Final Performance Evaluation of the Afghanistan Engineering Support Program (AESP)

The program was funded through USAID's Office of Economic Growth and Infrastructure (OEGI) and aimed to support the stabilization and rebuilding of Afghanistan's infrastructure. The AESP provided quick response resident professional architect and engineering (A-E) technical services to USAID. The program's objectives were to improve the quality and efficiency of infrastructure development, enhance the capacity of Afghan institutions, and promote private sector participation in infrastructure development. The AESP worked closely with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and other stakeholders to achieve these objectives. The evaluation of the AESP was conducted between March 8 and April 21, 2014, by Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc. under contract with USAID's Afghanistan Services under Program and Project Office for Results Tracking Phase II (SUPPORT II) project. The evaluation team consisted of Ron Francis as the Team Leader, Michael Partridge, Aziz Ahmad Gulistani, and Fraidon Faryad as team members, and Lisa Jenkins as the Editor. The evaluation focused on assessing the AESP's performance in achieving its objectives, identifying best practices, and providing recommendations for improvement. The evaluation team reviewed project documentation, conducted interviews, administered questionnaires, and used expert judgment to gather data. The evaluation findings and results are presented in this report. The AESP's performance was evaluated in terms of its ability to deliver technical services, enhance the capacity of Afghan institutions, and promote private sector participation in infrastructure development. The evaluation team assessed the program's achievements in the sectors of energy, water and sanitation, transportation, vertical structures, and water resources. The evaluation found that the AESP had made significant progress in delivering technical services to USAID. The program had provided technical assistance to various projects, including the Afghan Clean Energy Program (ACEP) and the Power Transmission Expansion and Connectivity (PTEC) project. The AESP had also enhanced the capacity of Afghan institutions, including the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW). However, the evaluation also identified some challenges and limitations faced by the AESP. The program had faced difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, particularly in the areas of engineering and architecture. The AESP had also faced challenges in coordinating with other stakeholders, including the GIRoA and the private sector. Based on the evaluation findings, the AESP team recommended several improvements to the program. The recommendations included strengthening the program's capacity to deliver technical services, enhancing the capacity of Afghan institutions, and promoting private sector participation in infrastructure development. The AESP team also recommended that the program should focus on developing a more comprehensive and integrated approach to infrastructure development, taking into account the needs and priorities of the Afghan people. Overall, the AESP had made significant progress in delivering technical services to USAID and enhancing the capacity of Afghan institutions. However, the program faced several challenges and limitations that needed to be addressed to achieve its objectives. The evaluation findings and recommendations provided a basis for improving the AESP's performance and achieving its objectives.