Incentives Driving Economic Alternatives—North, East and West (IDEA-NEW) Biweekly Report _16-31 December 2011_

The program targets instability and insurgency locales and buffer zones to curb narco-trafficking, increase job creation, strengthen Afghan leadership, and promote economic growth. Major emphasis is placed on job creation, agricultural sales, and capacity building. IDEA-NEW responds rapidly to community-identified needs through Community Constructed Infrastructure (CCI) projects that foster trust and infuse communities with cash and income. The program builds upon those gains to maintain a long-term focus on sustainable growth in the agriculture and rural development sectors. IDEA-NEW addresses interrelated issues of instability and economic development by providing support and linkages to overall US government counter-insurgency (COIN) priorities through local-level agricultural and private sector development. The program engages local government to respond to the needs of its constituencies in these sectors. IDEA-NEW focuses on implementing projects in USG Key Terrain Districts (KTD) and Areas of Interest (AOI). Of the 15 provinces in which IDEA-NEW works, 12 include Key Terrain Districts (KTD) or districts classified as Areas of Interest (AOI). In all, IDEA-NEW programs are being implemented in 28 KTDs and 12 districts classified as AOI. The program works closely with provincial- and district-level governments and within local communities, capitalizing on the successes of previous USAID projects in the area. Since July 2009, IDEA-NEW has created a total of 4,361 labor-intensive rural jobs employing local community members on CCI projects. The average wage ranges from $4.35 to $13 for non-skilled and skilled laborers. IDEA-NEW has also supported the transition of key areas to GIRoA control by closely coordinating program design and implementation with local and regional Afghan government officials and local communities. The program takes a wide view of each value chain it supports, from hands-on training for farmers on demonstration plots to supporting Ag Associations who reinforce good agricultural practices. IDEA-NEW also builds produce markets and supports local produce processing plants to encourage sustainability. The program examines and supports each step of the value chain where needed. Three partners implement IDEA-NEW: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), ACDI/VOCA, and Mercy Corps. DAI works in the East and West, ACDI/VOCA in the North, and Mercy Corps in the Northeast. The program works closely with provincial- and district-level governments and within local communities, capitalizing on the successes of previous USAID projects in the area. IDEA-NEW has made significant progress in job creation, with a total of 4,361 labor-intensive rural jobs created since July 2009. The program has also supported the transition of key areas to GIRoA control and has taken a wide view of each value chain it supports to encourage sustainability. The program's focus on local-level agricultural and private sector development has helped to strengthen Afghan leadership and promote economic growth. The program's geographic focus is on USG Key Terrain Districts (KTD) and Areas of Interest (AOI). IDEA-NEW works closely with provincial- and district-level governments and within local communities to capitalize on the successes of previous USAID projects in the area. The program's implementation is being carried out in 28 KTDs and 12 districts classified as AOI. IDEA-NEW's partners, DAI, ACDI/VOCA, and Mercy Corps, work together to implement the program in different regions of Afghanistan. DAI works in the East and West, ACDI/VOCA in the North, and Mercy Corps in the Northeast. The program's focus on job creation, agricultural sales, and capacity building has helped to promote economic growth and strengthen Afghan leadership. The program's emphasis on sustainability is reflected in its approach to value chain development. IDEA-NEW takes a wide view of each value chain it supports, from hands-on training for farmers on demonstration plots to supporting Ag Associations who reinforce good agricultural practices. The program also builds produce markets and supports local produce processing plants to encourage sustainability. IDEA-NEW's focus on local-level agricultural and private sector development has helped to strengthen Afghan leadership and promote economic growth. The program's geographic focus on USG Key Terrain Districts (KTD) and Areas of Interest (AOI) has allowed it to target instability and insurgency locales and buffer zones to curb narco-trafficking.