMC director, pronounced the study tour a success. “The group was very enthusiastic, committed to learning . . . I hope the discussions and learning help the team to accomplish the program objectives.” 

To learn more about ICMA’s international projects, visit the “International Development” topic area in the Knowledge Network, or contact international@icma.org