Story Highlights:

• Thousands of villagers in Daman district, Kandahar province have easier access to health care, schools and markets, improving their quality of life.
• The improved access is a result of the Afghanistan Rural Access Project turning the district dirt road into an all-weather one.
• The project aims to benefit rural communities across Afghanistan improving access to basic services through the construction of all-weather roads.

DAMAN DISTRICT, Kandahar Province—Sitting on the floor of the mosque in a village, Emad (name changed), 52, says that he is pleased that the lives of district residents have improved. They no longer face risky road conditions caused by the heavy rains that signal the start of spring in Kandahar province.

The cause of the Emad’s satisfaction is the paved four-kilometer (km) main road connecting three villages in the district to the Kandahar–Kabul Highway. Originally a dirt road, it was turned into an all-weather road in 2017, easing travel for over 9,000 residents to the surrounding areas and provincial capital, Kandahar City, and improving access to basic services and community events.

“When the road was not paved, the dirt road would flood when it rained,” recalls Emad. “We had problems doing anything because of this—like getting to funerals and weddings, moving our sick ones to hospital, or getting the children to school.”

The road rehabilitation project, carried out by the Afghanistan Rural Access Project (ARAP), included resurfacing the road with concrete and building seven meters of bridges. The project was wholeheartedly supported by the residents, Emad says, to the extent that many “residents happily donated some of their ancestral lands to help broaden the road.”

Emad recounts the incident in 2015 that triggered the request to the Daman Community Development Council (CDC) to address the appalling road conditions. “A recently married relative came to visit us,” he says. “It was the beginning of winter and the bad road condition made the journey more difficult for him.”

His relative made the journey on foot from Qalat city in Zabul province, a journey of more than two hours by car. “He couldn’t move his hands and legs, he was so cold,” Mohammad recalls, and was barely able to speak when he finally arrived several hours later.

Emad realized that they could not reach a doctor quickly because of poor road access. The hospital was about an hour away by car and the taxi fare would have been prohibitive at 1,000 afghanis *(about $12), a cost out of reach for many rural families in Daman, says Emad.

Although his relative recovered, women and children would not have survived the road under those conditions, he says. The Daman CDC then proposed a road rehabilitation project, which began in late 2016 and finished in June 2017, to ARAP for approval. It was carried out to international safety and quality standards.

ARAP is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and Ministry of Transport. It is supported by the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors, and the International Development Association (IDA), In Kandahar province, five road rehabilitation projects have been carried out—two in Daman district and three in Boldak district. A total of 38 km of road has been rehabilitated, benefiting about 12,700 people.In Kandahar province, five road rehabilitation projects have been carried out—two in Daman district and three in Boldak district. A total of 38 km of road has been rehabilitated, benefiting about 12,700 people.

"Now that the road is paved, there are no problems. We are really happy, and it is a big help for us. The road has been very beneficial to us."

-Chief, Daman district, Kandahar province

Positive Impact on Daily Life

In Daman district, easy access to the Kabul-Kandahar highway has had a positive impact on the daily lives of local residents, says the ARAP Kandahar Regional Manager. Thanks to the paved road, commute to markets, schools, or hospital is now possible in all weather conditions.

“Now the residents can transport their produce to the central markets efficiently and it is not damaged on the way,” he says of the villagers who grow mainly different varieties of melon. “Rain no longer keeps residents from going to family and community events as before. Before the road rehabilitation, residents complained that when it rained, the road would flood and fill up with mud.”

The resurfaced road has also meant affordable transport. “Now, we only pay 300 afghanis [about $3.70] to get to the hospital in Kandahar city,” says Emad of the 15-km trip.

Nearly two years after the road’s rehabilitation, Emad and the other residents are still pleased with the outcome. “Before, we had to walk at least two hours to get to the main highway, but now it takes less than an hour by foot or 15–20 minutes by car,” he says. “Now that the road is paved, there are no problems. We are really happy, and it is a big help for us. The road has been very beneficial to us.”

*All U.S. dollar equivalents are based on the exchange rate $1=80.45 afghanis (May 2019)