The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded Aecom Technology Corp. a contract, worth up to $177 million, to provide professional, technical and management support services to help people in Afghanistan better respond to instability in their country.

The Los Angeles company said Tuesday that the Afghanistan Stability in Key Areas program will assist provincial and district groups to design, implement and monitor programs and small-scale infrastructure projects that address both citizen concerns and root causes of instability.

It will work closely with USAID during the 18-month contract, which includes an extra 18-month option period. This contract builds on Aecom’s earlier Afghanistan Social Outreach Program, which set up more than 130 district councils across the country.

Separately, Aecom on Monday said its joint venture in the United Kingdom was awarded a $24 million contract to upgrade a wastewater treatment facility for Yorkshire Water in the U.K.

Aecom shares were up 87 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $20.04 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.