Kabul City Initiative (KCI) Monthly Report: August 2011

KCI assists the city staff in improving the level and quality of services provided, and increases the city's ability to generate its own revenues to fund increased services. During the last month, KCI initiated construction of three parks and continued construction on four other parks. One sanitation project was completed out of 24 ongoing service delivery projects. KCI trained 500 additional municipal staff in workplace safety, bringing the total trained to 605, and launched the International Computer Driver's License Program for 370 municipal staff. Official email accounts were created for 49 KM senior staff, and training was conducted on Program Budgeting and Internal Auditing. Capacity Building of Kabul City Officials (CLIN 1) continued to conduct various activities, including training, development of procedures, and community outreach. KCI provided trainings in personal protection in the workplace, International Computer Driver's License Program, and Financial Management Information System FMIS. Department Terms of Reference were developed for all 18 departments, and 18 ToRs have been drafted and are currently under review by KM senior staff. Public outreach activities were implemented, including five ribbon-cutting ceremonies and the introduction of the KM website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, and Flickr account. These platforms provide additional means for the Mayor to communicate directly with the people of Kabul and disseminate information about projects KM is undertaking to benefit its citizens. Training was conducted for 515 municipal staff, surpassing the July total of 295. Five hundred municipal employees were trained on personal protection measures in the workplace, and the International Computer Driver's License Program was launched for 370 participants. The development of Departmental Terms of Reference followed the process outlined in the Kabul Municipality Policy and Procedures Development Workbook, developed last month by KCI. The ToRs are currently under review by KM senior staff. KCI also worked with each department DG and unit head to develop official Departmental Terms of Reference as part of the effort to streamline municipal policies and procedures. KCI's efforts have resulted in significant progress toward the accomplishment of the project results. The initiative has increased the capacity of city officials, improved the level and quality of services provided, and increased the city's ability to generate its own revenues. The KCI response to issues and obstacles has included proposed changes to the work plan and a forecast of next month's activities. The KCI Monthly Report provides an update of progress made toward fulfillment of the project results, identification of implementation issues, and the KCI response to these issues. The report also provides a forecast of next month's activities. The KCI supports the Kabul Municipality in its efforts to improve the level of services, enable citizen participation, and communicate with citizens.