SIKA-West Weekly Bullet Points No. 109: April 15-21, 2014

The project is part of a larger effort to improve stability in key areas of Afghanistan. The SIKA-West weekly bullet points for April 15-21, 2014, highlight various activities and achievements in the region. Grants have been a key focus area for SIKA-West, with 283 projects valued at $6,213,360 approved by MRRD and IDLG in ten target districts. Currently, CDCs are implementing 145 projects valued at $4,001,308, while 121 projects valued at $1,482,141 have been completed. Eight projects are pending with the USAID Vetting Unit valued at $454,450 since mid-March. Capacity building has also been a priority, with stabilization practices training provided to 12 members of Bagh-e Barjan, Zir Jooy, Sarkala Doken, and Kababi Payeen CDCs in Pusht-e Rod District on April 17th. The CDCs analyzed major problems and solutions identified in previous Komite Sobate Woleswali meetings. Similar trainings were provided to five Komite Sobate Woleswali Bala Boluk members and six Pusht-e Rod government staff. In Farah Province, stabilization practices trainings were provided to 17 members of eight CDCs and 15 DDA members in Muqur District on April 17th and 21st. The participants practiced identifying community major problems, their reasons, and finding solutions. The same training was provided to 24 DDA members, the District Governor, the DSW, and 20 members of 10 CDCs in Qadis District on April 20th. In Badghis Province, Mr. Abobakr Azimi, the Muqur District Executive Manager, visited the work progress of road rehabilitation project in Jahan Dosti village on April 16th. The community residents requested the district government to rehabilitate the irrigation canal destroyed due to heavy flooding. Mr. Azimi pledged to share this request with the District Governor and provincial authorities for support. In Herat Province, interviewing techniques training was provided to Mr. Abdul Hameed Noor, the Shindand District Governor, on April 15th. Following this training, the Shindand District Governor and Mr. Saleh Mohammad Baik, the Qadis District Governor, attended a 30-minute television round table at the RTA. Report writing skills training was also provided to Mr. Rashed Waheedi, the Pashtun Zarghun DEM, on April 20th. The Ghor Gender Working Group successfully advocated for the inclusion of sports education in girls' schools. Girl schools in Chaghcharan previously lacked sports education in their curriculum and sport facilities. The GWG organized a meeting with Mr. Sebqatulla Akbari, the Education Director, on March 25th. The Education Director showed interest and appreciated the GWG efforts in assisting girl students and agreed to include sports education in girls' schools and employ qualified female teachers. Monitoring activities have also been ongoing, with a performance monitoring plan review planned for the end of April. The output will be a revised performance monitoring plan and revised data gathering techniques and tools. A total of 54 project site visits were conducted by the DRRD District Social Workers, SIKA-West Engineers, and M&E personnel. An example of a finding was that the gravelling was not according to the engineering specifications for the road graveling project in Khaja Sabzposh village in Kushk Rabat-e Sangi. The CDC was mentored to correct the deficiencies, and a follow-up monitoring is planned for next week.