Context:
Afghanistan has made considerable progress in some areas of development in recent years. The country's reconstruction achievements, however, vary greatly from region to region. The southern Afghan province of Uruzgan has been largely bypassed by the positive developments seen in other parts of the country, not least due to poor transportation links with surrounding provinces and the capital Kabul.
Transport infrastructure in Uruzgan is generally in poor condition. The ongoing security threat in the province also makes road travel all but impossible, particularly on the main transport routes to the southern province of Kandahar and the northern provinces. As a result, the population of Uruzgan is largely isolated, and there is only limited trade in goods and manufactured products.
Objective:
People in Uruzgan province have their first direct connection to the capital Kabul and other regions of the country. Building an airport terminal in the province's capital Tarin Kowt and promoting civil aviation in the province will give the population access to improved and more secure transportation services and also facilitate the trade in goods, benefiting Uruzgan's economic development.
Approach:
Working on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, with the Dutch Government as co-financier, GIZ is planning to build a modern airport terminal (including the necessary security building) in Tarin Kowt. The airport facilities are being planned and built in cooperation with Afghan and international firms, with GIZ providing the technical and quality-assurance oversight of construction work. The airport terminal will be fitted with the technology and equipment needed for it to operate in accordance with internationally recognised security standards.
GIZ is advising the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority and local decision-makers on establishing an effective personnel structure and a security concept to underpin the secure and sustainable operation of the terminal.
The airport management team and security staff are receiving regular training in order to achieve and maintain high standards of security in Uruzgan. The training courses are being run by certified providers. Airport staff will also benefit from on-site supervision and support to enable them to carry out their duties in line with the required quality standards.
The Afghan government is promoting civil aviation as a national priority and is therefore encouraging regular dialogue between other airports in order to ensure that experience is shared and knowledge transferred within the country.
Results:
A modern airport terminal and security building have been built in Tarin Kowt, allowing passengers and baggage to be checked in securely and efficiently. Tarin Kowt airport is currently served by two airlines operating flights four days a week – a fourfold increase in air traffic compared with the pre-terminal volume.
With advisory support provided by GIZ, the Afghan government has recruited the management and security staff required at the airport. Thanks to ongoing supervision and regular support at the airport itself, the management team is increasingly able to plan and run terminal operations on its own, including building maintenance and repairs.
The Afghan police force has provided a special unit to work closely with the airport's managers in ensuring security and carrying out border control duties. As a result, security precautions at Tarin Kowt have been significantly improved, bringing them into line with national airport security requirements.
Last revised: December 2014