Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) –West Weekly Report, December 31-January 6, 2014

The program focuses on improving the lives of local communities through infrastructure development, vocational training, and community engagement. In the week of December 31-January 6, 2014, several key events took place in the SIKA-West program. On December 31st, two projects were officially handed over to the Ghor DRRD, including culvert construction in Akhta Khana Sofla and Nahoor Shewig villages in Chaghcharan. The event was attended by over 110 people, including government representatives, CDCs, DDAs, and media. The Ghor DRRD Director, Mr. Eng. Mohammad Zolal, stated that the implementation of such projects builds trust between the government and the community. In Farah Province, the Pusht-e Rod District Governor and DRRD representatives visited a water divider construction project in Zeer Joie village on December 31st. The government involvement in the project cycle utilizes the sub-projects implemented by CDCs as a tool to show how the government is delivering services. By the end of the three-month project, the CDC will have constructed eight water dividers. The Pusht-e Rod Youth Association's representatives organized a coordination meeting with the Farah Deputy Provincial Governor (DPG) on January 2nd, where they shared their concerns, including lack of job opportunities and lack of expert teachers. In Badghis Province, two carpentry vocational training courses in Jawaleq Olya and Jawaleq Sofla villages in Qadis District were completed. During the five-month training, 30 men learned carpentry skills, and six of the graduates opened carpentry shops. Separate meetings were held with the Director of the Badghis Department of Labor and Social Affairs (DoLSA) and Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) on December 31st and January 4th to find job opportunities for the carpentry vocational training graduates. In Herat Province, a coordination meeting was held with the National Area Based Development Program (NABDP) on January 2nd, where an overview of activities was presented by both NABDP and the SIKA-West. SIKA-West requested the NABDP to provide an updated list of the DDA members and a copy of the District Development Plan (DDP) to coordinate more closely with DDA members. Five carpet weaving vocational training courses have been completed in Shindand District, with 125 women learning carpet weaving skills during the five-month trainings. The SIKA-West program has made significant progress in implementing infrastructure projects, vocational training, and community engagement activities. The program has constructed several culverts, water dividers, and irrigation projects, and has provided vocational training to over 1,000 individuals in various skills, including carpentry, tailoring, and carpet weaving. The program has also established community development councils (CDCs) in several districts, which are responsible for implementing sub-projects and providing services to the local communities. The SIKA-West program has also made efforts to engage with the local communities and government officials to promote stability and development in the region. The program has organized several coordination meetings with government officials, CDCs, and community leaders to discuss project implementation, community concerns, and job opportunities. The program has also established a hotline in several districts to receive complaints and concerns from the local communities. Overall, the SIKA-West program has made significant progress in promoting stability and development in western Afghanistan. The program has implemented several infrastructure projects, provided vocational training to over 1,000 individuals, and engaged with the local communities and government officials to promote stability and development in the region.