Project to improve access to safe water and sanitation and hygiene and to distribute food in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
• The project team has contacted Department of Economy (DoEC) and the Department of Refugee and Repatriation (DoRR) to arrange the timing and locations for the second round of food distribution in Kandahar city, Daman, and Zhari districts. Together, they formed a committee to oversee and supervise the distribution process. The committee accompanied
RSDO’s distribution team at the food distribution point and monitored the process.
• RSDO coordinated with local authorities in Kandahar city, Daman, and Zhari for support in the second round of food distribution, With their help, distribution points were selected to
ensure they were accessible and secure for beneficiaries.
• RSDO coordinated with DoEC and DRRD regarding the commencement of well drilling in
all locations and requested their assistance in providing security for the construction unit.
• RSDO had several follow-up discussions with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) regarding the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Due to some modifications to the project scope and location, the MRRD has requested additional time to coordinate with the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
(DRRD) at the Kandahar level.
This coordination is necessary to update the documentation
and incorporate the changes into the MoU.
Once these procedures are completed, the MoU
will be signed. Meanwhile, the MRRD has issued a letter to the authorities at Kandahar to cooperate with RSDO in term of the implementation of WASH activities until the MoU is finalized and signed.
[Activity 1-2: Needs survey and selection of target areas]
• The site selection for the installation of WASH facilities in all locations has been completed only one location in Kandahar city remained unselected. During the month of June, RSDO
successfully chose specific sites for WASH facilities in one location of Kandahar city. The site selection for Daman and Zhari was already completed in May 2024.
• The project team conducted a technical survey measuring if the selected sites could serve as water routes and successfully reach water, Evaluating the potential well-drilling sites and the availability of water involved several key tests and methods to ensure site suitability and sufficient water presence. Upon completing the tests, the technical team made informed
decisions about the best sites for well drilling, ensuring reliable and sustainable access to groundwater.
[Activity 1-3, 1-4: Maintenance of water supply and promotion of hygiene practice]
• The construction unit managed the mobilization and transportation of drilling rigs, support vehicles, and materials to the field for well drilling, They assembled the equipment, ensuring
secure positioning and alignment.
• RSDO engineers meticulously conducted safety checks to ensure that all equipment functions properly and that the site was secure before proceeding with operations.
• The construction unit has begun drilling operations, making significant progress in drilling wells in Zhari district and Kandahar city, In Zhari district, a percussion machine with a 13″
diameter successfully drilled a well to a depth of 70 meters, reaching the water table.
Meanwhile, the drilling of a second well in Zhari district is currently 70% complete, with ongoing work.
• RSDO drilled one well in Kandahar city at the first location using a rotary well drilling machine, We successfully reached the water table, and the well has enough water to provide for the residents using for drinking, cooking and sanitary.
• The drilling of well in Daman district has not yet commenced. Once drilling activities are completed in Zhari district, the machinery will be relocated to Daman to initiate drilling one
well in the selected location.
• Additionally, the construction company has been tasked with procuring additional WASH facilities, including water reservoirs, stands, and solar systems, These items are being supplied concurrently with drilling operations, Upon completion of drilling, the installation will promptly follow to ensure adherence to project timelines.
[Activity 1-5: Establishment of maintenance management system]
• RSDO conducted meetings with the local community in Kandahar City, Zhari, and Daman districts regarding the establishment of a water management and maintenance committee to take responsibility for the management and maintenance of WASH facilities.
RSDO emphasized the importance of maintaining WASH facilities and discussed the influential leaders’ role in encouraging the local community to contribute to the maintenance and management of these facilities.
• Additionally, the RSDO project team discussed the community’s responsibility to contribute to constructing a boundary wall around the solar system for its security and maintenance.
The local community promised to participate in providing a boundary wall or small fence for the solar system’s security once the WASH activities are completed.
[Activity 1-6: Monitoring]
• RSDO has developed a post distribution-monitoring questionnaire to gather feedback and information on the distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene promotion leaflets, The
questionnaire includes details on the hygiene items received (e.g., soap, sanitizer, sanitary pads, nail cutters, buckets), their physical condition while received, and the quality of the kits beneficiaries received them. The questionnaire also assesses the level of improvement in the hygiene practices of the beneficiaries.
• RSDO has also incorporated the comments and feedback from NICCO into the questionnaire to ensure that the survey is comprehensive and covers all necessary aspects of the
monitoring requirements, RSDO is planning to implement this survey in July 2024 to ensure timely collection of data and feedback from the recipients.
[Activity 2-3: Procurement matters]
• The RSDO procurement team negotiated with construction companies to revise their offer and Bill of Quantities (BoQ) in response to the government’s request, and they reapplied to
compete in the bidding process. The original plan was to implement WASH facilities in six locations. However, due to a change in the project scope, mandated by the governor’s office
in Kandahar, it adjusted to five locations. Specifically targeting districts 9 and 12 in Kandahar city. This decision was influenced by the acute water scarcity in these densely populated districts.
• To access sufficient water in these areas, it became necessary to drill wells up to 170 meters deep, instead of the originally planned 70 meters. This required heavy machinery not
initially budgeted for, resulting in an increased project budget. Consequently, the project was adjusted to include five wells instead of six, Despite this reduction, RSDO ensured
coordination with local authorities to guarantee reaching the targeted number of beneficiaries, Local authorities highlighted that due to the high resettlement of returnees deported by the government of Pakistan, districts 9 and 12 are densely populated areas, ensuring the project benefits a larger community beyond the initial target.
[Activity 2-4: Distribution of supplies
• RSDO, in coordination with the food distribution committee and the local shura/CDC, invited 500 target beneficiaries in Kandahar city, Daman, and Zhari districts to receive their food packages for the second time. Except for 18 beneficiaries who were absent, the rest received their food parcels, The food parcels for the absentees will be distributed in the first week of July 2024 upon recalling them.
• The majority of these absentees in the first time distribution reported that the reason the were unable to collect their food on the day of distribuiton was due to their work as laborers,
which only allowed them to attend distribution during the weekend. In order to reduce the number of absentees, RSDO made the necessary effort to negotiat with government
authorities, who oversee the distribution process, to schedule the distribution on the weekend, but the authorities disagreed with this suggestion.
• RSDO distribution unit provided complaint cards to all beneficiaries, including a helpline number and a complaint box, to report any project any project-related issues. Despite these
measures, no complaints have been received regarding food parcels or WASH facilities, However, many beneficiaries noted that vulnerable returnees among their relatives in Kandahar were not selected due to supply shortages.
[Activity 2-5: Monitoring]
• RSDO has developed a post-distribution monitoring questionnaire to collect essential information on beneficiary satisfaction with the food distribution process. The questionnaire
covers various aspects such as the type of food assistance received (e.g., wheat flour, rice, beans, oil, salt), the date of distribution, and the quantity and condition of the items.
Beneficiaries are prompted to report any issues with the food items or delays during distribution.
The questionnaire also assesses how the food assistance was utilized, whether it was sufficient for household needs, and how long it lasted. Additionally, it inquires if any food items were sold or exchanged, and if so, what was received in return. To gauge
satisfaction, the questionnaire examines the convenience of the distribution point in terms of accessibility and facilities, as well as the overall distribution process, 1-3 Delayed activity, reasons and causes for delays.
• The procurement of WASH facilities faced delays because the government decided to select two locations in Kandahar city that required deeper wells, surpassing the budget estimates.
This necessitated redoing the procurement process, which which required additional time for various coordination efforts with stakeholders. These efforts included acquiring
necessary information from the local authorities, reporting it to NICCO and JPF, and subsequently obtaining their approval.
• To cope with the delay caused by the procurement of WASH facilities, RSDO convinced the construction company to implement a strategy for handling multiple tasks simultaneously
to expedite the installation of WASH facilities.Considering the current progress and the pace of work on-site, RSDO anticipates completing all project activities on schedule by July 22,
2024. However, it is anticipated that the project handover ceremony may be held after the project period due to time-consumingbureaucratic procedures and the need for security
coordination with local authorities in Kandahar province.
