The Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) commissioned Norplan to assist the Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (“RuWatSip”) by providing technical and management consultancy services. Financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the project is due for completion in 2015.

The Afghan government views the achievements to be very significant and hopes to expand the activities from hydrogeological mapping covering one pilot province to now cover all 33 provinces in Afghanistan.

The project aims to provide a framework for water development using modern and sustainable hydrogeological methods for the development of drinking water in smaller towns and rural areas. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of the governmental staff at central and provincial levels, NGOs, private sector and beneficiary communities to scale up provision of sustainable water supply facilities.

Norplan`s Project Manager, Svein Stoveland said “The project has achieved remarkable results despite a very challenging situation. Faryab is located in a very challenging area, however, strengthening their water resources, drinking water, sanitation and irrigation system is of crucial importance to improve the lives and well-being of the people in the region of Faryab.”