Stability In Key Areas (SIKA)-West Agreement No: AID-306-C-12-00004 FY2014 Quarter IV

The program is led by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development (MRRD) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) in collaboration with AECOM International Development as the prime implementing partner. The SIKA-West program focuses on training and assisting District Entity (DE) officials and provincial authorities in developing a better understanding of community problems using the Stabilization Analysis Mechanism (SAM)/District Stability Matrix (DSM) and monitoring of stability trends. The program also aims to finalize District Project Portfolios (DPP) and successfully carry out selected projects that enhance stability and good governance, as well as continuing design and implementation of communication strategies that improve the relationship between provincial authorities, DEs, and their citizens. The program is active in four provinces: Farah, Herat, Badghis, and Ghor, with a total of 16 target districts. The SIKA-West team has trained and assisted District Entity officials and provincial authorities in developing a better understanding of community problems, finalizing District Project Portfolios, and continuing design and implementation of communication strategies. During the reporting period of July, August, and September 2014, the SIKA-West program achieved several key results. In terms of stabilization programming, 29 GIRoA-led Komite Sobate Woleswali (District Stabilization Committee) meetings were held, providing an opportunity to identify and discuss a range of district community "major problems" and prioritize community-proposed "solutions" to these problems. In terms of communications and public outreach programming, district entities successfully completed 87 public outreach activities, including producing factsheets, conducting coordination meetings, and disseminating awareness-raising messages. The SIKA-West program also achieved significant results in community development programming, with 353 grants valued at USD$8,484,000 approved across all 16 target districts. These projects include rehabilitation of irrigation canals, road networks, and culverts, schools and boundary walls, flood protection walls, and gabions. As of the reporting date, 218 grants projects valued at $3,399,080 were completed, and currently, CDCs are implementing 100 projects valued at $3,831,208 in the target districts. In terms of governance programming, the SIKA-West Governance Department mentored 625 District Government staff in the SIKA-West districts of operation, improving inventory/record keeping, organizational charts, report writing, and computer skills training. As of the reporting date, 117 graduates of vocational training courses are supporting their families by utilizing vocational education skills in Shindand, Qadis, Muqur, Bala Boluk, and Khak-e-Safayd Districts. However, the SIKA-West program faced several constraints and critical issues during the reporting period. These include the kidnapping of three SIKA-West staff and one driver, security concerns in Kushk Rabat-e Sangi and Bala Boluk Districts, and the absence of District Government personnel within both the Bala Boluk and Pusht-e Rod District Government Offices. The program also faced delays in Grant Application submissions due to security concerns and the lack of identity cards among some CDC members in Kohsan District. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, but it continues to face several challenges that need to be addressed. The program's success will depend on the ability of the SIKA-West team to overcome these challenges and continue to provide effective support to the provincial authorities and district-level government entities in improving governance programming and increasing the provision of priority basic services.