Stability in Key Areas – South (SIKA-S)

OVERVIEW

  • Implementation period: April 2012 – September 2015
  • Project budget: $66 million

Stability in Key Areas – South (SIKA-S) promoted stabilization and good governance in some of Afghanistan’s most historically unstable and weakly-governed provinces. Project managers worked with district and community-level government officials to deliver grants that address local population needs and concerns, often through small scale public works projects. Typical work grants included construction of local flood control ditches and dams, embankments, pedestrian bridges, and upgrades to dirt roads. SIKA-S operates in 14 districts of southern Afghanistan.

In grants component, project partners worked closely with district-level government officials, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to strengthen existing subnational development and governance structures, including Community Development Councils (CDCs) and District Development Assemblies (DDAs). Throughout the grants process, hiring local work crews and local government supervision were important priorities.

ACTIVITIES

  • Provincial and district entities were trained to identify drivers of instability and appropriate counter measures available to local government.
  • Project officials helped Provincial and District entities improve communications to better understand district populations' needs and make delivery of basic government services more effective.
  • Through a grants mechanism, government officials at the local, district, and provincial levels received training in contracting and contract management.

RESULTS

  • Eighteen DDAs and District Coordinating Councils (DCCs) s and 1,265 CDCs have identified local priorities and sources of instability in community forums organized under SIKA-S.
  • SIKA-S officials conducted capacity building training for 14 District Governors' Offices, nine Women's Advisory Committees, and 55 provincial directorates.
  • Over 14,000 participants completed training workshops on service delivery, communications, management, and other topics.
  • Over 330 grants projects funded with a total value of $9.6 million were awarded throughout 14 districts. These include small infrastructure projects to improve access to services: culverts, erosion control, irrigation, repair potable water delivery systems, and repair of schools and other public buildings. Grants also support vocational training in all 14 districts.