SIKA-WEST WEEKLY BULLET POINTS NO. 108: April 1-14, 2014

The program is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) in collaboration with the International Development Law Organization (IDLG) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program focuses on ten target districts in Farah, Badghis, and Ghor provinces. Key highlights of the program include the inauguration of a four-day Project Management Training workshop for members of community development councils (CDCs) from Bala Boluk, Pusht-e Rod, and Khak-e-Safayd districts. The workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of CDC members to manage projects effectively. Additionally, the program facilitated a two-day workshop between the IDLG SIKA Unit and the MRRD/IDLG SIKA-West Governance Manager to review and create a District Government Capacity Building Work Plan. The program also reported progress in resolving conflicts in various districts. In Pashtun Zarghun district, the Tribal Conflict Resolution Committee (TCRC) resolved a conflict between two farmers, Abdul Basir and Abdul Mutaleb, who had been unable to agree on a shared schedule to draw irrigation water from the village canal. The TCRC mediated the conflict and obtained an acknowledgement from the farmers that the water was not being equally shared. Furthermore, the program reported on the implementation of grants and cross-cutting capacity building activities. To date, 282 projects valued at $6,139,389 have been approved by MRRD and IDLG in the ten target districts. Currently, CDCs are implementing 160 projects valued at $4,065,862. Additionally, the SIKA-West Governance Department mentored government personnel on improved filing techniques in Qadis, Muqur, Chaghcharan, Shindand, and Pashtun Zarghun districts. The program also reported on monitoring activities, including project site visits conducted by SIKA-West Engineers and M&E Personnel in Bala Boluk, Pashtun Zarghun, Kushk Rabat-e Sangi, and Qadis districts. DRRD District Social Workers (DSWs) visited and inspected five project site visits in Pashtun Zarghun and Kushk Rabat-e Sangi districts. In Farah province, the Communications & Public Outreach Department will facilitate a two-week Advanced Media Training workshop for 25 youth from Pusht-e Rod, Bala Boluk, and Khak-e-Safayd districts. The workshop aims to improve the programming content of the Youth Radio Station in Farah Provincial Center. Additionally, the District Governor of Bala Boluk organized a monthly coordination meeting with the district line-departments managers, where a key concern was raised by Mr. Abdullah (Income Manager) regarding the collection of taxes from district businesses. In Badghis province, an Intra-District Stabilization Committee meeting is being organized by the Qadis District Governor and the Pashtun Zarghun District Governor for April 15th in Pashtun Zarghun District Center. The purpose of this collaboration is to have District Governors share their views on district stabilization programming and learn from each other's approaches as lead facilitators. In Herat province, the Pashtun Zarghun District Governor initiated and used the District Government Hotline number and sent SMS invitations to line-departments and community leaders to attend the DSC meeting scheduled for April 15th. The SIKA-West Gender Mainstreaming Unit met with the Herat Government Gender Specialist on April 10th to share the six-month Work Plan and provide feedback. In Ghor province, the Chaghcharan Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) resolved an old family dispute between a brother and sister in Qutur village on April 12th. The CRC organized separate meetings with both conflicting parties and listened to their complaints. The CRC invited the conflicting parties and their family members to a join meeting for mediation, which lasted for three hours and resolved the conflict in peace.