SIKA-West Weekly Bullet Points No. 113: May 13-19, 2014

The program is supported by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The SIKA-West program aims to improve governance, economic development, and community stability in the target districts. Key highlights of the week include the production of wall, desk, and pocket calendars highlighting IDLG achievements, with a total of 2560 calendars prepared. The Bala Boluk District Governor received support to prepare a complete record of project activities in the district. The Ferooz Koh Female Conflict Resolution Committee addressed a familial conflict in Qutus village, and the Community Development Department organized project maintenance site visits for culvert and flood protection wall projects in Pashtun Zarghun District. The SIKA-West Stabilization Department will facilitate the rollout to new districts in Herat, Farah, Badghis, and Ghor provinces. To date, 292 projects valued at $6,564,507 have been approved by MRRD and IDLG in ten target districts. Currently, CDCs are implementing 117 projects valued at $3,893,034, and 157 projects valued at $2,140,693 have been completed. Seven projects valued at $424,500 have been pending with the USAID Vetting Unit since mid-March. Capacity building activities include training on the Service Providers Catalog (SPC) for the Craftsman & Traders and Industrial Unions in Herat City, and media training for the Farah Provincial Government, the DRRD, and the Police Department Spokespersons. The SIKA-West District Governance Training Plan was shared with the Badghis Deputy Provincial Governor, line-departments, and Qadis and Muqur District Governors. A coordination meeting was held with the Badghis Administrative Reform Civil Service Commission to share training materials, including Human Resources Management, Administrative Procedures, and Performance Appraisal. In Farah Province, the Farah DRRD Director agreed to take responsibility for establishing the Farah Service Providers Committee. A meeting was held with the Farah Provincial Governor, his deputy, the Lash Wa Juwayn District Governor, the DRRD Director, and other officials to discuss the rollout of the SIKA-West program to new districts. The Komite Sobate Woleswali meeting for women in Pusht-e Rod was held, and participants proposed solutions to address major problems in the area. In Badghis Province, the Qadis District Governor met with CDC representatives to encourage them to organize a Hashar to clean the Zad Saleh irrigation canal. A Hashar was organized in Zad Naser village in Muqur District, and the Kharistan CDCs also organized a Hashar to clean a 2-KM irrigation canal. The Kalanzai CDC in Muqur drafted a concept note for a bridge construction project, and the Qadis District Governor organized a monthly coordination meeting with line-departments to discuss issues including the recent increase in meat prices and governmental lands occupied by squatters.