Location: Faizabad, Afghanistan

Date of start and completion:  July 2021 – July 2022

Clients: Aga Khan Agency for Habitat

Project Description:

Given that Afghanistan is vulnerable to several natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and the impacts of climate change, the lessons learned from these experiences should be applied to more cities and villages. Preparing a resilient master plan and zoning development plan are the most important tools for reducing risk, increasing resilience, and promoting sustainable development. With these techniques, city planners can act more rationally to mitigate the effects of natural disasters. Zoning plans are usually prepared with a risk-sensitive approach, but in this plan, in addition, climate resilience is one of the key features. The objectives of this study were:

• Development of the multi-hazard map of the city based on detailed hazard (geo, hydro, human) assessment using state-of-the-art modeling and scientifically proven approaches for the city (Macro level and Micro level at city district level)
• Multi-hazard vulnerability and risk assessment (as per the hazard) based on modeling and state-of-the-art methodology for the city (Macro level and Micro level at city district level)
• Risk-sensitive land use plan based on Geo hazards (seismic, rapture, rockfall, landslide, etc.), Hydrometeorological hazards (flood, drought, rockfall, landslide, urban heat, etc.), and human-made hazards (fire, biological, etc.) as well as climate change phenomena.
• Development of zoning plans and regulations.
• Develop the resilience master plan of the city.