Stability In Key Areas (SIKA) – West / Monthly Report – February 2014

The program is administered through the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) in cooperation with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) and AECOM International Development. During the month of February 2014, SIKA-West activities focused on supporting Provincial and District Governments, with a total of eight District Stabilization Committee (DSC) meetings held in Farah, Badghis, Herat, and Ghor Provinces. These meetings reached a total of 540 people, including line-department representatives, District Development Assembly (DDA) members, religious and tribal leaders, and community observers. The DSC meetings provided an opportunity to prioritize previously proposed mitigation activities and discuss the impact of the first contract period project activities. Conflict Resolution Skills trainings were provided to 69 Tribal Conflict Resolution Committee (TCRC) members in Muqur, Pusht-e Rod, and Shindand Districts, enabling them to identify, prioritize, and resolve conflicts at the district level. During February, the TCRCs resolved four conflicts in Pashtun Zarghun, Pusht-e Rod, and Muqur Districts. The Pashtun Zarghun District Governor rescheduled the DSC meeting from February 26th to March 2nd due to an urgent meeting, while the DSC meeting in Shahrak was canceled due to severe cold weather and heavy snow. The Stability Analysis Mechanism (SAM) training was provided to the Bala Boluk and Pusht-e Rod District Governors, their staff, and other stakeholders. This training aimed to enhance the capacity of the District Governors and their staff to analyze and address stability issues in their respective districts. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in the four provinces and 10 districts where it operates. The program has established strong relationships with MRRD, IDLG, communities, and other stakeholders, and has provided training and support to District Governors, their staff, and other stakeholders to enhance their capacity to address stability issues. The program's focus on conflict resolution, stabilization, and capacity building has contributed to improved stability and security in the western provinces of Afghanistan. The SIKA-West program continues to work towards its goal of increasing stability and paving the way for transition in the region. In terms of geographic focus, the SIKA-West program operates in the four provinces of Herat, Farah, Badghis, and Ghor, as well as 10 districts within these provinces. The program's activities are concentrated in the following districts: Bala Boluk, Pusht-e Rod, Muqur, Pashtun Zarghun, Shindand, Kushk Rabat-e Sangi, Shahrak, Chaghcharan, Qadis, and Muqur. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in the past month, with a total of 540 people participating in DSC meetings and 69 TCRC members receiving conflict resolution skills training. The program's focus on stabilization, conflict resolution, and capacity building has contributed to improved stability and security in the western provinces of Afghanistan.