SIKA-West Weekly Bullet Points No. 120: July 15-21, 2014

The TCRC proposed an equitable distribution of the land between the two brothers, and they accepted the proposal, ending their conflict. Media Relations training was provided to 30 Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District Government staff on July 21st. The training covered the importance of media relations, how to write a press release, and interviewing techniques. These staff members will use the local media to inform people about government activities and achievements in Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District of Herat Province. The Shahrak District Executive Manager, Mr. Hafizullah Habibi, visited the flood protection wall rehabilitation project in Tangai Azo Village on July 16th. He asked the residents to take responsibility for the project's maintenance, stating that the local government would bring more development projects to the village to improve the quality of life of the residents. Grants approved by MRRD and IDLG in target districts totaled 301 projects valued at $6,789,352. Currently, CDCs are implementing 71 projects valued at $3,013,651. A total of 203 projects valued at $2,863,005 have been completed, and 26 projects valued at $1,473,574 are pending with the USAID Vetting Unit for action. SIKA-West has requested USAID's support to expedite these pending requests. Cross-Cutting Capacity Building activities included mentoring DRRD District Social Workers in Pusht-e Rod District on preparing guidelines on how to register new villages in the District Government Village Affairs Department. Advocacy training was provided to 23 Pashtun Zarghun District Government staff, and training on how to write a "Stabilization Snapshot" was provided to the Pashtun Zarghun District Governor and other officials. Additionally, training on Plant Pest Control was provided to 40 farmers and gardeners in Qala-i-Naw on July 19th.