SIKA-EAST Weekly Program Update: February 22–28, 2013

In Ghazni, the Provincial Reconstruction and Rural Development (PRRD) Director and his staff met with the SIKA-East manager to discuss completed and planned workshops for men and women from Dih Yak and Andar Districts. The meetings focused on coordinating upcoming activities, including the Service Providers Fair, grant applications, and stakeholders surveys. In Andar, SIKA-East trainers conducted a three-day workshop on Stakeholder Orientation/Governance Foundation for members of the Andar DDA and CDCs, as well as influential men in the district. The workshop was attended by 45 participants, and community elders committed to active participation in stabilization activities. Additionally, Stability Planning Process training began for Andar men on February 27 and 28. In Dih Yak, the SIKA-East office is now fully functional, with District Support Unit staff moved from Ghazni City to carry on operations. During the week, SIKA-East recruiters interviewed and filled 15 staff positions for the office. Advocacy training was conducted for an average of 30 men from Dih Yak DDA+, DCC, and CDCs members, as well as other influential men in the district. In Khwaja Umari, repair work has begun on the office in preparation for district activities. In Khost, SIKA-East has initiated procurement of a new connex office building, furnishings, and other equipment for the set-up of the Khost Provincial Management Unit. In Logar, the Deputy Provincial Governor, Acting PRRD Director, and SIKA-East Provincial Management Unit head met to discuss various matters, including the Service Providers Fair planned for Puli Alam on March 10. In Baraki Barak, training in Infrastructure Project Planning was conducted for men from all five hawzas. The main topics covered included project feasibility, field management, cost estimating, bills of quantities, and environmental compliance. The training was attended by 41 men on the first day and 48 on the second. Additionally, SIKA-East and DOWA trainers began a three-day workshop in Project Design and Development for 40 female DDA members and other influential women from Baraki Barak. In Mohammad Agha, a bill of quantities for repair of the District Support Unit office has been prepared and sent to potential vendors. The bid closing date is February 28. District Support and Provincial Management Units staff met in Puli Alam to discuss the problem of project selection in Mohammad Agha District. SIKA-East will work with the DDA+ to address the issue, and these discussions will inform SIKA-East's development of policy guidance for similar situations. In Paktya, some training sessions for female participants had to be postponed due to the absence of participants. SIKA-East will continue outreach and dialogue efforts towards the goal of creating the conditions for female participants in those districts. In Zadran, a Stability Planning Process training workshop was conducted for 50 men from the district. By the end of the training, participants had developed a District Planning Portfolio and identified Cycle 1 projects for implementation. In Zurmat, SIKA-East trainers conducted a three-day Stakeholder Orientation/Governance Foundation workshop for men from the Zurmat DDA, CDCs, and other influential stakeholders in the district. The workshop was attended by 20 participants on the first day and 35 on the last two days. The head of the Zurmat DCC expressed commitment to participating in the sessions despite threats from insurgents. In Maydan Wardak, the PRRD Director hosted a coordination meeting to discuss CDCs with absent, deceased, or displaced members. The meeting was attended by representatives of several programs, including the heads of NSP and NABDP and the SIKA-East manager for Wardak. The decision was reached that CDCs must follow four steps to authorize new officers. In Chaki Wardak, 43 men from the DDA and CDCs, as well as community elders, began training in Stability Planning Process. In Nirkh, the District Governor held a coordination meeting with Nirkh DSU staff to improve communication and coordination among initiatives. SIKA-East guided completion of nine grant applications, along with all necessary documents. Additional applications and design documents are under production. In Saydabad, the stakeholder register was updated to include additional influential elders slated to participate in Saydabad stabilization activities. Some missing grant application documents were obtained for applications already processed by the Grant Review Committee, including information on CDC bank accounts. Other applications in the pipeline were supported with development of engineering estimates and drawings. Several units facilitated project-wide trainings during the week, including Stakeholder Orientation/Governance Foundation, Infrastructure Project Planning, and Stability Planning Process. The trainings were conducted in various districts, including Andar, Ghazni, Baraki Barak, and Zadran.