Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) South / Monthly Report – September 2014

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is being implemented by AECOM International Development. The program's scope encompasses five intermediate results (IRs), which are IR1 Governance and Stability, IR2 Access to GIRoA Services, IR3 Communication and Outreach, IR4 Government Services and Development Projects, and IR5 Capacity Building. Key Provincial Events and Engagements in September 2014 were reported in the provinces of Kandahar, Hilmand, Uruzgan, Zabul, and Nimroz. In Kandahar Province, the SIKA team conducted a stability analysis workshop for the district of Panjwai, while in Hilmand Province, the team provided technical assistance to the district of Nawa-e-Barakzai on stabilization issues. In Uruzgan Province, the SIKA team facilitated an inter-district entity meeting to exchange information and best practices. The program's implementation is focused on several key activities, including hiring and training a stability specialist's team, conducting training of trainers for SIKA and MRRD, and updating stability workshop frameworks with lessons learned. The program also involves providing technical assistance to district entities on stabilization issues, indicators, and trends, as well as facilitating inter-district entity meetings to exchange information and best practices. In terms of IR1 Governance and Stability, the program has made significant progress in hiring and training a stability specialist's team, conducting training of trainers for SIKA and MRRD, and updating stability workshop frameworks with lessons learned. The program has also made progress in providing technical assistance to district entities on stabilization issues, indicators, and trends, as well as facilitating inter-district entity meetings to exchange information and best practices. In terms of IR2 Access to GIRoA Services, the program has made progress in providing training to provincial line directorates to improve their capacity to collect, manage, and report information about projects and services. The program has also made progress in assisting provincial and district entities to establish productive relations and holding quarterly review meetings to evaluate progress and results. In terms of IR3 Communication and Outreach, the program has made progress in periodically collecting existing population/demographic research, identifying communications management needs for provincial and district entities, and assisting to develop communication strategies to support the program teams. The program has also made progress in conducting rolling communication and outreach training activities for provincial and district entities. In terms of IR4 Government Services and Development Projects, the program has made progress in submitting grants manual and activity flow chart for USAID, conducting initial development research and assessments in communities and districts, and working with district entities to identify DPP projects. The program has also made progress in submitting PCNS and DPPS for USAID approval, coordinating with PRRD, NSp, and NABDP, and providing capacity building and technical assistance to help district entities prepare grant application packages for priority projects. In terms of IR5 Capacity Building, the program has made progress in assessing capacity, identifying gaps, and preparing capacity building plans, developing capacity building materials and expertise, and delivering training and other capacity building support. The program has also made progress in evaluating results for continuous improvement and implementing gender pilot activities. The program has also reported additional results in monitoring and evaluation, as well as women in governance/gender. The program has also highlighted several success stories, including a community-built masonry wall that protects villages.