Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) – West Weekly Report, February 13-18, 2013

The program is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In Farah Province, the program has made significant progress in promoting stability and economic growth. The seventh Bala Buluk District Stabilization Committee (DSC) meeting was held on February 12th, with participation of 36 people, including 13 DSC members, 5 District Entities' representatives, and 18 community observers. During the meeting, the DSC was updated on stability programming activities, including technical surveys, CDC assessments, and projects approved by USAID. The DSC members prioritized vocational and literacy trainings, and it was decided that the remaining project funds would be spent on tackling unemployment by implementing various vocational training courses. The Farah Gender Working Group meeting was held on February 17th, with participation of 17 people from different governmental and non-governmental organizations. The meeting aimed to inform the members about the vocational and literacy trainings organized in Farah by the Stability Program, and to provide Gender Mainstreaming training. The participants convinced the Farah Laborers Association to register 15 women, who recently completed a drug treatment program, in the next vocational training course organized by the Farah Department of Labors and Social Affairs (DoLSA). In Pusht-e Rod District, the Project Priority Agreement (PPA) and Mirab Agreement forms with Safarak CDC for water divider projects were signed. The technical design, drawings, and cost breakdown of the Tapa Shiran High School refurbishment/renovation project were prepared. In Bala Buluk, a tailoring vocational training for 15 women and five literacy courses for 125 female beneficiaries are ongoing. In Pusht-e-Rod, three literacy courses for 75 students are ongoing. The program has also made progress in Badghis Province, where the bi-weekly meeting with USAID representative was held on February 13th. The USAID representative requested Stability Program support training Department of Women's Affairs (DoWA) staff to provide career guidance to students at local girls' schools. An exhibition for women to market and sell their products for International Women's Day on March 8th was also discussed. In Herat Province, a series of capacity building trainings was provided to 26 staff from Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District line departments on February 13th. Five literacy courses for 125 women in Shindand District officially kicked off with an opening ceremony on February 17th. The 5th Shindand DSC meeting was held on February 18th, with participation of 82 people, including 33 DSC members, 13 District Entities' representatives, and 36 observers. During the meeting, projects criteria were explained to the participants, and the DSC prioritized 36 hard and soft mitigating activities. The program has also made progress in hiring staff, with 31 employees, including 23 professional staff and 8 support staff, hired to date. In addition, 16 STTAs have been directly hired as literacy, computer, and vocational trainings instructors. The program has also made progress in data collection for the Herat Service Providers Catalogue (SPC), with the first three out of seven university graduates hired as part-time interns for a six-week period.