SIKA-West Weekly Bullet Points No. 130: Sep 30-Oct13, 2014

The program's main objective is to improve the living conditions of rural communities in the western region of Afghanistan. Key areas of focus include flood protection, road rehabilitation, and irrigation system improvements. In Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District, the Darweesh Ali CDC completed 30% of the work on a 200-meter flood protection wall rehabilitation project by October 12th. The project aims to protect the community from flooding and improve agricultural productivity. In the same district, the SIKA-West Community Development Department completed feasibility studies for six projects, including road rehabilitation and flood protection walls construction. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in implementing grant-funded projects in target districts. As of October 13th, 356 projects valued at $8,558,741 have been approved by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG). Of these projects, 105 are being implemented by CDCs and DDAs, valued at $3,860,500. A total of 223 projects valued at $3,648,042 have been completed, while 17 projects valued at $818,518 are pending with the Vetting Unit for action. The program has also made progress in capacity building, with training sessions conducted for CDCs and DDAs on project management and conflict management. On October 1st, the Kohsan District Revenue Manager, Mr. Sadruddin, successfully prepared and submitted his monthly departmental progress report to the Kohsan Komite Sobate Woleswali. Conflict Management and Legal Awareness training was launched for 40 members of the Ghor Provincial Government Tribal Conflict Resolution Committee on October 12th. In addition to infrastructure rehabilitation, the SIKA-West program has also focused on promoting agricultural development in the region. With support from the Communications and Public Outreach Department, farmers from Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District advocated for their agricultural needs, requesting Saffron bulbs and fertilizer for farmers. An "Agricultural Fair" was organized in Shahrak District on September 30th, where more than 50 farmers showcased their agricultural products, including apples and grapes. The event aimed to increase awareness of local produce and promote agricultural development in the region. The SIKA-West program has also made progress in monitoring and evaluation, with the Eureka team finalizing the questionnaire for the SIKA-West Mid-Term Assessment. The assessment will commence on October 18th, with a focus on evaluating the program's progress and impact on the target communities.