Left the EQUALS Compound for the Kabul Airport at 3 pm Friday (approx 3 am Friday in Portland, Oregon) with the EQUALS security contractor PILGRIMS including our driver, armed security, and unarmed Afghan airport liasion.  When I was getting in the vehicle at the Compound, I was instructed to stay in the vehicle unless directed to leave it.  I was also given special instructions should our vehicle be attacked:  “Lay on the floor in the back seat!”  I was also told that if the driver and armed security were both injured, that I should push the red panic button attached to the GPS tracking  for 5 seconds and the security back at the Compound would come to our rescue.

I must say that arriving and departing from the airport was the “scariest” part of the whole trip!  There was dead silence in the vehicle both on pick up and today on delivery to the airport.

At the Kabul Airport outside perimeter, our EQUALS-PILGRIM security let me out of the vehicle where I was directed to a small building marked “Woman’s Security” in English with Arabic underneath.  There was a wool blanket hung over both the entry and exit.  No windows.  Inside, a woman had me spread eagle and patted me down through my clothes.

I think the armed security had to give up his gun because when I arrived, I noted that the security person retrieved his gun from the outer perimeter check point.  I think all the guys had to go through a pat down as well.  But, since I was concentrating on behaving “unsuspiciously,” I didn’t really worry about the guys.

Next, I walked from the permimeter to the intermedite area of the Kabul Airport where I was once again directed to a blanketed building market with a Women’s Security sign, entered alone and patted down by a female Afghan.  Upon exiting this Women’s Security, I was directed to pull my luggage out the vehicle and place it in the scanner.  I was then directed to open my suitcase and unload it so that the Airport Security could look for the metal they saw in the scanner.  I passed this intermediate inspection, and then the security team loaded me up in our armored rig where we entered the Kabul Airport parking lot.  The security person paid some money to park the car, and I unloaded everything again.

This time, the EQUALS-PILGRIM Afghan airport liasion, assisted my out of the parking lot on foot to approach the terminal.  At the edge of the parking lot, I was instructed to show my boarding pass.  However, I didn’t have one.  Moment of panic!

My liasion told me that the only reason I was able to get through the “Bording Pass Checkpoint” was because of his relationship to the checkpoint people.  Crazy, since Safi, the airline I was flying doesn’t issue boarding passes electronically–so, the fact was that people were just showing their itinerary.  My problem was that I had changed my Safi flight from the morning to the evening and had not known that I should have printed out my itinerary at the Compound.

Passing through the Parking Lot checkpoint, we traversed empty road space to the terminal.  Upon entering the terminal, I was once again directed to the women’s “blanket room” and patted down again.  Through that, my luggage was scanned and opened again for inspection.  The Airport Security does not dig through your luggage, I think afraid that they might grab a bomb, so I unloaded it and satisfied, I threw everything back into the suitcase.

Finally I ended up at the Safi check-in.  My luggage tagged, and boarding passes obtained, I went upstairs alone–my Afghan liasion departed to the arrival lounge to pick up someone else.  I lined up and went through immigration and another security scanning which was similar to TSA scannings–no more pat downs there.

Waited a couple of hours, then on the plane to Dubai.  It was about a 3 hour flight.  At Dubai, we had to go through another TSA security type check to enter the airport.

At Dubai, I waited about 4 hours, then the United Airline departure area opened where passports were checked, and another secondary hand screening of our carry on luggage!  Loaded and then a 14 hour flight to DC where I am now waiting (most of the day) for a direct flight to Portland, Oregon.

In DC after immigration, picking up our luggage, and going through customs, we deposited our luggage for scanning and then had another TSA security screening before entering the DC airport proper.

Perhaps the day will come when we can “Beam Over?”

Had a Starbucks Grande Triple Shot Non-fat Latte…but think I might need another one soon!  I think this is the longest continuous air trip I ever made in my life.  Needless to say, I will appreciate being home again following this amazing adventure!

I presented the recommendations of the Governance training participants to the Technical Secretariat today in Kabul.  Afghan’s Technical Secretariat for the Water Sector is made of the following representatives:

The Governance Training Graduates below (with me as their facilitator/ trainer/ teacher) hope that their three pages of single spaced recommendations, following four and a half days of work, will have voice with the Technical Secretariat that has the power to pass regulations and suggest legal amendments to the Water Law to Afghan’s Parliament.

 

Tomorrow will be my last day of the Governance training here in Kabul with class ending about 11 am.  I will provide about a half hour of feed back to the Technical Secretariat at 2 pm.  The Technical Secretariat consists of all the in-line water ministries so will give me a chance to interact with some of the more important leaders of the Afghan water sector.

In a short couple of weeks, I made some great friends who shared the ups and downs of the tough side of development work and capacity building.  Uniquely, here, you live, eat and play with the people you work with so its a 24/7 relationship that requires that you really learn to trust one another for the simple things, like learning how to get in and out of a security vehicle, or walking down the street.  The Basics.

After work today, I headed with Glen to Spinney’s, which is the super market adjacent to the Compound, to purchase an Arabic calendar.  We are not required to take a security guard with us, but they are posted all along the route and radio each other to follow us on the short walk.

The Persian New Year starts this Thursday (spring equinox)  and is an official holiday in Afghanistan.  I thought this article on the New Year was especially enlightening:  http://www.tolonews.com/en/opinion/2190-qnawruz-1390-q-or-the-afghan-new-year–

Taqi, the translator that I have been working with, will take New Year’s holiday on Wednesday so I will not have a translator that day–though the plan is to train only a half day–and spend the afternoon with the Technical Secretariat, the highest level of agency organization including the main line water ministries and agencies.

I asked Taqui how New Year’s is usually celebrated before I read the article.  He said, “Everyone goes for a picnic!”  It’s still pretty dry, dusty and wintery here in Kabul, but likely there are green spots at lower elevations.

I will have to consider how to celebrate!  Likely, it won’t be a picnic unless it’s in the Compound.

In preparing to deliver training in Afghanistan, one of my concerns was being a Lutheran-Christian woman teaching Moslem men.  I wondered if I would suffer any prejudice? Or, if the men would direct their questions to the translator, instead of me?

I am pleased to report that every man both in and out of  class has treated me with the utmost respect. In fact, the teaching experience is extremely rewarding. My only disappointment is that only one woman attended my Public Administration class, and today the woman that had attended yesterday’s Governance class, did not attend today.

According to Moselm custom, men and women do not touch each other.  Instead, women, when greeted, put their hand over their chest with a slight bow.  I’ve noticed that some men will offer their hand in greeting, especially after a day or two of class.  I am taking that as a sign of respect and some acknowledgement of equality, whether or not it is meant in that way.  Glen told me that given two men from the Public Administration Class requested to continue with the Governance class attending every day, he knows that the trainings are being well received.

Perhaps, because I spent some time studying the proper way to dress in order to honor the culture here, and purchasing the appropriate clothing online, respect was returned to me.  Many of the men here at the compound commented favorably on my respectful dress.  To tell you the truth, it’s kind of fun dressing up everyday Afghan style !

On Friday (Holy Day), Elizabeth arranged for Paul, Galeb, Arzi, and I to go out to brunch and shopping at a local women’s artisan market in Kabul.  As usual, the entrance to security approved locations required a wanding, walk through a metal detector and a hand search through my purse.  Apparently, sometimes you are required to show your ID/passport, particularly where alcohol is served since special licenses limit the Afghans from serving alcohol to anyone who is Afghani.

At the artisan market, called Ganjina, the work is prepared by widows and is marked for non-negotiable pricing, which, of course, one is happy to pay.  The shop is behind walls and security, and unless you knew where you were going, you would never know how to find this special place.  The shopping experience is much less pressured than that on Chicken Street, and the prices reflect that consideration.  However, since Holy Day is also the guys day to play basketball here at the compound, Elizabeth and I had to rush through the shopping.  Nevertheless I managed to find some lovely textiles, jewelry and Afghan sling shot for my grandson!

The best think about the excursion was visiting a new part of town.  Elizabeth told me that some of the streets that looked particularly nice were rehabilitated by the Japanese development team.  Though as you can tell from a couple of pictures, the money didn’t always extend to to full length of the street, given the mud that we experienced!

The streets were filled with hand carts today.  I wonder if the carts are manned by a certain ethic group as most look more Asian that other peoples on the street of Kabul.

A step up from the hand carts are the donkey carts hauling bigger loads.

Next up are bicycles and motor cycles.  In Afghanistan, a rug is used to cover the seat!  And a scarf is used instead of a helmet.

Dealing with traffic at the 4 pm rush hour requires an expert driver.  Luckily, our driver is young, patient and experienced in nudging the SUV into lanes and streets against all odds…even in the rain!  Perhaps a remnant from the British era, Kabul even has stands in the middle of the street for the traffic cop.

On our daily “site seeing” trip in the armoured SUV with the driver and Omar our armed body/security guard, I noticed a big blue building signed as an Afghan-Dubai Wedding Center.”  Omar told me that Afghan weddings include over 1,000 guests!  The party is traditionally paid for by both sets of parents, but because his father is only a poorly paid Physics teacher that he will pay for his own wedding.  Traditionally, the wedding couple receive their gifts a week or so after the wedding with money, gold, jewelry, or household items being the order of traditional gifts.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the “Wedding Center.”

Since weddings are a civil matter, the Mosque is not involved.  Typically the marriage license/certificate is obtained at the City Hall.  See below some of the mosques that we see on our typical drive back to the Compound.

Glen & I were escorted at 7:15 am through Kabul traffic to the Afghan Water Ministry’s Offices where we arrived a bit before 8 am.  After introductions to the local staff, we met with a basin director and later the Deputy Minister of Water to discuss our planned trainings that will begin on Monday.

Between our meeting, Glen told the staff that everything was “clear.”  I looked at him curiously, he reported “there was an incident near here at the Ministry of Defense about 9 am.”  I learned later from our driver on the way home that a suicide bomber on a bike caused the death of about 30 people.  Apparently, we were on “lock down,” at the Ministry, meaning no one was allowed to move until we received the “all clear” sign.  Glen said that the lock down was about 4.5 hours.  Interesting, the whole event happened without the least disturbance. I understand why Glen (the guy goofing around with the orange on his head) has a lot of trust in our security team.  It is deserved.

Many, if not most of the ministries or sections have their own kitchens and cooks.  The cooking staff for the water team made a fabulous lamb dish today with Persian rice along with a delicious soup and homemade Afghan bread.  It’s about dinner time here at the compound–and even though our food is very good, I can’t imagine that it will top lunch!

I took pictures on the way home.  As Glen pointed out, this is the only sight seeing we are allowed.  This picture shows the vegetable carts in front of the small, stall style shops along the road.  Gives “strip mall” a whole new meaning!

The most fascinating view on the way to and from work was the Kabul city ancient, historical wall to the south of Kabul at the tail end of the Kohi Sher Darwaza Mountain. This structure is believed to have been built in the 5th century. The wall of Kabul is made of mud, and is a staggering 20 feet high and 12 feet thick.  It creates a natural fortress which follows the mountain ridge in a sweeping curve down to the river.  Unis, the Deputy Chief, said that as a child he used to walk along the wall over the mountain.  At lunch, he also shared his story of living and growing up in Afghanistan during his early years, and the suffering that his family endured.  Out of the 11 brothers and sisters, only he and 5 others have survived.  His mother is still living and in her late 70’s so I have to imagine that Unis isn’t much younger than me.  His continued committment to Afghanistan’s development is amazing.

Another interesting site is the homes that are built into the mountains that we could view along the route.  I imagine them as a desert version of the housing Scott and I saw in the Greek Islands.  Imagine if they were painted?

We also drove through the old city along the Kabul River.  In this stretch the water is channeled through beautiful stoneworked walls.  The city was bustling as we returned home about 4 pm today.

Friday is Holy Day in Kabul, Afghanistan so the cooking and cleaning staff at the compound have the day off. We’ll have a brunch at 10 am this morning, but cold meats and cheese later according to the ex pats living here with me. The dining room is adjacent to my living quarters (bedroom with corner, window office and bath) so while I put up with a little extra noise, I have the boiling water (tea being the drink of choice), frig stocked with bottled water and sodas, and snacks including cold cereals, bread and peanut butter a door away. Luckily, COSTCO had Starbucks VIA on sale, and I stocked up, coffee being my personal drink of choice!

The jet lag (12.5 hours ahead) has subsided a bit. Up at 5:30 am today instead of the usual 3 am. Imagine it had something to do with being up late last night with Glen and Azad completing a two hour briefing! Glen said I looked like I was fading at 9 pm though we went until almost 9:45 pm.

At 10:30 am this morning, Glen arranged for a security transport so that we might enjoy a trip to “Chicken Street.” This shopping location is secure and a place to “haggle” for such things as carpets, azurite, and leather goods. We’ll be out for about an hour and a half. Should be interesting! I will take my camera though I don’t know if I will be allowed to take pictures?

It’s cloudy here today, the ground damp so it looks like there was a little rain last night. Snow flurries are predicted for the weekend. Sun is shining now.

Yesterday I accomplished work on my training materials by starting the Power Points for the Public Administration workshop. We are still in a state of flux as to when the classes with occur given we are still trying to build attendance. Azad made a call to a Minister last night to rally a few more people. I think we’ll start the Governance training on Monday so I need to spend the majority of my day on those materials and through the weekend.  This topic is much more interesting to me personally.

I am learning alot just by sharing meals with the group of ex pats living here on the EQUALS compound.  So many of these ex-pats are here with real committment to the people of Afghanistan with many making a real difference in individual lives.  The Afghan locals working here  have taken their wages to send their children to school, buy homes, and change their futures for the better.  As it is here, my experience is that development happens best one relationship at a time.

Safi Airlines required me to arrive at the Dubai airport 3 hours before my flight today leaving at noon–time to do additional reading in preparation for my governance and public administration facilitation! The flight from Dubai to Kabul was a little over 2 hours and now I’m another half hour time zone distant from Portland, Oregon–a total of 12 1/2 hours now ahead of Scott and Schroeder Law Offices Portland team.

There was a moment of hesitation as I boarded the plane today, thinking about what I was exactly preparing myself to do: Fly to Kabul, Afghanistan! Luckily, I didn’t miss a step.  Unexpectedly, the flight was closer to the ground than I expected so I saw the desert landscape along the way. As we approached Kabul for landing, the snow covered mountains surrounding Kabul were amazingly picturesque.  The “drop” into Kabul not as dramatic as expected.

“Pilgrims” security team met me at the airport. Inside Ahmad Shah greeted me just past passport inspection. The Kabul airport does not look that much different that Moscow’s airport looked in 1995 or so when I was there: dark with a lot of metal and marble floors! Ahmad Shaw helped me complete my registration card, and move the rest of the way through the arrival process inside the airport.

Once we left the airport, the sun was shining–a very pleasant day here, weather wise.  Crisp air—a few piles of snow in dark corners.  Wondered why I bothered bringing my Armenian down winter coat?

Walking me quickly across the parking lot, Ahmad Shah, delivered and quickly loaded me into the armored Humvee where Steven took over. Steven showed me the emergency procedures–including the panic button that was between he and the driver in the front seat. I sat behind him, a real body guard! Leaving the airport gates in the Humvee, Steven jumped out to retrieve his pistol which he was required to leave with the airport guards on entering. It took us about 20 minutes to arrive at the EQUALS compound where the security team gave me a tour and further briefing. They have procedures fine tuned for any kind of emergency including fire and earthquake. In security ops, there is a wall of screens monitoring the entire perimeter of the compound with 3 or more men watching the screens.

Following the security briefing, I met my long time family friend and expert hydrologist, Azad Mohammadi, who gave me a status of class preparations, dates, and other relevant details. He took me to dinner at the “mess hall” where shrimp, lasagna, and another dish with assorted vegetable sides were laid out. Nice to have meals together and meet all the people here working in the IRD project.  They have already invited me to play basketball, use the workout rooms (they have two), go bowling (yes in Kabul) and visit some shops—either with a body guard or with their approval, of course!

Glen Hearns, my supervisor on this mission, ate dinner with Azad and I advising us of the likely class size and potential learning structures. After dinner, Glenn and I talked longer about my work. Looks like the class with start Sunday or Monday with combined governance and public administration topics.

My apartment comes directly off the mess hall and common lounge area. It is very, very similar to the apartment I used at PA Consulting in Armenia. In fact, Kabul reminds me of Armenia with the marginal streets (paved on the main and unpaved every where else), garbage piled up in corners, half empty cement apartment buildings, open air shops sitting along the highway, and unfortunately the sad fact of war and poverty, people begging in and along the streets.

What wasn”t the same as Armenia, was all the security both up and down the street and at/in out compound. It sounds like tomorrow may involve a visit to the Ministry of Energy and Water which is where are official office site is located!

Arrived in Dubai after a four hour flight from Portland to DC, a short layover, and a thirteen hour flight. Warm here at 83 degrees until the sun went down shortly after I arrived at my hotel.

The long lines as passport control (visa on the spot) gave me a view of a very mixed middle eastern culture with every kind of head dress and clothing. The majority of the women did not have their heads covered as a suspected that they would.  Many more men wearing full length robes (I need to learn the correct name for this attire) and white head coverings with braided black crown piece–perhaps that’s what the government people in Dubai wear?  Will learn more tomorrow.

On the landing approach, one views many mansions, obvious in the desert climate, with a swimming pool, lawns, palms, and impressive entrances. With advice from my Afghanistan security contact, Daryl made me reservations at the The Le Meridien, which as part of its club membership, sent a luxury car for my pick up at the airport, provided me fruit, sparkling water and ice in the room, and a happy hour (though I am not drinking alcohol during Lent).

Tomorrow, I will enjoy breakfast with my club membership, continue reading and preparing for the workshops on governance and public administration, enjoy one of the four pools, some sun, and take a short tour of Dubai (which I need to arrange).

While I slept pretty well on the ride from DC to Dubai, a shower and a horizontal sleep seems very inviting now!

Preparing for deployment for a USAID consulting mission to Afghanistan provides a few additional challenges than the usual international work. These included security briefings, determining and purchasing culturally appropriate clothing, and considerations of appropriate teaching methods.

The US State Department/USAID contractor that I am working for is IRD: http://www.ird.org/  My introduction toIRD came through Azad Mohammadi, my former expert witness for river modeling, and former City of Portland Water Bureau engineer.

Consultant to the firm, William F Schroeder, introduced me to Azad while we prepared for hearings in the Klamath Adjudication. Azad is now IRD’s Regional Director for the Mid-East.  To find out about some of the work that IRD is doing in Afghanistan check out http://www.ird.org/our-work/success-stories/recovering-from-loss-caused-by-conflict

John, IRD’s security chief stationed in Afghanistan, was extremely helpful to ease my concerns and perhaps some of the concerns of my family? I found the advice pretty consistent with international travel in general. A new helpful tip was a link to http://eurotalk.com/en/store/learn/dari/talknowdl/dl  which I will download in order to follow the security rule to memorize important local phrases in Dari!

As to “what to wear,” I met early on with women who were roommates with, friends of, or married into the conservative side of the Moslem faith and culture. I was also advised by men dealing with security and completing long term assignments in Afghanistan. Interestingly, the women and men had different advice. While the men said, “Just cover your head,” the women told me that I may be in danger of arrest for indecency if all my hair, skin from neck to wrist, and skin from neck to ankles was not covered! What to do?

Trusting the women on this and knowing that it will be easier to wear less than more, I searched the internet to complete some online shopping for culturally appropriate clothes. Confusion reigned! The clothing names, sizes, and how to wear the various items were all unfamiliar. Finally, I just “went for it” at” http://www.eastessence.com/ Later, I found out that I might have shopped in Portland, Oregon at http://www.al-ikhlas.com Maybe there is still time!

As to facilitation methods, I am expecting it will be a challenge. Not knowing the culture or my class make-up, I am still struggling with the workshop outlines in governance and public administration.  I have about a week to go before the actual workshops begin!  As my office manager, Ms. Daryl Cole advises frequently, “There is still time to panic!”   My Afghanistan IRD contact, Glen Hearns, the trans boundary water specialist has been working with me on SKYPE for the past month to assist me.  After arrival in Kabul, I expect that we will have intense work ahead of us.

Stay tuned!

Alex Russin, MCC’s resident country director in Armenia, met with Laura Schroeder on Wednesday providing a status of he Armenian government’s adoption of agricultural policy and legislation.

Later, Laura met with Arusyak Alaverdyan, the World Bank Rural/Irrigation Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Unit for the Europe and Central Asia Region, to discuss the possible development of irrigation federations in Armenia. Ms Alaverdyan and the World Bank had previously been instrumental in developing Water User Associations in Armenia.

Approximately 27 hours after leaving the River House in Portland , Laura Schroeder arrived in Yerevan, Armenia. Armenia is in the Causus Mountain range with a continental climate much like that of eastern Oregon, southern Idaho and northern Nevada. Similarly, the climate dictates that water is THE issue when it comes to meeting the Millennium Challenge goal related to food security in this country.

A Millennium Challenge-Armenia sponsored study tour will begin in San Francisco, California on August 12, 2010 with a delegation of 19 individuals who have various roles in the Armenian irrigation sector.  California was the likely choice for this tour since the largest population of American Armenian Diaspora is located in the Los Angeles, California area where the tour will end.

The irrigable land in Armenia is 420,000 hectares (1,037,842 acres); however only a third of the irrigable area is cultivated (300-305k hectares or 741,300 acres) as a result of small plots that were designed following Armenia’s independence from Russia which utilized large collective farms.

One of the first sites that the tour will view on August 13, 2010 is the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority which totals 2,100,000 acres or 849,839.8 hectares. This Authority manages water over twice the total irrigable acres in Armenia. Two member districts of SLDMWA will be visited by the Armenia irrigation sector tour delegation on Friday afternoon including the Firebaugh Canal Water District, which has made news for its water transfers to larger districts, as well as the San Luis Canal Company.

On August 13 the Armenian irrigation tour delegation will visit the Merced Irrigation District. MID’s irrigable acres includes approximately 164,314 acres or 66,495 hectares. Thus, MID provides irrigation service to approximately an area equal to 6% of the total irrigable acreage in Armenia. MID engages in a variety of activities in addition to irrigation such as producing hydro power. Unfortunately, profit making activities such as the production of hydro power are not legally possible for Armenian irrigation districts, called Water User Associations (“WUA”).   Armenia is currently divided into 44 WUAs.

The next day, the Armenian irrigation tour group will tour Friant Dam. The Friant Dam is owned by power concerns and the water stored provides irrigation to over a million acres in San Joaquin Valley. Thus, Friant provides water service to approximately 404685 Hectares which is equivalent to 96.4% of the entire irrigable acreage of Armenia. Similarly the Pine Flat Dam is owned by power concerns with a secondary use for irrigation by such entities as the Fresno Irrigation District.  The Fresno Irrigation District comprises 245,000 acres which is equivalent to 26.4% of the entire irrigable area of Armenia.

Following visits to various filtration system and water infrastructure supply companies on Monday, August 16, 2010, the Armenian irrigation delegation will tour the Alta Irrigation District that services approximately 111,000 cropped acres or approximately 44,920 hectares. This acreage is equivalent to approximately 10.7% of the total irrigated acres in Armenia. Alta’s water supply is provided from the Pine Flat Dam via the Kings River.

On Tuesday, August 17, the Armenian irrigation tour will visit the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District. (KDWCD) KDWCD and the Tulare Irrigation District (TID) formed a joint-power authority in 1982 – the Kaweah River Power Authority (KRPA). The KRPA filed for a license to construct a 17MW hydroelectric plant at Terminus Dam and Lake Kaweah. KRPA proceeded with design and construction of the plant, and the plant went on-line in 1992 delivering power to Southern California Edison Company.  TID delivers water to approximately 70,000 acres or 31,160 hectares equivalent to 6.7% of the total irrigable area of Armenia.

Completing Tuesday’s tour, the Armenian irrigation tour will visit the Friant Waterusers Authority otherwise known as the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project (CVP).  The Friant Division provides water to more that a million irrigated acres (404,685 hectares) equivalent to 96.35% of the total irrigable acres of Armenia.

The tour will end on August 19th after visits to gates, drip equipment, the California Training Facilities at California State Poytechnic University at San Luis Obispo and a water management demonstration site.

Laura Schroeder left the USA on Thursday, July 22, 2010 arriving in Yerevan, Armenia over 24 hours later. Her mission is to review the priorities for the development of agricultural policy legislation to meet the priority goal of the Millennium Challenge: to end poverty and hunger.

The United States worked with the Republic of Armenia to decide that the best ways to achieve this goal was to improve agricultural production and markets. A necessary component of increasing agricultural production in Armenia is to improve irrigation systems and management. In 2009, Laura assisted in the drafting of the agricultural policy which was adopted by the RA. Her mission for 2010 is to assist in the drafting of legislation related to the 5 identified priorities of the agricultural policy.

Laura began her work on Monday, July 26, 2010 to participate in the tour of MCC accomplishments with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Tigran Sargsyan, and the US Ambassador to Armenia, Marie L. Yovanovitch.

The tour included (1) A visit to the community of Merdzavan to see the lower Hrazdan main canal that was rehabilitated by funds from MCA-Armenia;
(2) A visit to the community of Artimet to see the rehabilitation of third level (near farm) ditches also rehabilitated by funds from MCA-Armenia;
(3) A visit to the community of Gridoedov to see the irrigation/agricultural development site funded by MCA-Armenia. This farm is owned by Sevan Jamalyan; and
(4) Finally a visit to a water user association,  Vagharshapat, whose director is Surik Sedrakyan.

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Laura is meeting with government officials from the Public Services Regulatory Commission to discuss the legislation.

In addition, she has already met with contractors assisting the implementation including AVAG Solutions, Ltd, and VISTAA.

The first goal of the Millennium Challenge adopted by United Nations declaration in 2000 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/bkgd.shtml

The three targets for this goal are: (1) halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day; (2) achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people; and (3) halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

In Armenia this goal has translated into improving agricultural food production which in Armenia requires improved irrigation facilities and methods.

Laura Schroeder’s July-August 2010 mission is to work with the Millennium Challenge group and its contractor to draft legislation that will adopt and promote the goals of agricultural water policy to achieve improved use of land and water resources in Armenia for food production.

Armenia’s current water code requires a water system use permit (WSUP) without exception for any system of facilities. The WSUP is issued by the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC). It has been suggested municipalities and small community water associations that own and operate their own domestic water delivery system should be exempt from the requirement for a WSUP. The major reason for the exemption would be to prevent dual regulation, ie regulation by the locals and also by the state through the PSRC. In addition, where access to the local person operating the water system can be made by “visiting with the neighbor across the street”, consumer and often times operator are one and the same. In such circumstances over arching state regulation is not required.

Since the PSRC has not enforced the WSUP requirement against the locals, the need for changes in the present water code may be overlooked at present. The real reason in fact may be that very few local delivery schemes exist (except rurally). Armenia’s urban population receives water services by conveying their water facilities to the State in return for a 49% in a joint stock company controlled by the State which owns a 51% share. The stock company then contracts with a third party operator for water services.

These Company-Operator contracts are “issues of public importance.” As such, the Prime Minister of Armenia appoints a Commission to develop and approve these contracts. Since the Yerevan Jur contract is up for tender in October 2008, it is expected that a Commission will be appointed soon. This Commission may well set the stage for the four other water companies who exist in Armenia who will also need new tenders in the near future. This process of developing the new contract for Yerevan Jur may well set the stage to move further into water sector privatization or not.

Our work in Armenia involves reviewing contracts between the State and a couple of the largest water purveying companies in the world, Veolia and Suez, which are headquartered in France.

Interestingly, we have found that these French companies, through their subsidiaries Veolia Water North America and United Water, also have contracts in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Examples include Operation and Maintenance contracts between Veolia and the cities of Wilsonville, OR and Vancouver, WA, and contracts between United Water and Boise, ID.

Links to these companies can be found at www.veoliawaterna.com and www.unitedwater.com.