Mid-Term Performance Evaluation of Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) West

The program aims to expand and improve the legitimacy of the Afghan Government to districts and unstable communities by assisting district entities to better understand their operating environment and the challenges to stability they face. SIKA West enables district governments to develop a localized methodology and implement activities aimed at addressing local sources of instability. The program's strategy focuses on district government confidence building initiatives, mitigation activities, and grants aimed at addressing community-identified sources of instability. SIKA West works closely with the Ministry for Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) to achieve its objectives. The program's approach to women's inclusion is designed to empower women and increase their participation in decision-making in SIKA-West activities. The evaluation scope of work required the team to address eleven key questions, including the extent to which program activities and grants addressed sources of instability, the effectiveness of the approach to women's inclusion, and the incorporation of the Kandahar Model as defined in the latest modification to the contract. The evaluation also examined the extent to which SIKA activities have been successfully presented as government activities, connecting people to resources for service delivery, and the effectiveness of a bottom-up communications process linking MRRD-developed District Development Assemblies (DDAs) to the district and provincial development planning processes. The program has been implemented in eight districts in Badghis, Farah, and Herat provinces, with ongoing programming in these areas. The evaluation findings provide insights into the successes and challenges of the program and offer lessons learned that can be applied in the option period and for other stabilization programs, both in Afghanistan and other countries. The evaluation scope of work was completed in November 2013, and the findings are presented in this report. The program's performance management plan (PMP) outlines the key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets for the program. The KPIs include the number of district entities that have developed a localized methodology for addressing local sources of instability, the number of community-identified sources of instability addressed, and the level of women's participation in decision-making in SIKA-West activities. The program's PMP also outlines the monitoring and evaluation framework, which includes regular progress reports, mid-term and final evaluations, and a final report. The program's budget for the period from January 2012 to November 2013 was approximately $10 million, with funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program's implementation is overseen by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and the Chief of Party (COP), who are responsible for ensuring that the program is implemented in accordance with the contract and the program's PMP. The program's evaluation findings are presented in the following sections, which address the eleven key questions outlined in the evaluation scope of work. The findings provide insights into the program's successes and challenges and offer lessons learned that can be applied in the option period and for other stabilization programs, both in Afghanistan and other countries.