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

The program, led by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), began on January 29, 2012, and is scheduled to end on August 31, 2015. The program focuses on four provinces: Farah, Badghis, Herat, and Ghor, incorporating 16 target districts. The SIKA-West program is designed to improve governance programming and increase the provision of priority basic services, with the intended result of increasing citizen confidence in and support for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). During the reporting period, 12 GIRoA-led Komite Sobate Woleswali (KSW) meetings were held. These meetings provided a forum for district residents and sub-national government entities to discuss current problems and grievances affecting residents within the districts. Participants included Provincial and District Governors, Line Department Managers, District Development Assemblies, Community Development Councils, MRRD District Social Workers, Tribal Leaders, Religious Leaders, and District Residents. Community major problems discussed during the KSWs included insufficient government support to tackle illiteracy, provision of employment opportunities, and improved flood protection measures. The reasons for these problems were directed at the local governments' failure to invest sufficient resources within the districts and remain engaged with residents. Both Provincial and District Government leadership acknowledged the role of government in addressing these grievances and improving the quality, range, and scope of services. An important component of these KSWs was the inclusion of the views and needs of female district residents. In Bala Boluk, a separate KSW for women was conducted, where they discussed educational concerns within their district and identified the need for school equipment such as desks and chairs. As part of the Stabilization Programming Indicators review and project impact assessment, community gatherings were held to obtain feedback from communities on the effect of SIKA-West's programming to date and the support provided for Provincial and District Government Service Delivery. Communities were pleased with the implemented projects and noted improved service delivery by their respective District Governments. The SIKA-West program also conducted a two-day Western DRRD Directors Conference in Kabul on November 10th-11th. Participants included Provincial DRRD Directors from Herat, Badghis, Ghor, and Farah Provinces, representatives from MRRD SIKA, and Senior Program Managers from IDLG/MRRD SIKA-West. The conference was designed to review past MRRD-led programming under SIKA-West and consider transitional programming goals as the program comes to an end next year. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in promoting stability in key areas of Afghanistan. The program's focus on improving governance programming and increasing the provision of priority basic services has led to improved service delivery by District Governments and increased citizen confidence in and support for the GIRoA.