SIKA-WEST Weekly Bullet Points No. 141: Dec 23-29, 2014

The completed canal will provide irrigation water for 1000 jeribs of farmland. In Farah Province, the Farah Department of Women's Affairs Director led a Provincial Gender Working Group meeting on December 25th. Key points discussed included the lack of female staff in governmental organizations, and the group decided to conduct an assessment to identify which organizations lack female staff. The Gender Mainstreaming Unit handed over the Lash Wa Juwayn Female Komite Sobate Woleswali to the District Governor on December 23rd. In Badghis Province, a 'Work Plan Development' Workshop was conducted in Qadis District for 12 government personnel from December 23rd-24th. The workshop focused on Annual Work Plan Development, Strategic Planning, and Procurement Practices. The Muqur District Agriculture Department provided 'Tree Pruning and Pistachio Cultivation' training to 50 farmers on December 29th. In Herat Province, a 'General Administration' Workshop was conducted in Kohsan District for 12 government personnel from December 28th-29th. The workshop covered Administrative Guidelines, Human Resource Management, and Performance Management. The Pashtun Zarghun Education Department developed a guideline to speed up the process of obtaining an official school graduation certificate. In Ghor Province, the Community Development Department conducted a Post Project Completion Site Visit for the Canal Lining project in Dahan Dara Kassi village in Chaghcharan on December 28th. The canal was in good condition, and no deficiency was observed. Monitoring and Evaluation training was provided to five governmental staff in Chaghcharan, focusing on Project Site Photography, Measurement Tools, and Report Writing. The Kababi Payeen CDC completed 70% of a four culverts construction project in Pusht-E Rod District, expected to improve access for 968 families to the district center. The Haji Mohammad Ali Khan CDC completed 83% of a wash culvert construction project in Qadis, expected to improve access for 6320 people to the district center. The Muqur District Agriculture Department provided 'Tree Pruning and Pistachio Cultivation' training to 50 farmers on December 29th. SIKA-West has stopped six projects in and around Akhun Zadaha Village until the kidnapping incident is resolved. Due to the current cold weather, projects in Du Layna, Shahrak, and Chaghcharan, as well as projects in Kushk Rabat-e Sangi, Kohsan, Guzara, and Pashtun Zarghun, have been suspended until winter conditions pass. The M&E Department has been unable to confirm 16 project sites due to the current security situation.