SIKA-West Weekly Bullet Points No. 111: April 29-May 5, 2014

Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, inaugurated a rehabilitated flood protection wall in Qala Yusuf Khan Village, Pashtun Zarghun District, on May 4th. The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including the Provincial Governor, Parliament members, and influential people. The Provincial Governor delivered a speech on peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of unity and support for the government in combating Anti-Government Elements (AGE) to achieve a peaceful society. The event was also broadcast on Herat Radio and Television of Afghanistan. In addition to the inauguration, the Provincial Governor met with the people and asked them to be united and support the government in combating AGE. The event was part of the Governance Strategic Training Plan outcomes, which aimed to promote good governance and peace in the region. The SIKA-West program has been actively engaged in various activities in the region. In Pashtun Zarghun District, a four-day Project Management Training was provided to Yaka Toot CDC from April 29th to May 3rd. The training covered a review of grant agreements, roles and responsibilities of CDC leadership, project milestone requirements, technical approaches, and procurement processes. Following the training, the CDC will receive their first milestone to start a 200-meter gabion wall rehabilitation project. In Farah Province, the SIKA-West Communications and Public Outreach Department (CPOD) met with Mr. Mohammad Omar Shirzad, the Farah Provincial Governor, to find ways of improving communication between the Provincial Governor and Pusht-e Rod and Khak-e-Safayd District Governors on May 3rd. The PG requested that further support be provided to District Governors to be able to communicate with the Provincial Government via email. The Governance Department is following up on this request. In Badghis Province, Mr. Abobakr Azimi, the Muqur Executive Manager, Mr. Besmela Wasir, the DRRD DSW, DDA, and CDC members visited the recently started 5-km road rehabilitation project in Lamani village on May 5th. The project aims to address poverty and unemployment in the area. Mr. Abdul Hadi Badghisi, the Muqur District Governor, organized a "Peace and Reconciliation" meeting with participation of 300 people, including high-ranking officials and influential Ulema and people, on May 3rd. Speeches about peace and stability were delivered by the high-ranking officials. The SIKA-West program has also been involved in various monitoring activities. In line with the new SIKA-West Option Period programming Work Plan, the M&E Department will be improving current data collection methods. Field work for project impact assessments continued during the week in Mian Joi Massow village in Pusht-e Rod and Khaja Khedr village in Bala Boluk District for the water divider rehabilitation projects. In total, 60 community residents were interviewed. DRRD DSWs, SIKA-West Engineers, and M&E personnel conducted 40 project site visits. In Badghis Province, the Muqur District Governor organized a public meeting with participation of 315 people, including students, parents, teachers, influential people, and government officials, at Sofla High School in the district center on May 5th. The District Governor highlighted the importance of education and asked the parents to send their children to school. Students shared their education concerns, including lack of professional teachers and a need for a surrounding wall for the school. The DG pledged to share these issues with the provincial authorities.