Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) – West Weekly Report, July 23-29, 2013

In Farah Province, the District Governor organized the 9th Pusht-e Rod DSC meeting on July 28th, attended by 50 people, to discuss and analyze the presence of insurgent groups and neighboring countries' influence. The meeting resulted in the dissemination of 10 copies of the Service Providers Catalogue to DSC members. Additionally, eight women from Pusht-e Rod District participated in a separate meeting on the same day. The anti-addiction campaign in Pusht-e Rod District continued with a roundtable discussion on July 24th, organized by the Youth Association, which was broadcast on Farah local radio. The 11th Bala Boluk DSC meeting was held on July 29th, with participation of 47 people, to update DSC members on the status of mitigation activities in Bala Boluk District. A separate meeting was held with 20 influential women in the District Governor's house to review the Sources of Instability and mitigation activities. The women agreed on the implementation of proposed projects. Furthermore, the Pusht-e Rod Youth Association organized an Iftar on July 28th, attended by almost 100 officials, youth, and Ulemas. The District Governor delivered speeches about the roles of youth in the district and appreciated their initiatives during the last months. A three-day training on the Service Providers Catalogue promotion, dissemination plan, and public speaking was provided to the Herat and Farah PST Resource Development Officers. Twenty labor-intensive grants, including building water dividers and refurbishing a community center, are ongoing in Bala Boluk and Pusht-e Rod Districts. Three projects are currently on-hold due to security issues. In Badghis Province, the Qadis District Governor received support to develop 'Peace Brochures' highlighting the responsibilities of community members in bringing peace. One thousand copies of the brochure will be distributed during the peace campaign in August 2013. Two six-month carpentry training courses were launched for 30 men in Jawaliq community in Qadis District. The Pusht-e Rod Youth Association organized an Iftar on July 28th, and eight women from Pusht-e Rod District participated in a gender-disaggregated DSC meeting on the same day. In Herat Province, the Kushk Rabat-e Sangi District Governor organized a public meeting with 40 Ulemas on July 23rd to improve communications between Ulema and religious leaders. The District Governor highlighted the important roles of Ulema in bringing peace and stability in the community and asked them to promote peace through their sermons at prayers. A three-day 'Project Cycle Management' training was provided to 18 members of five CDCs in Pashtun Zarghun District from July 23rd to 25th. Five carpet weaving vocational trainings for 125 women and five literacy courses for another 125 women in Shindand District are ongoing. In Ghor Province, a coordination meeting was held with the Director of Department of Women's Affairs to invite 40 women from government and non-government entities to participate in the communications training scheduled for August 6th. The feasibility survey of road rehabilitation projects in Nahoor Shewij, Akhta khana Sufla, kharestan, Rakhna Safid, and Cheshma Sakina communities in Chaghcharan District was completed during the week.