The Aziz Abad Hulya CDC Successfully Rehabilitated A 120-Meter Wash Flood Protection Wall And A Culvert In Zawool Blog Village, Shindand District

This achievement is part of the overall efforts to improve stability in key areas, specifically in the Sika-West region. The Sika-West weekly bullet points for July 8-14, 2014, highlight various activities and accomplishments in the region. Training sessions were conducted in different districts, focusing on project management, media relations, and plant pest control. Mr. Aziz Ahmad Shakib, the DRRD DSW, and Mr. Ahmad Shah, the Pashtun Zarghun District Executive Officer, facilitated a four-day project management training session for the Taqcha CDC. This training enabled the CDC to receive their first milestone payment and begin a road rehabilitation project. Advocacy and concept note development training were also provided to various CDCs and government staff. For instance, the SIKA-West Governance Department provided training on plant pest control to 29 farmers and gardeners in Qadis District. Additionally, advocacy training was provided to the Pashtun Zarghun District government staff, enabling them to develop a concept note for a tailoring vocational training course for 20 women. Grants and cross-cutting capacity building were also key areas of focus. To date, 301 projects valued at $6,789,352 have been approved by MRRD and IDLG in target districts. Currently, CDCs are implementing 74 projects valued at $3,194,355. Moreover, 200 projects valued at $2,741,581 have been completed, and 26 projects valued at $1,459,574 are pending with the USAID Vetting Unit for action. Monitoring activities were also conducted, including updating the USAID Afghan Info database for the third quarter of 2014. The M&E team has started updating the database, which will be completed by July 22nd. Additionally, the USAID TraiNet database will be updated on July 24th, and the Service Providers Catalogs (SPCs) and the April, May, and June monthly reports will be uploaded into the USAID Development Experience Clearing House website on July 20th. In Farah Province, Mr. Sayed Mohammad, the Bala Boluk District Governor, and the DRRD DSW, Mr. Hafizullah, visited a flood protection wall rehabilitation project in Rahim Abad on July 14th. The DG thanked the Rahim Abad CDC for implementing the project despite security concerns. In Badghis Province, Mr. Abobakr Azimi, the Muqur District Executive Manager, inspected a culvert rehabilitation project in Bik Ha Village, Muqur District on July 10th. In Herat Province, Mr. Farhad Raufian, the Pashtun Zarghun District Governor, organized a Hashar to clean an irrigation canal in Haroon Village on July 9th. More than 30 people attended the event and helped clean the irrigation canal, which provides water for 98 acres of land. A coordination meeting was also held with the Community Cohesion Initiative (CCI), a USAID-funded program, on July 13th. In Ghor Province, the Ghor Gender Working Group (GWG) meeting was held at the DOWA office on July 13th. Discussion was focused on addressing the low participation of women in social activities and providing opportunities for them to share their concerns with district government officials. The GWG agreed to facilitate meetings with the district and provincial government line departments and invite the members of Women's Councils to attend these meetings and advocate for their needs. The road rehabilitation project in Dara Asiab Village, Shahrak District, was suspended due to a tribal conflict in the area. The issue will be discussed at the next Komite Sobate Woleswali and possibly assigned to the TCRC.