SIKA-EAST Weekly Program Update: January 25 - 30, 2014

The update highlights the completion of several projects, including the Nazeer Qala Abbazak karez extension and reservoir construction project in Mohammad Agha District of Logar Province. Training activities were conducted in seven districts, with a total of 88 men participating in eight training sessions. The training topics included Grants Management and Infrastructure Project Implementation. Additionally, a five-day Training of Trainers workshop on "Community Mobilization and Engagement" was held in Kabul, attended by 37 men and four women from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Grants were awarded to eight districts, with a cumulative value of nearly $202,000. Six milestone payments, valued at nearly $35,000, were disbursed to projects in six districts. Eleven new engineering designs, valued at over $370,000, were completed in the reporting period for projects in seven districts. In Ghazni Province, two engineering designs worth $95,000 were completed for Jaghatu District. Three non-infrastructure grant packages, valued at approximately $49,000, were completed for Andar and Dih Yak Districts. A joint PRRD and SIKA-East Grant Review Committee reviewed and approved four projects worth nearly $60,000 for Andar, Dih Yak, and Khwaja Umari Districts. In Khost Province, three new grants were awarded for Tani, Gurbuz, and Jaji Maydan, cumulatively valued at over $73,000. Grant Management training sessions were conducted for a total of 24 men from Gurbuz, Jaji Maydan, and Tani. Two milestone payments, valued together at $9,300, were made for projects in Tani and Gurbuz Districts. In Logar Province, two grants projects were completed in Mohammad Agha District, including the Nazeer Qala Abbazak karez extension and the Soor karez extension project. A four-day Grant Management training workshop was conducted for 19 men from Mohammad Agha's Dashtak Loy Kalai CDC. Two milestone payments, valued at $17,000, were made during the week for projects under way in Mohammad Agha and Baraki Barak Districts. The SIKA-East program update also reports on the transition initiatives, including the embedded technical advisors and communication and outreach activities. The update highlights the progress made in strengthening governance at the sub-national level and building the capacity of Afghan officials.