In Kabul, the ICMA CityLinks program helped establish trash collection and street cleaning routines and completed numerous small infrastructure projects that provided jobs and improved the quality of life for residents.

Kabul is the largest city in Afghanistan, with an estimated population of 4 million. It is an economic and cultural center located strategically along Kabul River near the Khyber Pass, an important pass in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kabul's population grew from about 1 million to 4 million between 2001 and 2004, and the city's infrastructure programs were unequipped to handle the needs of its growing population. Its roads were deteriorating, contributing to congestion on the already crowded streets. Open channels along the streets served as the only means of drainage for the trash and water discharged by homes and businesses. Trash removal and disposal were among the many difficulties faced by city officials, as Kabul lacked the proper equipment to support an effective waste management program.

To address these challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Afghanistan provided funding to ICMA to help solve infrastructure problems in Kabul and to put in place sustainable programs that can be continued by the municipality and replicated elsewhere in the country. Under its CityLinks program, ICMA provided a pilot program of technical assistance in the Kabul municipality from September 2004 to June 2007. 

This was not a traditional city-to-city model; the resident practitioners employed by ICMA provided technical oversight and assistance to the mayor of Kabul and worked directly with the departments of sanitation, streets, and greening. They also advised the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing on issues of municipal management and policy as they pertained to the Kabul municipality and helped the municipality organize effective work crews, develop performance measurement criteria, and create a system of rewards for good performance. 

Through ICMA and its CityLinks program, the resident practitioners had the benefit of an international network of support, including a technical staff of pro bono advisors who worked outside of Afghanistan and relayed their work electronically to the project. Specialized professionals, ranging from landscapers to engineers, were handpicked from around the U.S. to provide this support, giving many American cities an opportunity to engage in helping the fledgling democracy of Afghanistan. 

Program Activities

With the overall goal of strengthening the capacity of the city to provide essential services, the program provided technical assistance and training in the areas of trash collection, ditch cleaning, street repair, park renovation and rehabilitation, and street-side "greening." ICMA established two project offices in Kabul—in the sanitation and greenery departments—to provide technical assistance and guidance to municipal staff. To help ensure sustainability of improvements, the program focused attention on interdepartmental coordination and capacity building for both city administrators and laborers.

Trash Collection

From 1989 to 2004, Kabul had no systematic trash collection, as it lacked the human resources, equipment, and management capacity to develop any kind of routing system. Crews were sent out each day to an indeterminate area to simply "pick up trash," but in the absence of a system or tracking, little was accomplished. In some areas, trash went uncollected for weeks and accumulated on the streets, in roadside ditches, and at unofficial dumpsites throughout the city, becoming a public health concern.

The municipal government asked ICMA to help address its trash collection needs. One neighborhood was selected for a pilot project because of its integrated Sunni and Shia population. The neighborhood had a large influx of Afghans who had recently returned after years abroad in Pakistan, Iran, and other neighboring countries, and the resulting population boom had overwhelmed the system's capacity to serve the neighborhood.

ICMA began by renting three dump trucks and hiring 15 local laborers to carry out the trash collection activities. During the first year, 90 illegal dumpsites were cleaned up, and 8,880 cubic meters of garbage were removed and disposed of in the city’s landfill.

After arranging for contract workers to locate and remove existing trash piles, an ICMA team developed a trash routing system for the neighborhood's 3,000 homes. ICMA purchased wheelbarrows, shovels, pitchforks, and pickaxes and trained more than 100 city workers in solid waste management. They were joined by dozens of temporary workers who were organized in crews that went door-to-door with a wheelbarrow to collect garbage. Other workers were assigned to ditch cleaning.

The pilot trash collection project allowed Kabul municipal officials and district residents to learn about the elements and functions of a solid waste management system. This was the first time door-to-door trash collection had been available in Kabul—or in any area of Afghanistan—so educating residents was essential. As the dumpsites were cleared, ICMA's resident practitioners and municipal staff talked to residents to explain how the new trash collection system would work and to request their participation.

Household trash would be picked up once a week, according to a set schedule, and gradually residents learned to put trash in plastic bags or a suitable container and set it outside their door on their designated day. Residents also were taught to segregate biodegradable and recyclable trash, allowing biodegradable waste to be composted, thus reducing the volume disposed of in the municipal landfill. Responses to a door-to-door survey showed that most residents were familiar with the program, and the majority indicated that they would be willing to pay for privatized trash collection. The pilot program proved to be a success and was expanded and replicated.

Drainage Ditch Clearing

Because of inadequate collection, trash had been dumped in open ditches along the streets and was clogging drains so that water collected on Kabul's streets and sidewalks during periods of heavy rain or snow. During dry periods, the ditches captured the effluent from latrines and septic tanks, creating a disease- and mosquito-producing environment that compromised public health.

Ditch clearing was planned in conjunction with trash collection. Workers removed trash, debris, and sediment while keeping the sidewalks and roads clear so that there would be no disruption of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The waste was then transported to the municipal landfill. A routine maintenance schedule was put in place, and the ICMA team extended the ditch-clearing project to a larger geographic area.

Parks, Recreation, and "Greening"

After years of neglect, many of Kabul's once-lush green spaces and parks were in poor condition. Park Shar-i-Naw, located in the heart of Kabul, for example, was once a popular destination for families with young children but had fallen into disrepair and had become an eyesore. In conjunction with the Kabul mayor's office, ICMA took on the challenging task of restoring the park and other green spaces.

With the assistance of a pro bono landscape architect from the partner city of Kettering, Ohio, the park was redesigned and renovated with new pavement, walkways, and landscaping. The design incorporated good drainage and easy maintenance. The renovation involved clearing trash and debris; restoring the park's electrical system; repairing and installing light fixtures; building new pathways, gates, and other elements; and planting greenery.

As part of the renovation, ICMA helped construct a "safety park" to build children’s awareness of the dangers of traffic. Each year, hundreds of Afghan children die in traffic accidents because they spend much time playing or begging in the streets. Thanks to the efforts of a 20-member local work crew, the park has a "road" that replicates a highway, complete with traffic signs. Riding small, pedal-powered cars, children can learn what the roadway looks like from a driver's perspective.

To ensure sustainability, ICMA provided onsite training for municipal greenery department staff and also worked with citizens, providing tips and advice on the ongoing use and maintenance of the park. Working together, ICMA and city officials found a small cell phone company that agreed to take over future upkeep. This was one of the first such public-private partnerships in Afghanistan. In November 2006 the mayor of Kabul and USAID inaugurated the park.

Another neighborhood "greening" project was the restoration of a vacant expanse of more than a mile between the Maleqa Soraiia School for Girls and the Abo-Baker-e Sedique Mosque. The property had initially been allocated as a green area, with plans for a playground. The municipality did not have sufficient funds for construction, however, and the area had become a dumping site for trash and raw sewage. A potholed maze of rusted metal and broken glass, the area was dangerous and frequently impassable.

With the help of an engineer from the partner city of Vancouver, Washington, a new design was created and implemented. The ICMA Kabul team worked on solutions that included ditches to drain the raw sewage away from the homes in the neighborhood, a landscaped pedestrian mall and play area, paved walkways, gates to keep out motor vehicles, and other features that transformed the site.

On September 20, 2007—the eve of the International Day of Peace—the newly created park was dedicated as the Kabul Peace Park. A cell phone company agreed to partner with the municipality by committing six maintenance workers for upkeep over the following year.

Street and Traffic Improvements

During the Soviet era, most of Kabul's streets were paved with asphalt. Over the years, however, war and neglect took a toll, and many streets became deteriorated or impassable. Traffic problems were heightened by an increase in the number of drivers as Afghan refugees returned to the country. In addition, signage was either nonexistent or inconsistent, and painted street markings, signal lights, and traffic-regulating barriers were rare. As a result, traffic congestion and accidents became serious problems in the city. To address these issues, the ICMA Kabul team focused attention on two main areas: (1) street markings and traffic signage and (2) street rehabilitation.

Street Markings and Traffic Signage. The ICMA team implemented a plan for a system of uniformly accepted, internationally recognized marking of the paved streets in a pilot district. Trained engineers and technicians assessed the need for traffic markings, crosswalks, barriers, and signs. Plans were developed, approved by the municipality, and implemented in coordination with the municipal public works and streets departments. At each stage, ICMA worked with municipal staff to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills. Kabul residents viewed the markings and signs positively. This was an easily replicated way to improve traffic flow and to reduce the number of accidents and deaths.

Street Rehabilitation. ICMA also undertook an extensive street paving and repair effort, giving priority to residential streets that connect with or provide access to mosques, schools, community centers, major market areas, and other key areas of the community. The team had to consider several important elements, including the fact that roads would be used not only by cars, but also by bicycles and pedestrians, including children on their way to school or worship.

An analysis based on cost, sustainability, maintenance needs, and viability led to the conclusion that cobblestone roads would be best for some of Kabul's residential streets that had low traffic volume. Rebuilding the roads with cobblestone had the additional benefit of providing employment for a significant number of workers and teaching them a valuable skill that could be used in other projects.

Once plans were developed, ICMA coordinated the project with municipal and district departments. Staff notified residents in advance, solicited input on project designs and timing, and implemented the rehabilitation as expeditiously as possible to minimize disruption to neighborhoods. Residents showed their support for the street paving and road maintenance programs by flooding the office with requests for street improvements in other areas. Not only does the program enhance safety and speed the flow of traffic; it also reduces the wear and tear on the vehicles using the roads.

Capacity Building

A major objective of the ICMA CityLinks program in Kabul was to build the capacity of local Afghans and ensure the sustainability of improvements. To accomplish this objective, ICMA Kabul worked hand-in-hand with municipal staff and laborers throughout each project, providing training on site and in regular classes focusing on broad and transferable skills, including computer skills, planning, mapping, and engineering software.

Results

ICMA's program in Kabul achieved significant results:

• More than 200 major dumpsites were cleaned up; nearly 174, 000 cubic meters of garbage were removed; and 150 kilometers of ditches were cleared of debris.
• Weekly door-to-door trash collection was implemented for 3,600 households.
• More than 200 sanitation workers were trained.
• Park Shar-i-Naw was restored from its neglected condition to a family-friendly green space that incorporated a "safety park" area where children could learn about traffic rules.
• Other rundown areas were transformed with new paving, drainage, and landscaping.
• Traffic markings and signs improved vehicular and pedestrian safety.
• The ICMA team rehabilitated 1.76 kilometers of streets, repaired 2.6 kilometers of potholes, and paved 300 meters of non-cobblestone streets.
• Successful programs were replicated elsewhere in the city and the country.