Ghazni PRT Assesses Village, Builds Relationships

Written by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Courtney Witt Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Tuesday, 08 February 2011 02:05

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Civil Affairs Team members and engineers assess a well with an elder in the Touheed Abad Village in Ghazni Province Feb. 6. More than 25 wells were built throughout the village over two years ago by non-government organizations. Now, only five are in working condition. The PRT suggested the community come together to help keep their village in working order. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Courtney Witt, Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - On cold, wintery days, many people would stay inside, but not the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team. Instead, they were out conducting a water well assessment and fostering relationships in the Touheed Abad Village, Ghazni Province Feb. 6.

Ghazni PRT members stay busy visiting districts throughout the province, but still take time to assess local villages that surround the base such as Touheed Abad.

More than 25 wells were built throughout the village more than two years ago by non-government organizations. Now, only five are in working condition.

“All projects the PRT facilitates, whether we sponsor directly or work with an NGO to fund, are tracked and followed up on,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Alex Dietrich, an engineer for the Ghazni PRT from Washington, D.C. “We don’t build a project and then walk away. We make sure they are maintaining and keeping the project secure after the Afghans have agreed to sustain it.”

Even though the PRT’s main mission is to help in reconstruction, they believe the community should come together to keep their village in working order.

“What are they going to do when we leave,” she added. “Our work shouldn’t be focused on the projects, but rather on the process. They need to stop looking to the PRT or coalition forces for help but instead utilize their Provincial Council, the Afghan government, for guidance. That’s why we’re here, to strengthen and empower the government of Afghanistan.”

Visiting the wells was not the only mission. Mingling with the locals is a great way to build relationships within the community and to pass important information.

U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Shane Coss, Ghazni PRT information operations officer and Cass Lake, Minn., resident, spoke with individuals while passing out calling cards for the Guardians of Peace program.

“This program allows them to take ownership of security,” said Coss. “By using the hot line on the card to report suspicious activity, it helps them improve their situation.”

With a high illiteracy rate in the village, another way of passing important information is through the radio.

“Villagers will be able to hear official programs from both the U.S. and Afghan governments,” said Coss. “The use of the radio gets the information out to the people and gives them a chance to hear what the government has to offer.”

More than 10 radios were given to the elders during this visit.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Shane Coss, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team information officer, hands out calling cards for the Guardian of Peace program to children during a village assessment in Touheed Abad Village in Ghazni Province Feb. 6. Visiting the wells was not the only mission, mingling with the locals is a great way to build relationships within the community and pass important information. Coss also gave out radios to village elders. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Courtney Witt, Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A local man walks the empty, snowy streets of Touheed Abad Village in Ghazni Province Feb. 6. Power lines are draped all over the village but many villagers still do not have electricity. While electricity is a concern among the residents, fixing water issues is their main priority. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Courtney Witt, Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team members walk among the locals engaging in conversation during a village assessment in Touheed Abad in Ghazni Province Feb. 6. Ghazni PRT members stay busy visiting districts throughout the province, but still take time to build relationships and assess local villages, such as Touheed Abad, that surround their base. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Courtney Witt, Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team)

Ghazni Contractors Learn Effective Bidding Process

Written by Artur Weber TF White Eagle, Public Affairs Office Friday, 11 February 2011 03:08

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan entrepreneurs listen as representatives from the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team explain how to effectively bid on PRT projects during a conference in Ghazni City Feb. 8. More than 150 contractors from Ghazni Province and Kabul attended the conference. (Photo by Artur Weber, Task Force White Eagle Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – More than 150 contractors participated in a contracting conference held by the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghazni City Feb. 8.

The conference was organized to familiarize contractors from Ghazni Province with the requirements for submitting bids on projects organized by the PRT. The orientation was critical due to the large number of bids rejected as a result of errors, according to the PRT.

"This figure reaches up to 70 percent," said Polish Army Lt. Col. Cezary Kiszkowiak, Ghazni PRT deputy commander.

Therefore the same few companies won the majority of auctions the PRT organized.

"Not because there are so few (companies) here, but precisely because not all companies know how to properly prepare documents," said Kiszkowiak.

The Ghazni PRT wanted to give all the contractors the tools to competitively bid for contracts, he said.

PRT representatives provided information on the bidding procedures to the participants.

"We explained how to fill out the necessary forms, what are the applicable time limits, where to send the bid, what the required attachments should include, how to communicate with the PRT and what the most common errors are and what to do to avoid them," said Przemyslaw Kapuscinski, Ghazni PRT engineer.

Musa Khan, the governor of Ghazni Province, said the Ghazni PRT initiative is a very good step toward improving cooperation between local contractors and the PRT. He said training will enable more companies to participate in PRT tenders.

The conference benefited the PRTs and the contractors. For PRT specialists, the conference was also an opportunity to meet with a large number of contractors in one place, and it was easier for many of the contractors to meet at the governor’s office rather than Forward Operating Base Ghazni.

Organizers were positively surprised by the large number of participants, said Dominika Springer, PRT specialist for NGOs and small businesses. She said in January, they made initial contact with the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"By collaborating with this institution we were able to reach a very large number of contractors with information and invitations about the conference,” said Springer. “Interestingly, information about the training also reached beyond the borders of the province as we also met people from Kabul at the conference."

The training for contractors was the first of its kind in Ghazni Province.

"We would like to have this type of training on a regular basis," said Polish Army Maj. Marek Klimasara, PRT officer.

"An additional, but very important, benefit of the training was that we could increase our database of Ghazni Province’s companies and contractors," Kiszkowiak said.

According to the PRT, they are one of the biggest investors in Ghazni Province. The active presence of the PRT provides dual benefits to the province and its residents; it enriches the province with schools, roads, bridges, etc., and the PRT contracts local companies which hire local workers to complete projects.

The training Feb. 8 increases the likelihood of more companies being able to effectively compete in tenders for PRT projects, said a PRT spokesperson.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. Alex Dietrich (middle left), a Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team engineer from Washington, D.C., discusses PRT procedures and legal requirements with an Afghan contractor during a conference Feb. 8 in Ghazni Province. More than 150 contractors from Ghazni and Kabul attended the conference. (Photo by Artur Weber, TF White Eagle, Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Angela Szyszlo (right), a Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team education specialist, talks to Afghan contractors Feb. 8 during a break at a conference in Ghazni City. The conference goal was to enhance enhancing cooperation between PRT and local industry and clarify bidding procedures and legal requirements for PRT contracts. (Photo by Artur Weber, Task Force White Eagle Public Affairs)