Latest Update !
Program Title: Emergency Response to Afghanistan Refugees (Initial Response Period)
Project Name: Project to improve access to safe water and sanitation and hygiene and to distribute food in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
Project Duration: 16th February – 22nd July 2024
Reporting Period: 1st June – 30th June, 2024
[Activity 1-1/2-1: Coordination/ Approval]
• 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.
Project background & Previous Projects
Afghanistan had suffered 20 years of civil war since the Soviet invasion in 1979. And since the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001, the country has continuously been trapped into an unstable security situation, despite the presence of the NATO troops. Due to the situation, the country’s development has been retarded in various areas such as infrastructure, social system, education, and healthcare.
As of 2008, Afghanistan’s primary education rate, literacy rate, GDP per capita, and average life expectancy were at the lowest level in the world. And today, the country is still caught up in a vicious cycle of the reproduction of poverty.
To overcome such situations, Afghanistan started to formulate national development strategies in 2008, aiming to build a new country based on economic development and peacebuilding. However, the rural areas have been left behind of development, still suffering pervasive poverty.
A farmer in Herat province wrote in a letter to NICCO, “We hear that, in some parts of the world, there are countries where one farmer can feed 100 people. But here in Afghanistan, we cannot even feed two people, due to the lack of farm equipment, fertilizer, knowledge, etc.”
About the project
With these backgrounds, NICCO has been engaged in support programs for rural areas in Herat, west Afghanistan, since March 2011. In 2013, the third year of the five-year plan, we added Ghor province to the program beneficiaries.
The support programs include:
– to develop educational environment through activities such as building schools and conducting teacher training courses, in order to provide children with quality education in a safe, appropriate environment;
– to empower women through education and vocational training such as literacy programs and IT and English courses, so as to improve professional skills and job opportunities; and
– to support enhancement of agricultural skills and revenue generating opportunities, to improve the farmers’ knowledge, skills, and income.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Humanitarian Aid in Afghanistan: Schools have been completed in Herat and Ghor provinces, Afghanistan! The school construction is completed in Herat and Ghor Provinces, Afghanistan!!
Salaam (hello), I’m Akimoto from NICCO’s Iran Machad office. In a previous blog, we announced the progress of the school construction project in the Gaizan district of Herat Province and the Midan Hawaii district of Ghor Province in Afghanistan, and the school has finally been completed!
Salam (Hello in Persian), this is Akimoto from NICCO Mashhad office. As we previously mentioned and updated in the blog about our school construction project in Ghayzan district in Herat Province and Midane Havaei district in Ghor Province, Afghanistan, the schools are finally built!!
Currently, the final monitoring of each school building is being carried out by building experts. The school building will be handed over to the local education departments in the provinces of Herat and Ghal, and will be used by a total of more than 2,600 children in both districts by spring this year. I would like to introduce the completed school in the photo below, and it is a very fine school building. We hope that children will receive a better education in this school building built as part of this project.
The school buildings are in the process of final monitoring by architects now, and it will be handed to the local educational department of Herat and Ghor after the final monitoring is completed. Then finally, more than 2,600 children will be able to use the school by the spring season in this year. You will get to see for following photos of the splendid and fine schools. Sincerely hoping that, those children will get a good education and appropriate educational environments by using the schools built by the project.
The pictures of the school in Ghayzan district in Herat Province
The outside appearance of the school in Ghayzan district
The inside appearance of the school in Ghayzan district
*
A classroom of the school in Ghayzan district
The pictures of the school in Midane Havaei district in Ghor Province
The outside appearance of the school in Midane Havaei district
A classroom of the school in Midane Havaei district (the picture before school equipment such as desks and chairs delivered)
Salaam! (Hello!) ）
This is Yasuda from the Iranian Machad Office. A family of cats moved into the garden of the apartment. I’d like to get close to you somehow, but I’m extremely wary.
Salam (Hello!)
This is Yasuda from NICCO Mashhad Office in Iran.
Recently, a cat family moved to the garden of my apartment. I want to be a friend of theirs, but they are cautious against human so much.
We run literacy classes in Herat and Galle provinces and provide training for business continuity. We are implementing the literacy class and conducting the training for handing over the project, in Herat and Ghor Provinces
This time, I would like to introduce the literacy classes that we are conducting in the Herat and Ghor provinces of Afghanistan.
As we were previously introduced by our firm Akimoto, we are currently running literacy classes in Herat and Ghal provinces with the aim of improving the status of women. This project is based on Afghanistan’s National Development Plan and other reconstruction programs, and is positioned as one of the most important forms of assistance for Afghanistan’s development.
Today, I would like to introduce the literacy class that we have implemented in Herat and Ghor Provinces, Afghanistan.
As my colleague, Mr. Akimoto introduced in the blog before, we are implementing the literacy class in Herat and Ghor Provinces for aiming the empowerment of women. This project follows the NDS (National Development Strategy) of Afghanistan as well as other plan for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan, and is thought as one of the most important supports for the development of the country.
Afghanistan, like other Middle Eastern countries, has strong cultural constraints on women’s education and social advancement. This trend reached its zenith under the Taliban regime, when women were not even allowed to go out on their own, let alone have access to education and social advancement.
The advancement of women’s empowerment, economic and social development, and the progress of democratization are interrelated, and it may be said that the advancement of women’s empowerment is a necessary condition for Afghanistan to become a stable and prosperous country in the future.
Afghanistan has strict rules in its culture against the education and public participation of women, as well as other countries in the middle-East area. This tendency had reached at a peak during the regime of Taliban, and the government had prohibited women from going out alone and receiving opportunities for the education and public participation.
Considering the fact that there is a correlation among the empowerment of women, economic-social development and progress of democracy, it could be said that the empowerment of women is a necessary condition for Afghanistan to become a stable and wealthy country in the future.
CDC and Shura ~ Consideration for Traditional Culture ~
There are two groups in Afghanistan’s villages: the Community Development Council (CDC), which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and is responsible for the development of villages, and Shura, which has been arbitrating and resolving various disputes and disputes in villages since ancient times.
When we start a project, we consult with the CDC and Shura in each district in advance in addition to each administrative agency. While aiming to improve the standard of living and education of each person, it is very important to give consideration to the traditional culture of the local area.
In the villages in Afghanistan, there are two groups so-called as CDC (the Community Development Council) that have a responsibility for the development of the village under the supervision of the MRRD (the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development), and other group called as Shura that have arbitrated and solved various issues in the villages ever since a long time ago.
When starting the project, we consult with CDC and Shura beside the governmental offices, then start the implementation. It is very important to consider and respect their traditional culture of the local community, as we aimed the improvement for the standards of their lives and educations.
Until now, NICCO has been running the literacy classes, but since January 2016, the CDC and Shura will take over the role that we have been playing. In order to acquire the knowledge necessary for this purpose, we are currently conducting training on various contents.
NICCO has been managed the literacy class until now, and CDC and Shura are supposed to be handed over the role NICCO played from the year 2016 onwards. Thus, we are currently holding the various trainings for CDC and Shura in order to let them learn the required knowledges for implementing the literacy class by themselves.
