SIKA-EAST Weekly Program Update: December 28, 2013 - January 2, 2014

The primary objective of the program was to strengthen the capacity of District Development Assemblies (DDAs) and their community development councils (CDCs) in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan. The program aimed to enhance the ability of DDAs to engage with their communities, identify stakeholders, and build relationships with them. Training activities were conducted in various districts, including Paktya, Ghazni, Logar, and Maydan Wardak. A total of 195 men and 58 women attended the training sessions, which focused on topics such as lobbying, negotiation strategy, unity building, and grant management. Additionally, eight DDA+ communication committee meetings were held in various districts, including Khoshi, Laja Mangal, Ahmad Abad, Khwaja Umari, Dih Yak, Chaki Wardak, and Jaghatu. Infrastructure Grants were awarded to various districts, including Andar, Dih Yak, Baraki Barak, Mohammad Agha, Saydabad, Nirkh, and Chaki Wardak. A total of 29 grants, valued at approximately $300,000, were awarded for seven districts. Six new engineering designs, valued at over $114,000, were completed in the reporting period. These designs were for two projects in Tani, and one each for Gurbuz, Zurmat, Baraki Barak, and Mohammad Agha District. Provincial DDA+ Conferences were held in Ghazni, Khost, Logar, and Paktya provinces. The conferences aimed to advance engagement between district entities and generate collective analysis and action on DDA+ strengthening and stabilization. The conferences also served as a forum to share experiences and points of view regarding the present program and to make recommendations for how it can be improved. Several challenges in process implementation were identified during the conferences, and recommendations for improvements were registered by reporting committees. To date, 202 grant applications, including 196 infrastructure and six capacity building projects valued at over $9.9 million, have been received and 152 applications have received USAID approval. Four grant awards, together worth over $81,000, were made for the districts of Laja Ahmad Khail and Baraki Barak. Ten grants, valued at approximately $300,000, were reviewed and approved by joint MRRD and SIKA-East Grant Review Committees (GRC). These include two projects each for Laja Mangal and Tani and one project each for Khwaja Umari, Ahmad Abad, Zurmat, Mando Zayi, Gurbuz, and Jaji Maydan Districts. Capacity building grants packages worth over $60,000 were received this week. Five applications, valued at over $300,000, were reviewed and approved by joint MRRD and SIKA-East Grant Review Committees (GRC). These include two projects each for Laja Mangal and Tani and one project each for Khwaja Umari, Ahmad Abad, Zurmat, Mando Zayi, Gurbuz, and Jaji Maydan Districts. The first girls' school in Andar District was inaugurated on December 29, 2013. The school was built nine years ago by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), but it lacked a boundary wall, which hindered girls' education. Through the SIKA-East program, a grant was awarded to the Mash CDC to build the wall. The construction was carried out by community members, who welcomed the jobs the project afforded. The school is now ready for girls to attend, and 400 girls have already sought admission.