Stability in Key Areas (SIKA) –West Weekly Report, November 12-18, 2013

Participants included the DRRD Directors from Herat, Badghis, Ghor, and Farah Provinces, the USAID ACOR, the SIKA-West MRRD and IDLG Coordinators, and Afghan senior SIKA-West staff. The meeting provided an opportunity to present an overview of the last quarter's achievements, challenges, and future plans, as well as open dialogue between SIKA-West and partners regarding district/provincial implementation of the program. To date, 130 light infrastructure grant projects, including water dividers, bridges, culverts, flood protection walls, community center refurbishments, and road rehabilitation, are ongoing. Additionally, 59 vocational grant trainings, including tailoring, embroidery, carpet weaving, welding, carpentry, and auto-mechanic courses, are ongoing in Farah, Herat, Badghis, and Ghor Provinces. These trainings aim to equip local communities with skills necessary for economic development and stability. In Farah Province, the Bala Boluk Farmers' Association organized a "Hashar," a traditional volunteer scheme, to clean a water canal in Kalkola village. The event brought together almost 50 farmers, promoting unity among residents. Furthermore, a follow-up "Concept Note" training was provided to three representatives of Doken CDC in Pusht-e Rod District, enabling them to draft a concept note for a flood protection wall project. The CDC will receive further support, and the final concept note will be submitted to relevant service providers. In Badghis Province, a coordination meeting was held with 14 CDCs from Qadis District, where the CDCs shared their experiences, achievements, and challenges during the implementation of vocational trainings. The CDCs requested heaters for the vocational training courses. The first draft of the Badghis Service Providers Catalog (SPC) was also completed. The Capacity Building Department is implementing various vocational training courses, including auto-mechanic, tailoring, carpentry, and embroidery, in Muqur and Qadis Districts. In Herat Province, the Kushk Rabat-e Sangi Women's Shura held a coordination meeting with 41 women, where an overview of the last month's activities was presented. The District Executive encouraged the women to apply for vacant positions in the district. Five literacy courses in Shindand District were completed, with 100 women learning basic literacy skills. A meeting was held with the Herat Provincial Government Gender Specialist and SIKA-West senior staff, where an overview of SIKA-West's gender-related activities was presented. The participants agreed to organize a monthly meeting and invite the Director of the Department of Women Affairs (DoWA) as well. In Ghor Province, the Ghor Provincial Youth Association organized its first monthly coordination meeting with 30 youths, briefing them about the DSC meetings. The Capacity Building Department is implementing various vocational training courses, including auto-mechanic, tailoring, carpentry, and embroidery, in Muqur and Qadis Districts. The Community Development Department is implementing labor-intensive infrastructure grants, including aqueducts, culverts, irrigation, flood protection, and road rehabilitation, in Qadis and Muqur Districts.