Mario Rizos, Director of Infrastructure, Enrique Yuri, Associate Program Officer,
International Relief Development (IRD) IRD
Gideon Tesfay, Senior Program Manager, Panel discussion with Dr. Hancock
IRD
Program Summary:
In its work around the globe The EmeraldPlanet is seeking to identify "best practices" for infrastructure development. A sound infrastructure is critical for local communities and nation building. This television program will interview three international experts who have extensive experience in international infrastructure development around the globe.
As in the Middle East, establishing
durable infrastructure helps reinforce strong communities where lasting peace
can take root. Infrastructure is one of the most visible signs of development.
Residents and visitors alike can easily see progress in a community with the
construction of new schools, clinics, water systems, and roads.
IRD is implementing a USAID
program to construct or rehabilitate key infrastructure in the Palestinian
territories, including the improvement of more than 100 kilometers of roads.
Safe, dependable road networks support commerce, communication and sustainable
community development.
Infrastructure is also a large
portion of IRD's portfolio in Afghanistan. Work continues on the
Strategic Provincial Roads (SPR)
program in the
southern and eastern provinces, the heart of the Taliban-influenced region. But
perhaps as important as the roads is the local capacity that IRD is building.
In addition to training and working with more than 130 local Afghan
contractors, employing over 7,000 Afghans on the actual construction, IRD is
helping communities along the new roads articulate their development
priorities, such as more jobs or schools, and work with local governments to
make those priorities into realities. So far, for example, nearly 750 youth and
adults have enrolled in literacy programs made available through SPR.
Communities must provide people
with the basic services and resources necessary to support family life and make
commerce possible. IRD programs help communities develop effective social
services through collaborative efforts to improve roads, renovate schools
rebuild utility, water and sewage systems and establish health facilities.
IRD is one of only a handful of
NGOs. With expertise and experience in the engineering and construction needed
to complete quality infrastructure projects, both large and small-scale The EmeraldPlanet Television Program is pleased to feature IRD and its experts which have the technical skills and experiences to contribute to the world community.
As you may know EmeraldPlanet is a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to identifying at least 1,000 'best practices' for sustainable environmental and economic development. Our efforts are to link those having such "best practices" with those needing the technologies, processes, services, and products to be outstanding ecological stewards of their resources.
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