SIKA-WEST Weekly Bullet Points No. 131: Oct 14-Oct 20, 2014

The bulletin is produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is prepared by AECOM. The bulletin highlights several key developments in the region, including the support provided by the Governance Department to 40 farmers and ranchers from Lash Wa Juwayn District, who lobbied the District DAIL for material support to address diseases in their animal herds. As a result, the DAIL distributed 40 animal vaccination kits and pledged to follow up with provincial authorities to obtain more support. The bulletin also reports on the support provided by the Gender Mainstreaming Unit to the Farah DOWA, which will now take the lead in supporting District Government-sponsored female Conflict Resolution Committees (CRCs) in Bala Boluk, Pusht-e Rod, and Lash Wa Juwayn Districts. These female CRCs provide an avenue for district women to report their grievances and request local government support. In addition, the bulletin highlights the completion of feasibility studies for three projects in Qala-i-Naw and Kohsan Districts, which were selected by the respective district governments to invest in both the district education sector and respond to communities' needs for flood protection measures. The bulletin also provides updates on the progress of grants and subcontracts programming, including the identification and approval of 378 grant-funded projects valued at USD$8,888,218. The bulletin reports that 230 projects valued at USD$3,981,739 have been completed, while 17 projects valued at USD$818,518 are pending with the Vetting Unit for action. Furthermore, the bulletin highlights the capacity-building activities undertaken by the MRRD DSWs and District Government representatives, who led the CDC Project Management Training for 7 CDC grantees in Farah Center, Pusht-e-Rod, Muqur, and Qadis. The training focused on project management, community mobilization, and development/procurement processes. The bulletin also reports on the monitoring activities undertaken by the SIKA-West team, including the provision of monitoring and evaluation training to the Shindand, Lash Wa Juwayn, and Chaghcharan District Social Workers. The training focused on photography, track stick use, measurement tools, and report writing. In addition, the bulletin highlights the progress of various infrastructure projects, including the construction of a 220-meter irrigation canal in Jalal Abad Village, which was awarded by the District Government and Herat DRRD. The bulletin also reports on the completion of a culvert construction project in Jandosti Village, which has improved the community's access to neighboring villages and the District Center. The bulletin also highlights the efforts of the Qadis Department of Education, which organized its first parent-teacher conference in Jamiat Boys High School on October 18th. The conference discussed student absenteeism and other concerns, and resulted in the provision of parents' phone numbers to teachers, so that they can be called when their children are absent. Finally, the bulletin reports on the efforts of the Badghis Provincial Government, which identified and will move forward with several Gabion projects to address the concerns of communities in Sar Cheshmai, Qar Qaito, Baghak, Sang Aab, and Nidami Laman, which are at risk of spring floods.