Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) – West Weekly Report, January 17-23, 2013

A training session on "How to Develop a Communications Plan" was provided to 26 farmers from Pusht-e Rod District on January 20th. Six farmers were selected as communications focal points, and a communications need assessment was completed. The Director of the Literacy Department provided 78 literacy books for the Pusht-e Rod District literacy classes. Three literacy courses for 63 people kicked off in Massow, Shahr-e Kohna, and Qala Massow communities in Pusht-e Rod District. The courses will continue for six months. Literacy courses also continued in Bala Baluk District. A six-month computer course for 11 DRRD staff was started as part of government capacity building activities. A six-month tailoring course was launched for 15 women in Dehzak community of Bala Baluk District as part of gender-related activities. The Community Development team completed the Community Development Council (CDC) capacity assessment of Shiwan and Kanisk CDCs in Bala Baluk District. Technical packages for water divider refurbishment projects were completed for 11 CDCs in Bala Baluk District. To date, 35 employees have been hired, and 9 positions are being recruited. Badghis Province also achieved several milestones from January 17-23, 2013. Communications Skills Building training was provided to 11 Qadis District Government staff on January 17th. "Main Elements of Communications" training was provided to another 11 Qadis District Government staff on January 19th, and a communications need assessment was completed. Two staff were selected as communications focal points. Communications Skills Building training was provided to 14 Qadis DSC members on January 21st. A gender-related meeting was organized by the Badghis Department of Women's Affairs (DoWA) on January 21st, with 18 participants. The meeting focused on identifying problems women face in Qadis District. A meeting was held on January 22nd with 20 female representatives from Qadis CDCs to discuss their problems and needs. To date, 22 employees have been hired, and 12 positions are being recruited. Herat Province achieved several milestones from January 17-23, 2013. A poster and banner were designed for an anti-corruption meeting among government officials, which was held at the Shindand District Governor's compound on January 21st. The anti-corruption banner will remain hanging in the Shindand government's conference room to increase government awareness of the dangers of corruption. The 500 posters will be distributed to government facilities across the district. Shindand District Governor's Office (DGO) Communications Plan was finalized and signed by the Acting District Governor. The plan includes 26 specific activities to mitigate sources of instability and improve the community's perception of government activities in the district. "Communication Skills Building" training was provided to 58 members of farmers' cooperatives in Shindand District on January 16th. The training focused on raising the farmers' awareness of the main elements of communications and selecting communications focal points. To date, 25 employees have been hired, and 8 positions are being recruited. Additional Herat-based HQ support was provided from January 17-23, 2013. Stabilization Programming, the Stability Success Inventory (SSI), and Monitoring Stability Trends trainings orientation were provided to Stability Program Officers on January 21st. To date, 78 employees have been hired, and 15 positions are being recruited.