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Afghanistan General Activity Update
March 23-April 10, 2006 · Issue 112
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Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor province, is one area where USAID works on Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The PRT in Ghoris managed by Lithuania. |
Training for Provincial Reconstruction Teams
Conducting development activities in a country afflicted with instability and low level conflict presents obvious challenges. To improve access to communities in remote and unstable regions of Afghanistan, USAID is participating in Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). Essentially, these teams are joint civil-military units based in 23 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. Various countries operate different PRTsand each one has a different composition of diplomatic, military, and development assistance expertise. The purpose of PRTsis to improve stability by supporting community development projects, and extending the authority of the Afghan government to the outlying provinces.
From April 10-14th, USAID will train incoming PRT staff from the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and
USAID to improve the effectiveness and coordination at PRTs. The training will focus on a variety of themes such as conditions for operating in such a complex social, political and economic environment, including the historical backdrop and ethnic tensions. Another session will examine Afghanistan’s development goals and role of international agencies and donors working to achieve specified aims. Security and the role of various U.S. Government Agencies will also be addressed. From a USAID perspective, such coordination among representatives at PRTs will improve effectiveness and facilitate better delivery of aid to communities.
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| Participants and trainers gathered for Gensettraining at Cummins International in Pune, India in April 2005. Participants included Mr. ArifJailany, a diesel power station operator from Advanced Engineering Associates International in Kabul and Mr.VijayM. Gogate, a trainer from Cummins International in Pune, India.
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Vocational Training to Boost Skills & Improve Power
In Kabul, people receive an average of three hours of grid-based electricity every two days. This lack of reliable power even in the major city affects Afghans’ quality of life and negatively impacts business. To help keep the generators going and minimize costs, USAID is training operators of these units through a unique public-private partnership.
USAID’s SARI/Energy program is working with a U.S. diesel engine company to provide intensive vocational training for employees of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW). At a fully equipped training center in Pune, India, Afghan personnel receive classroom and hands-on training in generator-set operations, maintenance, and performance improvements that will help lower costs and emissions. To date, 25 Afghans completed training. Overall, USAID aims to provide training in a broad range of areas to 6,500 members of the Ministry of Energy and Water.
Preparing Afghan Veterinary Care Workers to Respond to Avian Influenza
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| 70 veterinary care workers from Kunar, Laghman, and Nangarharreceive training and equipment to manage a possible outbreak of avian influenza.
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Commercial poultry is a growing business in eastern Afghanistan where an estimated 2.5 million birds are raised in backyards fortheir meat and eggs. Limiting an avian influenza epidemic is important to protect Afghans’ health and market prospects. The region is vulnerable because many people informally trade live animals raised at home. The limited resources available to contain an outbreak in remote areas make the spread of avian flu worrisome.
In response, USAID coordinated with the provincial Departments of Agriculture in Kunar, Laghmanand Nangarhar, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the University ofNangarharto conduct a two-day training course on March 27-28th. Roughly 70 veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and livestock specialists in charge of 35 field units and ten representatives from NGOs received training to learn about the disease, its diagnosis, and measures for prevention and control.
Sessions focused on streamlining surveillance, quarantine and notification procedures. Another topic discussed raising awareness in the rural communities. After the successful completion, participants received protective clothing and accessories, pressure sprayers, disinfectants and informational materials. Logistical support will include a minimum of two training courses in their districts.
SECURITY INCIDENTS
On April 2nd on the road to Farah, U.S. Protection & Investigations (USPI) reported that a vehicle stopped and fired two rocket propelled grenades at a USPI vehicle. The driver was killed by theattackers, and equipmentwas set on fire. The Ministry of Interior responded to the attack, took controlof the area, but the attackers drove off
and escaped.USPI provides security for USAID road activities.
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The main purpose of the security incident graph is to provide a general update on security incidents as they relate to reconstruction in
Afghanistan. The graph is simply a mechanism for tracking security incidents and does not analyze incidents or
attempt to discern the motives or affiliation of the perpetrators. The focus of the graph is the frequency of incidents and their impact on
USAID’s work and also that of the development community writ large. The graph does not attempt to track all incidents regularly faced in Afghanistan.
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