Regional Agricultural Development

Program – North (RADP–N)

Contract No. AID-306-C-14-00002

FY2016

Quarter 1

January 31, 2015

The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 5

CONTENTS

ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................... 6

FY2016 Q1 REPORT: OCTOBER 1–DECEMBER 31, 2015 ............................................. 7

PROJECT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 7

ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................... 8

PROGRAM APPRAISAL .............................................................................................. 47

COLLABORATION WITH GIROA, OTHER DONOR AGENCIES AND OTHER USAID

PROJECTS ................................................................................................................ 56

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES .............................................................. 61

ANNEX I: PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TABLE ........................................................... 63

ANNEX II: ENVIROMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING REPORT ..................... 63

ANNEX III: GRANTS REPORT ........................................................................................ 63

ANNEX IV: CLINS' SURVEY REPORTS……………………………………………………...63

ANNEX V: CLINS’ DECEMBER FOJS ............................................................................ 63

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 6

ACRONYMS

AAEP II Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project II ACTED Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development ACE II Agricultural Credit Enhancement II AKF Aga Khan Foundation ARD Agriculture and Rural Development CA Conservation Agriculture CBCMP II Capacity Building and Change Management Program II CLIN Contract Line Item Number COR Contracting Officer’s Representative DAI Development Alternatives, Inc. DCA Dutch Committee for Afghanistan DAIL Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock DoEc Department of Economy DoWA Department of Women’s Affairs dTS Development and Training Services, Inc. FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FOJ Field Officer Journal GIRoA Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit HIA Hungarian Interchurch Aid HVC High Value Crop INGO International Non-Governmental Organization JDA Joint Development Associates M&E Monitoring and Evaluation NHLP National Horticulture and Livestock Program NGO Non-Governmental Organization ORS Oral Rehydration Salts PICS Purdue Improved Crop Storage PVS Participatory Variety Selection RADP-N Regional Agricultural Development Program–North RSI Rahman Safi International Consulting SMFM Sell More For More SRHHP Small Ruminants Herd Health Package STIP Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships ToF Training of Farmers ToT Training of Trainers USAID United States Agency for International Development VFU Veterinary Field Unit WIA Women in Agriculture

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 7

FY2016 Q1 REPORT: OCTOBER 1–DECEMBER 31, 2015 PROJECT OVERVIEW

Activity Start/End Dates May 21, 2014–May 20, 2019

Prime Implementing Partner Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI)

Sub-Contractors/Sub-Awardees ACDI/VOCA, Alcis, Development and Training Services, Inc. (dTS), Dutch Committee for Afghanistan (DCA), Joint Development Associates (JDA), Pax Mondial Risk Management Company, Rahman Safi International (RSI) Consulting, Afghan Public Protection Force

Project Description The RADP-N program advances food and economic security for rural Afghans in six Northern provinces. To achieve this, the program strengthens the capacity of farmers in improved production in the wheat, high value crop and livestock value chains. Its activities enable farmers to increase their commercial viability and competitiveness in response to market demand, thereby generating greater income opportunities and empowering families to better meet their household needs. RADP-N uses a value chain facilitation approach to address numerous bottlenecks and identify lead firms within area capable of leveraging positive change. The final piece of RADP-N’s holistic framework is supporting a policy environment through advocacy and dialogue that strengthens the private sector.

Geographic Coverage Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, Kunduz, and Samangan provinces

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The first quarter saw solid gains in activity implementation with several simultaneous trainings, completed activities, with some in progress. In the first full quarter of Year 2 implementation, RADP-N implemented seven activities and issued seven grants valued at $115,062 to local partners. The highlights of this quarter are as follows: The CLIN 1 Hygiene and Nutrition (H&N) team completed training of 800 women with training ongoing for 500 additional beneficiaries in Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. CLIN 1, through its market linkage activity among seed companies, mills, and food processors, facilitated the signing of 14 contracts between seed enterprises and processors to use Afghan wheat varieties. Also, the team conducted Seed Business Development (SBD) training of trainers (ToT) for 16 trainers. Moreover, CLIN 1 conducted an initial assessment survey in Baghlan, Balkh, and Samangan provinces for prospective cooperatives interested in linkages with mills.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 8

During the quarter, CLIN 2 delivered 161,824 Short Message Services (SMS) to 4,822 farmers in Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces and conducted two farmer field-days in Samangan to show 77 farmers the benefits of the SMS marketing system. In other efforts, CLIN 2 certified 14 individuals as Sell More for More (SMFM) trainers and conducted the first phase of SMFM training for 159 individuals from 32 agricultural cooperatives and six DAIL staff. CLIN 2 also co-sponsored 12 agribusinesses to attend the WorldFood Kazakhstan Trade Show, resulting in the signing of four contracts for a total of 62.56 tons1 of different types of raisins and dried nuts valued at $260,839. In addition, the following trainings were conducted by CLIN 2:

• Improved Post Harvest Handling (PHH) for 165 grape and raisin farmers. • Introduction to International Standards Organization (ISO) and Hazard Analysis Critical

Control Points (HACCP) for 20 participants from 17 agribusinesses. • WorldFood Kazakhstan participants orientation.

During the quarter, CLIN 3 conducted series of ToTs and Training of Farmers (ToFs):

• Trained 202 trainers; 149 on Small Ruminants Herd Health Package (SRHHP) and 53 on the meat value chain.

• Trained 2,177 farmers on SRHHP and 100 butchers on hygienic meat processing and handling.

Early in the quarter, RADP-N co-sponsored 22 agribusinesses (Baghlan 2, Balkh 15, Jawzjan 3 and Kunduz 2) to attend and showcase their products in 12 booths at the Kabul International AgFair. In mid-quarter, RADP-N held the conference on Afghan women’s contributions in agriculture value chains, where approximately 136 participants from the six target provinces attended. In addition, the following beneficiary and activity-related surveys and reports were completed during the reporting period:2 1. CLIN 1 Initial Cooperatives Assessment Survey 2. CLIN 2 Dry Fruit and Nut Retailers’ Survey Report 3. CLIN 2 WorldFood Kazakhstan Trade Show Report 4. CLIN 2 List of SMSs Sent to Farmers 5. CLIN 3 Butchers Assessment Report 6. Kabul International AgFair Report 7. Gender Analysis Report on RADP-N’s Agricultural Value Chains 8. Afghan Women’s Contribution in Agricultural Value Chains – Conference Rapporteur’s Note 9. RADP-N Gender/Women Related Expenditure Report (Q1 of FY2016)

1 The reference to tons reflects metric tons throughout this report. 2 CLINs’ complete reports have also been attached as Annex IV.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 9

ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION

CLIN 1: Wheat Value Chain Direct Implementation Market linkage between seed companies and pasta manufacturer Through October and November, CLIN 1 tested3 and introduced three Afghan wheat varieties: Moqavim, Mazar-99, and Sulah to Kefayat Bakery and facilitated signing of a contract between Kefayat Bakery and Shirabad Seed Enterprise for 2.5 tons of Moqavim and Mazar-99 wheat flour and 0.5 tons of bran. After testing Moqavim and Mazar-99 wheat flour varieties at Kefayat Supermarket bakery’s ovens, the bakery decided to use flour from these two grains. Kefayat believes that the market for their flour will be both consumers who have tandoors (clay ovens) in their homes as well as bakeries. Both Mazar-99 and Moqavim were tested separately and then in combination in a tandoor for three characteristics: 1) not falling off the walls of the tandoor, 2) better taste, and 3) better color. Kefayat judged the Moqavim results as best and selected it for its flour product. Earlier the first quarter of Year 2, CLIN 1 facilitated linkages between Shirabad Seed Enterprise and farmers in Faizabad district of Jawzjan province. The farmers wanted improved seed but they did not know which variety was most suitable for their area. CLIN 1 recommended the Ghori-96 variety. Farmers bought one ton of the seed, followed by a second group who bought 0.5 ton of Ghori- 96. The 1.5 tons of improved wheat seed was valued at $703.

CLIN 1 also facilitated market linkages between Shirabad Seed Company, Almobashir Cookies Factory, and Armeen Pasta Factory. As a result, Shirabad signed three contracts (two with Almobashir and one with Armeen) for 1,520 tons of wheat (1020 tons of Moqavim and 500 of Parva-2) for delivery in 100 ton tranches beginning in June 2016. Final value of these contracts will be determined only at the time of fulfilment, but based on current market prices we estimate their value at $530,0004. It will allow Shirabad to contract with wheat farmers to grow these preferred varieties. The company also agreed to create a database to track its farmers

who are using Moqavim and Parva-2 wheat varieties. In another effort, Almobashir signed a contract with Mustafa Jamal Mill to mill the 20 tons of Moqavim into flour. These contracts are

3 CLIN 1 technical staff collected 105 wheat samples of different types of improved local wheat from rain-fed and irrigated areas to test suitability of varieties for pasta, bread, and cookie production. 4 In August 16, in the Business-to-Business linkage event, Almobashir Cookie Factory agreed to test three varieties of wheat, including Moqavim.

CLIN 1 facilitated a contract between Kefayat Bakery and Shirabad Seed Enterprise for wheat

varieties.

Shirabad Seed Company and Almobashir

Cookie Factory signing a contract between,

November 29, 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 10

the direct result of CLIN 1 facilitated linkages and tests. The contracts bring the total of facilitated agreements by CLIN 1 under this activity to 14, between seed companies, mills, the pasta factories, and specialty bakers. The contracts represent 1,533 tons and incremental sales value of $496,335. In another step in December, Shirabad milled 10 tons of flour for Kefayat Supermarket’s bakery. Kefayat took delivery of 10 tons and started to sell Afghan first grade flour at its supermarkets. Over the next year, CLIN 1 will continue to facilitate and track future sales between these stakeholders. Sales made thus far include 1,637.2 tons and increased sales are expected. In mid quarter, CLIN 1 facilitated market linkages between Habib Rahman Mill and five cooperative leaders. Habib Rahman Mill promised the cooperative leaders to provide fertilizer at a discounted price, and is willing to buy all cooperatives’ surplus wheat. The cooperatives agreed to sign a contract to supply their surplus wheat to Habib Rahman Mill in July 2016. The following table shows the participants’ details:

In December, CLIN 1 continued to facilitate market linkage activities with two wheat wholesalers and two cookies factories in Balkh and Jawzjan provinces, and found that all are showing full interest to sell and purchase 100% Afghan first-grade flour made from Afghan wheat. Agri-Businesses Linkages in Kabul AgFair Early in the quarter, CLIN 1 co-sponsored ten agri-business companies to exhibit their products in the Kabul AgFair organized by Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). Companies from all over Afghanistan attended this AgFair. During the fair nine of ten agribusinesses made business deals as indicated in the table below. The agribusinesses appreciated RADP-N for providing such opportunity for them to demonstrate their products in a large scale and having linkages with other part of Afghanistan geographically. The exposure helped the agri-businesses build market linkages with other companies. For further details please refer to annex IV – 6. Kabul International AgFair Report.

CLIN 1’s Agribusinesses Participating in the Kabul AgFair

# Attended Agri-Businesses Business Type Item Sold Items

1 Amir Faisal Mill Mill Flour & Bran 1 tons Flour 2 Sayed Jamal Mill Mill Flour & Bran 20 tons Bran 3 Armeen Pasta Factory Pasta Factory Pasta &

Spaghetti 400 kg Pasta

4 Elyas Pasta Factory Pasta Factory Pasta 2 tons Pasta 5 Almobashir Cookies Cookies factory Cookies 600 Kg Cake and

Cookies 6 Kefayat Bakery Bakery Bread 500 kg Bread and

Cooperative Leaders Who Met Habib Rahman Mill

Name District Position Company Name

Haji Shahzada Sholgara Leader

Community Development Council Haji Abdullah Balkh Ayaran Co-ops Abdul Fatah Dawlatabad Bakhter Co-ops Abdul Manan Dehdadi Posht-e-bagh Co-ops Abdul Rashid Balkh Agent Samar Qandian Co-ops Habib Rahman Mazar-e-Sharif General Manager Habib Rahman Mill

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 11

Cookies 7 Karwan Sabz Agricultural

Company Agricultural Company Machinery Scissors, Bio-fertilizer,

Weeding Tool Kits 8 Shirabad Seed Enterprise Seed Company Grain 8.8 tons Seed

7 kg Vegetable Seed 9

Tamadon Seed Enterprise Seed Company Grain 3 tons Seed

10 Kohe Toor Agricultural and Livestock Service Company

Agricultural Service Company

Cooperative Assessment Survey CLIN 1 conducted the initial survey for cooperatives that are interested in selling their grain products directly to processors. The activity aims to facilitate linkages between cooperatives and processors in Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. CLIN 1 also conducted an initial wheat production assessment survey in six districts of Balkh province for cooperatives to promote more direct linkages between farmers and cooperatives with mills and bakeries. Findings of this survey is submitted as annex IV – 1. CLIN 1 Initial Cooperative Assessment Survey. Weed Control and Seed Business Development (SBD) Early in the quarter, CLIN 1 revised and translated Year 1’s weed control ToT and ToF curriculum and promotional materials for the Year 2 training. The goal of the weed control ToT is to improve the capacity of trainers to enable them to complete the training as per the agenda. The materials were submitted to USAID for technical review and secured COR approval in December. CLIN 1 and the RADP-N grants team held a weed control Request for Applications (RFA) review session in December. The evaluation process resulted in some modifications in the applications. Three applicants were chosen and are currently being vetted. A ToT session will be conducted when the companies are approved and grant agreements are signed. Seed Business Development and Variety In the beginning of the quarter, CLIN 1 developed and translated the SBD ToT training materials and secured USAID approval in mid-quarter. Late in the quarter, CLIN1 conducted the SBD ToT training in Dehdadi district of Balkh for 25 participants (16 trainers for the 7 grantees: Zamzam, Mashal Naween, Sultan Dawood, Noor Mohammad, Sweda, Shirabad, and Stanikzai Seed Companies), five DAIL extension workers and four Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project (AAEP II) staff from Baghlan Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. CLIN 1’s technical staff led the training and RADP-N acknowledges AAEP II’s support that allowed the DAIL extension staff to attend the training. During the opening of the SBD ToT, Balkh DAIL Agricultural Affairs Extension Director spoke on the importance of seed selection in agriculture. CLIN 1 technical staff presented the grants process and procedures, the three SBD work packages, sample bags, mobile marketing, Participatory Variety Selection (PVS), village, site and farmer selection methods, establishing PVS mother trials, soil fertility for PVS, weed control in varietal trials, and procurement and M&E. The following table includes participants’ details:

SBD ToT Participants

# Participant Name Gender Province District 1 Ahmad

Male Baghlan Pul-e-Khumri

2 Abdul Mohammad Chesh-me Sher

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 12

3 Khalil Rahman

4 Mohammad Nasir 5 Asadullah 6 Ahmad 7 Ahmad Farid

Balkh

Mazar-e-Sharif 8 Hesamuddin 9 Hayatullah 10 Habibullah

Dehdadi 11 Hedayatullah 12 Anwar Balkh

13 Mohammad Fawad Jawzjan Sheberghan

14 Mirwais 15 Mohammad Karim

Samangan

Hazrat-e-Sultan 16 Ehsanullah

Grants N/A

CLIN 2: High Value Crop (HVC) Value Chains Direct Implementation

Improved Post Harvest Handling (PHH) Training In first month of the quarter, CLIN 2 conducted a ToF on improved PPH for 165 grape and raisin producers in Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. The three-hour training focused on determining grape maturity, testing sugar content, using a refractometer, proper harvesting time, and use of safety and hygiene tools such as gloves, masks, and harvest baskets. The training also addressed proper sorting, grading, and packaging. Haji Abdul Jabar, a participant from Hazrat-e-Sultan district of Samangan said, “I was using, traditional methods and old tools for grapes harvesting, which were causing lots of losses.” This training increased farmers’ knowledge on grapes harvesting and post-harvesting process. “All sessions of the training were very important, I learned how to properly harvest and package my grapes without losses now”, said Jabar. The table below shows details of the PHH training:

Grape & Raisins PHH Training Participants

# Province District Village Participants

1 Balkh Sholgara Qorbaqa Khana 23 2

Jawzjan

Sheberghan

Gul Gon Toqi 21 Qawcheen 20

Farmer group and lead farmer for improved PHH

training on grapes, Hazrat-e-Sultan, Samangan

October 7, 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 13

Mir Shekar 20 Qara Kant 21

3

Samangan Feroz Nakhcheer

Boorma 20 Khawja Gul Sorkh 20

Hazrat-e-Sultan Markaz 20 Total 165

Sell More For More Through October and November, the CLIN 2 technical team completed selection of 32 farmer organizations in Badakhshan, Balkh, Baghlan, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces for the SMFM training program. The selection process included a meeting with each farmer organization’s board members and completion of M4 (Management, Membership, Money, and Marketing) assessment tools5. Following the selection, CLIN 2’s technical team conducted a five-day ToT on SMFM management curriculum6 in Mazar-e-Sharif in mid-November for 17 trainers and 7 CLIN 2 staff. An additional 19 individuals7 also attended the opening session from Balkh Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL), Balkh Department of Economy, National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), International Labor Organization (ILO), Agricultural Credit Enhancement II (ACE II), Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises (ABADE), DCA, JDA, and Capacity Building and Change Management Program (CBCMP II). Speaking at the training opening ceremony, Balkh DAIL Planning Manager stated, “RADP-N has had a very good coordination with Balkh DAIL from the design stage of the SMFM training to date. I have reviewed the training materials and found them in line with MAIL’s policy in capacity development of farmer organizations including cooperatives”. The first phase of SMFM training was delivered to 159 board members from 32 organizations and six provincial DAIL staff by the SMFM certified trainers. The first phase included management and marketing modules delivered through six participatory workshops – one in each province – for organizational leaders lasting five-days. The trainees have been given a month long break and were tasked to apply the management practices learned in the first phase of the training. The trainees will attend the second phase and finish the complete course by mid-January 2016. The second phase includes topics on finance and membership.

5 M4 assessment tools provide a snapshot of organizations in relation to overall management services. 6 The SMFM curriculum is a comprehensive tool designed to help increase sales and income by building and improving the capacity of farmer organizations in four business disciplines (management, money, marketing and membership services) or (M4). 7 This figure is not reported by M&E in the PIT, as they attended the opening session only.

SMFM ToT participant presenting results of group work, on November 5, 2015.

______

SMFM direct training participant presenting results of group work, Kunduz, on November

29, 2015.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 14

The table below shows the farmer organizations that attended SMFM training:

Famer Organizations and DAILs Attended SMFM Direct Training

# Farmer Organization and DAIL

Province District Participants Total by Province

1 Baghe Baharak

Badakhshan

Faizabad 5

30

2 Baghe Shah 4 3 Dostan

Baharak 5

4 Safa 5 5 Amir Hamza

Kishem 5

6 Kangorchi 5

7 Cooperatives department of DAIL

Faizabad 1

8 Feroz

`Baghlan

Shar Kona 5

26

9 Maiwand Nawaqil Dahana-e-Ghori 5

10 Khorasan Safa Baghlan-e-Jadeed

5

11 Jawidan Hosainkhail Pul-e-Khumri

5 12 Nawbahar 5

13 Cooperatives Department of DAIL

Pul-e-Khumri 1

14 Markaz-e-Dawlatabad

Balkh

Dawlatabad 5

31

15 Pa Meer Khulm 5 16 Ayaran Balkh 5 17 Khalifa Folad

Chimtal 5

18 Mir Qasem Jan 5 19 Sedaqat Nahr-e-Shahi 5

20 Cooperatives Department of DAIL

Mazar-e-Sharif 5

21 Melon&Grape Producer Association

Jawzjan

Sheberghan 5

26

22 Mirza Shaheed Sheberghan 5 23 Breshlik Aqcha 5

24 Melon Producer Association Aqcha 5

25 Islam Shahid Faizabad 5

26 Cooperatives Department of DAIL

Sheberghan 1

27 Bahar-e- Kunduz

Kunduz

Chahar Dara 5

26

28 Horticultural Association 5

29 Bluk Qebchi Kunduz 5 30 Mehrabuddin Amarkhil Ali Abad 5 31 Mula Fateh Khanabad Khan Abad 5

32 Cooperatives Department of DAIL

Kunduz 1

33 Motonsaz

Samangan

Feroz Nakhcheer 5

26

34 Rabatak Aybak 5

35 Poshtband Khuram Wa Sarbagh

5

36 Dry Fruit Seller Hazrat-e-sultan

5

37 Mallemen Grape Association 5

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 15

38 Cooperatives Department of DAIL

Aybak 1

Total 165

Kabul AgFair In October, CLIN 2 co-sponsored participation of nine agribusinesses in the Kabul International AgFair. The CLIN 2 technical team noted good products sales by the sponsored agribusinesses during the event. The team followed up with the agribusinesses and captured sales data and provided necessary technical assistance during November and December. For details, please refer to Annex IV: 6. Kabul International AgFair Report.

CLIN 2 Agribusinesses Participating in the Kabul Agricultural Fair

# Company Name Location # of Participants 1 Khas Shefa Industerial Company

Mazar-e-Sharif

1

2 Abdullah Zemarai Company 1

3 Banowan Balkh Processing Company 1

4 Haji Mohammad Nasir Sohrabi & Sons Ltd 1

5 Fardin Ferdaws Company Ltd 1

6 Jamshid Ramin Company Ltd 1

7 Jowzjan Grapes, Melon & Dry Fruit Association Sheberghan 1

8 Kunduz Almond Processing Cooperatives Association Kunduz 1 9 Khurasan Safa Cooperative Baghlan 1

Total 9

Workshop on International Certification Organizations The CLIN 2 agribusiness team facilitated a half-day workshop led by Control Union8, to introduce the International Standards Organization (ISO), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), and GLOBAL Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) certification principals to 20 participants from 17 northern agribusinesses. Control Union, (Kabul-based) also presented information about the type of food safety tests available in Afghanistan and the advantages of the various certifications. Participants of the workshop are provided in the table below:

ISO, GLOBAL GAP, and HACCP Workshop Participants

Location Company Name Participants Aybak, Samangan Aybak Dry Fruit Sellers Association 1 Aqcha, Jawzjan

Khal Mohammad Co. Ltd. 1

Jawzjan Grape, Melon and Dry Fruit Association 1

Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan Tamadon Group 2 Faizabad, Badakhshan VFU staff 1 Kunduz Center, Kunduz

Afghanistan Almond Industry Development Organization (AAIDO)

2

Kunduz Almond Producer Cooperative (KAPC) 2

Jamshid Ramin Dry Fruit Processing Company 1 Nawroz 1 Nuristan Ltd. 1

8 Control Union is an international standards trainer and certifier.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 16

Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh

Amiri Seed Production and Agribusiness Services Company

1

Fardin Firdaws Ghafoory Ltd 1 Mohammad Hashim Hussain Zada Ltd. 1 Abdullah Zemari Balkhi Ltd. 1 Sobhan Ghafoori Ltd. 1 Abdul Ghafoor Ltd. 1 Mohammad Nasir Sohrabi & Sons Ltd. 1

Total 20

WorldFood Kazakhstan In November, RADP-N co-sponsored 15 members from 12 agribusinesses to exhibit their agricultural products at the WorldFood Kazakhstan Trade Show held in Atakent Expo Center in Almaty, Kazakhstan. RADP-N assigned two market linkage specialists to brief the participants on the experience gained from the WorldFood Istanbul trade show and best practices for participating in such events, and they accompanied the agribusinesses to the show to assist in setting displays and initiating dialogue with potential customers. RADP-N developed a booklet with a brief introduction on the 12 participating agribusinesses and contributed 70% of the participating cost. The remaining 30% was covered by agribusinesses who attended the exhibition.9

The show offered a great opportunity for agribusinesses to gain an understanding of customer expectations in these markets, improved technologies, market information, new goods and services, and to gain immediate feedback as each participant exhibited 50 kg of their own products. Following the exhibition, CLIN 2 facilitated a two-day visit to a carton manufacturing company in Almaty and the Zeylonyi dried fruits and nuts Bazaar. The Afghan agribusinesses welcomed this opportunity and discussed the prices, transportation costs, and exchanged contact details with the local dried fruits processing companies. Through the end of this quarter, five of the 23 Afghan companies participated in the two events (WorldFood Istanbul Sep-2015 and WorldFood Kazakhstan Nov-2015) were able to sign nine contracts for a total of 106.56 tons of dried nuts valued at $570,66910. For details please see

9 The cost includes: visa fee, exhibition space rent of 68 square meters (for 10 booths), administration cost, decoration fee for the Afghanistan Pavilion, hotel rent for 6 nights, local transportation in Almaty for 8 days, shipment of 600 kgs of dried fruits and nuts from Mazar-e-Sharif, and printing materials. The agribusinesses contributed 30% of the cost which includes print and design of banners and brochures for their companies, preparation of business cards, return air ticket, M&EI, and police registration fees. 10 WorldFood Istanbul Sep-2015 Sales: Nawroz Limited Company sold 112 tons of Sultana and red raisins worth $146,100; Milad Jehoon Sadaat Ltd. sold 14 tons of dried fruits worth $82,730; Nuristan limited sold 30 tons of black raisins worth $81,000; WorldFood Kazakhstan Nov-2015 Sales: Jamshid Ramin Limited Trading Company sold 44 tons of sun dried raisins worth $73,920; and Abdullah Zemari Ltd, signed three contracts total valued $186,919 (6.5 tons of almond at $78,000, 5.4 tons of pistachio worth $92,344 and 6.6 tons of black raisins worth $16,575.)

A buyer visiting a RADP-N booth at WorldFood

Kazakhstan, Almaty on November 4-6, 2015.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 17

annex IV – 3. CLIN 2 WorldFood Kazakhstan Report. The table below shows details of the participating agribusinesses:

Agribusinesses Participating in World Food Kazakhstan

# Agribusiness Type of Products Province Participants 1 Nawroz Company Limited Raisin, Dry Apricots & Pistachios

Balkh

2 2 Abdul Ghafoor Limited Pistachios, Almonds and Dry

Apricots 1

3 Jamshid Ramin Limited Raisins, Dry Apricots, Almonds & Pistachios

1

4 Mohammad Hashim Hussain Zada Limited

Raisins, Pistachios and Almonds 1

5 Sobhan Ghafoori Limited Raisins, Almonds and Pistachios 1 6 Abdullah Zemari Balkhi

Limited Raisins, Pistachios and Almonds

1

7 Nooristan Limited Raisins, Dry Apricots, Almonds and Pistachios

1

8 Amir Faisal Flour Mill 1 9 Afghanistan Almond Industry

Development Organization Pistachios, Almonds, and Dry Apricots

Kunduz

2

10 Ahmad Fawad Rasowli Limited

Dry Apricots, Almonds and Pistachios

1

11 Khal Mohamamdi Limited Raisins, Dry Apricots, Almonds and Pistachios

Jawzjan 2

12 Gas Logistic International Transport Company Kabul/ North

1

Total 15

Beneficiary Selection For Upcoming Activities

During December, the CLIN 2 value chain specialists in close coordination with DAIL district level extension workers, visited Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, Kunduz and Samangan provinces to select lead farmers, basic farmers, and demonstration plots for three upcoming activities (grapevine trellising and improved vineyard management, melon production upgrades and dried fruits/nuts pruning and spraying). The table below shows beneficiary selection details:

Beneficiary Selection

Province District Dried Fruits/Nuts Grapes/Raisins Melons

Demos Benefici

ary Demos

Beneficiary

Demos Beneficiary

Baghlan

Baghlan-e-Jadeed 3 168 4 160 5 300

Pul-e-Khumri 3 168 2 80 5 300

Balkh

Sholgara - - 3 - 2 120 Nahr-e-Shahi - - 1 - 2 120 Khulm 1 74 - - - - Balkh 1 74 2 - 1 - Dehdadi 1 74 4 - 4 - Chimtal 0 - 3 - 1 - Dawlatabad 1 74 1 - - -

Kunduz

Kunduz 1 60 4 160 3 180

Chahar Dara 1 60 4 160 3 180

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 18

Aliabad 2 132 4 160 3 180

Khanabad 1 66 2 80 4 240

Samangan

Aybak 1 72 - - 1 60

Hazrat-e-Sultan 3 216 16 600 5 300

Feroz Nakhcheer 2 40

Jawzjan

Aqcha 2 112 5 200 5 300

Sheberghan 3 168 17 600 7 420

Total 24 1,518 74 2,240 51 2,700

The CLIN 2 staff selected 149 demo plots based on approved criteria, which includes owning at least one jerib vineyard for trellising and one jerib for melons and dried fruits/nuts. The demo plot owner must be interested in contributing to the activities, be accessible to other farmers and have basic agronomic requirements to ensure the sites are suitable and in accordance with the program objectives. Grants Short Message Service (SMS) Marketing In the beginning of the quarter, RADP-N’s three SMS Marketing grantees started sending text messages to farmers in three provinces: Balkh (Balkh, Dawlatabad, Nahr-e- Shahi, Khulm, Chimtal, Mazar-e-Sharif, Sholgara and Dehdadi districts), Jawzjan (Aqcha, Sheberghan and Faizabad districts) and Samangan (Aybak, Feroz Nakhcheer, Hazrat-e-Sultan and Khuram Wa Sarbagh districts). The CLIN 2 team hired a local consultant who provided 5 days of short-term technical assistance to each grantees’ staff to write effective and concise SMSs. During the implementation, CLIN 2’s technical team met on several occasions with the three grantees to instruct them on proper and timely recording and reporting of outcomes. Moreover, the team recommended to cancel contract with the Haseeb Soft (SMS services provider) due to continued delivery failure. This contract was replaced by another services provider (Afghanistan Payment) in December 24, 2015. Throughout the quarter, the three SMS grantees sent 161,82411 SMSs to 4,822 farmers. The messages introduced the SMS system, participating input suppliers, and provided information regarding availability of seeds and other inputs such as dormant oil, and winter pruning. The three grantees have experienced increase in their monthly sales12 as shown in the table below:

11 Message totals sent by Dorokhshan Agriculture Company 58,641; Tamadon Agricultural Company 53,246; and Karwan Sabz Agricultural Company 49,937. 12 Sales increases are compared to monthly sales from the previous year.

RADP North SMS marketing grantee Tamadon

conducting field-day at Aybak District

Samangan, December

RADP-N’s SMS marketing grantee Tamadon

conducting farmer field-day at Aybak district

Samangan, December 24, 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 19

Sales Record of SMS Marketing Grantees

Agribusiness Name Months Total Sales

(AFN) Increase

Sales (AFN) Increase Sales %

Karwan Sabz

October 111,443 4,458 4%

November 206,624 14,464 7%

December 242,949 24,295 10%

Total 561,016 43,216 7%

Tamadon

October 0 0

November 2,137,200 748,020 35%

December 291,000 101,850 35%

Total 2,428,200 849,870 35%

Dorokhshan

October 136,828 4,105 3%

November 190100 13,307 7%

December 165,250 8,263 5%

Total 492,178 25,674 5%

In December, Tamadon and Dorokhshan agriculture companies conducted two farmer field-days in Aybak and Hazrat-e-Sultan districts of Samangan to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SMS for achieving higher yields. Forty farmers participated in Aybak organized by Tamadon and 37 farmers participated in the Hazrat-e-Sultan event organized by Dorokhshan. These grantees, will continue sending useful agriculture related SMSs under this activity until the end of January, 2016. Follow-up on the willingness of grantees to continue using the SMS technology as way to link their businesses to existing and new customers will be carried out in February. Solar Irrigation Pump Technology During the first month of the quarter, RADP-N signed a grant agreement with a well-known solar-powered water pump supplier to install 20 solar-powered pumps units13 in 20 grape vineyards at Hazrat-e-Sultan and Feroz Nakhcheer districts of Samangan province. The grantee contributed 50% of the total cost. RADP-N’s technical team, the pump supplier in coordination with the Samangan DAIL district extension workers set beneficiary selection criteria that required each farmer to have a minimum of two jeribs of vineyards and have access to water well supply. During November, the team completed the selection of 20 farmers, 10 in each district. In December, the 20 farmers received the solar panels’ stands and were instructed on proper installation.

13 Each solar-powered unit contains one two-inch water pump, eight solar panels to produce 250 watts of power, and a solar panel stand

Distribution of solar panel stands to farmers at Feroz Nakhcheer District, Samangan Dec. 8, 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 20

Market Research for Nut Processing In October, RADP-N and Taibaat Industrial Production Company competitively selected Ace Management System Consultancy Services to conduct a dry fru it and nut retailers’ survey in Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. In November, Taibaat designed survey tools for market research of nut processing and received RADP-N’s technical team approval. The company hired eight enumerators through Ace, who then interviewed 100 traders, retailers, exporters, processors, and wholesalers during early November. Taibaat then deployed its survey team of two market researchers and nut processing experts to India to source the right type of processing machinery. They visited seven

machinery manufacturing companies and three nut processing facilities in the 15 day trip in New Delhi, Ahmad Abad, Haryana, Baroda, and Uttar Pradesh, India. Taibaat, in coordination with Ace Management finalized the data analysis and identified appropriate processing equipment from two of the seven Indian equipment suppliers. Please see the final report on nut processing and market for processed nuts in annex IV - 2. CLIN 2 Dry Fruit and Nut Retailers’ Survey Report

CLIN 3: Livestock Value Chain Direct Implementation Small Ruminants Herd Health Package In the first month of this quarter, CLIN 3 technical staff and the Provincial Coordinators (PC) from Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, Kunduz, and Samangan developed selection criteria for farmers and a questionnaire to cover SRHHP ToF for 2,295 farmers. The questionnaire was translated to the local language used by VFUs and Local Extension Workers (LEW) to develop a baseline. The PCs trained 149 VFU staff and LEWs on how to complete the questionnaire and conduct the baseline assessment for the SRHHP training in mid-quarter. The team finalized the ToT agenda in October and selected 149 field staff including 11 female staff from the 6 provinces to participate in a series of SRHHP ToTs. These trainings focused on SRHHP principles to ensure that the trainers were capable of conducting the ToF. The trainings consisted of two sections, theoretical and role play. The theoretical training focused on SRHHP curriculum and VFU seasonal calendars that CLIN 3 developed. The role play was demonstrated by the extension workers on advantages of extension training, increasing the frequency of farmer visits to the VFUs, and the impact on VFU sales and income. The participants were also shown a video clip on Foot and Mouth Disease prevention. Trainees were provided with the training materials (SRHHP reference book, posters, seasonal calendar, stationary, and data collection forms).

SRHHP ToT in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh 4th and 5th October, 2015

Taibaat employee conducts dried fruits and nuts retailers survey, Mazar-e-Sharif (Balkh)

November 08

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 21

In November, CLIN 3 organized the series of ToFs. The training concluded in mid-December. The trainers replicated the first phase of the curriculum (breeding, deworming, sheep’s pox and winter feed) to 2,177 farmers, including 165 females. Shah Gul, one of the female beneficiaries from Samangan province appreciating the training on SRHHP that she has been provided by the local extension workers as saying “I appreciate RADP-N for selecting me as one of the trainees through which I have learned very interesting subjects, like how to feed animals properly, the advantages of

quality feed on livestock production and value chains, which made me interested in livestock husbandry. On behalf of other attended beneficiaries I would like to ask if possible to extend such useful trainings to help us learn more on livestock extension and value chains in the future”. CLIN 3’s female Extension Officers supervised the ToFs for females and PCs along with the male LEWs and the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers supervised male ToFs. The table below indicates SRHHP ToT and ToF details by province:

SRHHP ToT and ToF Participants

# Province ToT ToF Total Farmers/Trainers Male Female Male Female

1 Badakhshan 38 2 550 30 620 2 Baghlan 22 2 288 30 342 3 Balkh 32 3 497 45 577 4 Jawzjan 12 1 165 15 193 5 Kunduz 21 2 315 30 368 6 Samangan 13 1 197 15 226 Sub-Total 138 11 2,012 165

2,326 Grand-Total 149 2,177

The CLIN 3 Project Manager and Business Development Officer along with three, RADP-N’s sponsored private businesses, participated in the MAIL organized Kabul Ag-Fair in October. The Minister of MAIL and Checchi representative (USAID implementing partner) visited Afghan Social Cashmere Development Organization’s (ASCDO) booth and they were impressed with the cashmere products. A VFU staff from Faizabad district of Jawzjan province demonstrated some VFU equipment including an Artificial Insemination (AI) tool and wool shaving machine which attracted the interest of 51 farmers, (for details, please refer to annex IV – 6. Kabul International Ag-Fair Report). The three participants are shown in the table below:

CLIN 3 Agribusinesses Participating in the Kabul Agricultural Fair

# Company Name Location Participants 1 Afghan Social Cashmere Development Organization -

ASCDO Kunduz 1

2 Local cashmere and wool brother’s company Jawzjan 1

Province

SRHHP ToF in Samangan Province October 27th 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 22

ToT on Meat Value Chain CLIN 3’s Regional Training Coordinator developed a training strategy, check list, and training materials for the meat value chain ToT in November. The coordinator and the technical team organized this two-day ToT on meat inspection, food safety, and hygiene in Mazar-e-Sharif. The training was attended by 59 participants14 including VFU staffs, LEWs, provincial coordinators, provincial extension officers, CLIN 3’s Mazar-based technical staff and GIRoA staff from RADP-N targeted provinces as reflected in the table below:

A pre-training evaluation was first conducted to test trainees’ knowledge and skills. At the end of the training participants completed a post-training evaluation; a contrast of the average pre and post-tests showed an improvement in trainee’s knowledge at the end of the training as shown in the line-graph below:

14 Sixteen of 59 participants are from Balkh and six are GIRoA staff who are not reported by RADP-N M&E team in the PIT spread sheets.

3 VFU in Faizabad, Jawzjan Jawzjan 1

Meat Value Chain ToT Participants

Province Male Female Total By Province

Badakhshan 7 2 9 Baghlan 5 2 7

Balkh 16 4 20 Jawzjan 5 1 6

Kunduz 7 1 8 Samangan 8 1 9

Total 48 11 59

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51

Pre-Test and Post-Test Results

Pre Test Post test

Meat value chain ToT workshop in Mazar-e-Sharif, November 22-23rd

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 23

The training consisted of two sections, theoretical and practical. The theoretical session covered topics related to meat inspection, meat hygiene, food safety, and proper use of butcher tools. The practical training included role play in which VFUs, extension workers, and other participants demonstrated the impact of waste management practices, and the how proper butcher shop practices could impact their meat sales. In mid-quarter, CLIN 3 prepared the butchers’ selection criteria and training plan for the six targeted provinces along with a list of 100 selected butchers to receive training. In December, 18 LEWs of CLIN 3 organized the training for these 100 butchers. The training covered hygiene, monitoring and methods to maintain clean shops and slaughtering tools. The butchers were also briefed on the importance of using personal protective equipment such as apron, rubber shoes, masks, goggles, gloves and using hand washing detergents. Training details are shown in the table below:

Butcher Training Participants’ List

Province District Village Beneficiary Total/Province

Badakhshan Baharak

Center

4 15 Faizabad 6

Kishem 5

Baghlan Pul-e-Khumri

Bazar Band 2 1

15

Balak-e-Cemment 1 Brogha 1 Center 6

Dahana-e-Ghuri Center 1 Baghlan Markazi Shahre Jadid 5

Balkh

Dehrazy Center 5

25

Dehdadi Pusht-e-Bagh 3 Nahr-e-Shahi Center 3 Mazar-e-Sharif Mazar-e-Sharif 6

Khulm Center 4

Shulgar Qadeem 4

Jawzjan Sheberghan Sheberghan 8

15 Faizabad

Center 5 Sansiz 2

Kunduz

Center

Center

6

15 Chahar Dara 3 Ali Abad 3 Khan Abad 3

Samangan

Center Balai Bazar 3

15

Paheen Bazar 3

Khuram Wa Sarbagh

Char Asiab 1 Langar 1 Deh Asel 1

Hazrat-e-Sultan Kart-e-Sulh 3

CLIN 3 LEW training butchers in Faizabad District of Badakhshan, December 6

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 24

The CLIN 3’s LEWs assessed the 100 trained butchers to determine the amount of cost share they could contribute for a grant to improve their butchers’ shops. (See annex IV – 5. CLIN 3 Butchers’ Assessment.) The assessment results shown below indicate contribution levels between 20% and 40%:

Late in the quarter, the CLIN 3 team developed two questionnaires to aid in the selection of participants for upcoming training on lamb rearing and paravets. The team has planned to conduct lamb rearing ToT for ten provincial female LEWs late in January for later ToF for 800 female beneficiaries in 80 groups in the 6 provinces. At the end of the ToF, each beneficiary will be provided with 5 lambs (three months old) and 324 Kgs of feed containing 168 kg straw, 120 kg hay, and 36 kg concentrated feed. CLIN 3 will also assess and select 15 new paravets for a six-month intensive theoretical and practical training. The paravets will be provided with VFU kits through a grantee and will subsequently receive 8 refresher trainings. At the end of the quarter, CLIN 3 organized a two-day workshop for its 14 staff members to improve their skills on Year 2 activity planning, including phase II of SRHHP, meat value chain, cashmere harvesting, lamb rearing, butcher improvement, M&E formats, proper reporting and paravet selection. Grants N/A

CLIN 4: Enabling Environment To date six constraint documents have been completed and submitted to RADP-South as the lead RADP for this activity for consolidating all three documents from each of the three RADPs. Once consolidated these will be submitted to the COR committee for final review prior to going to MAIL. The completed documents include: 001 Lack of a Systemized Structure for Provision of Extension 002 Poor Management of Water Resources 003 Lack of High Quality Seeds and Planting Materials 004 Post Harvest Handling 005 Lack of Access to High Quality Pesticides 006 Constraints for Women to Achieve Agricultural Sector Opportunities

Feroz Nakhcheer Char Suq 1 Tolaga Chi 1 Malekan 1

Total 100

Butchers’ Assessment

# Province # of Butchers

Assessed # of

Contributors # of Non-

Contributors % of

Contribution 1 Badakhshan 15 15 0 30 2 Baghlan 15 15 0 20-30 3 Balkh 25 20 5 30 4 Jawzjan 15 15 0 30 5 Kunduz 15 15 0 30 6 Samangan 15 15 0 25-40

Total 100 95 5 NA

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 25

The consensus among the RADPs with concurrence of MAIL is for the following list of topics to be addressed in Quarter 2. The Minister set a timeline for finalizing the Livestock Plan by the end of February and a 3-day Livestock Policy Conference (led by DCA) is scheduled for February 14-16 (final day to address nomadic grazing issues for Kuchi livestock production), the Range Management constraint was moved to the first half of the quarter to allow RADP input into the livestock report that will be completed during late February/early March. The scheduling for constraint documents is as follows: Due February 15, 2016

� 007 Associations and Cooperatives � 008 Lack of skills training for women � 009 Farm mechanization � 010Range management

Due April 1, 2016

� 011 Finance � 012 Public Private Partnerships � 013 Access to Value Chain Markets � 014 Effective Customs/border procedures

Gender Early in the quarter, the gender team completed collecting study data from the field through focus groups and interviews conducted by the enumerators. The team completed the data triangulation and analysis in October and the first draft of the data analyses was completed in December. For details, please refer to the annex IV – 7. Gender Analysis in RADP-N’s Value Chains. Women’s Contributions in Agriculture Value Chains In mid quarter, the Gender Advisor developed and submitted a concept note and agenda for the conference, “Recognizing Afghan Women’s Contributions in Agriculture Value Chains”. Approval was received and in November, conference invitations were sent to the target participants. A series of orientations on participation and facilitation of the conference sessions were carried out with representatives from AAEP II, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ILO, Hand in Hand Afghanistan (HiH Af), People in Need (PIN), GIZ/SEDEP, Maiwand Bank, Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), RADP-N’s female staff, and the conference rapporteur in RADP-N’s conference hall. The two-day conference was held on November 24th – 25th in Mazar-e-Sharif. A total of 136 participants including 21 GIRoA officials of DAILs, DoWA, Department of Commerce and Industries (DoCI), ACCI, 15 from INGOs, financial institutions, and 100 female farmers attended (refer to the table below).

Conference Participants By Province

Province Female Farmers GIRoA Officials INGOs/Financial Institutions

Balkh 19 5 15 Badakhshan 22 4 0 Baghlan 18 2 0 Kunduz 0 3 0

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 26

Jawzjan 22 5 0 Samangan 19 2 0 Total 100 21 15

Grand-Total 136

The conference consisted of five regular sessions with women farmers, processors, and extension service providers. Concurrently two side events were conducted with participating government delegates, representatives from business and development partners. There were two plenary opening and closing sessions. Five Regular Sessions A total of 100 women farmers, processors, small businesses and extension service providers from Balkh, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Jawzjan and Samangan provinces organized themselves into six commercial networks: wheat, high value crops, small ruminant, vegetables, preserves and vet extension services to act collectively for their common interests during the conference. (Refer to the table below).

Women’s Commercial Groups Commercial Group

Type

Province

Total Primary Economic

Activity Secondary Economic Activity

Wheat

Balkh 6 Wheat

Small ruminants and poultry

Badakhshan 13 Baghlan 4

Jawzjan 2

High Value Crops

Balkh 3 Almond and pistachios Corn

Jawzjan 5 Grapes and almonds Carpet weaving, tailoring, and vegetable cultivation

Samangan 2 Almonds, walnut, and pistachio

Dairy and vegetable cultivation

Livestock

Balkh 2 Dairy Tailoring and teaching

Badakhshan 3 Dairy and wool weaving Gardening and nursery

Baghlan 5 Dairy Teaching and carpet weaving

Jawzjan 3 Dairy and wool weaving

Carpet weaving

Samangan 3 Tailoring, gardening

VFUs

Balkh 1

Veterinary services

NA

Badakhshan 3 Baghlan 2 Jawzjan 1 Samangan 1

Vegetables

Balkh 5 Vegetable cultivation

Livestock and dairy

Badakhshan 3 Preserves and poultry Baghlan 4

Commercial group members electing group’s

focal person

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 27

Jawzjan 5 Carpet weaving and preserves

Samangan 10 Tailoring and preserves

Preserves

Baghlan 3 Preserves Poultry and tailoring

Jawzjan 7 Vegetable cultivation for preserves

Carpet weaving and preserves

Samangan 4 Spinning wool

Grand Total 100

Following the introduction with objectives and expected results of the conference, session one focused on the formation of six functional groups. In session two, women farmers interacted with line agencies and upstream commercial representatives. In session three, the groups elected focal persons to serve as an exchange hub for sharing timely and accurate information related to production technologies, disease outbreaks, agriculture and livestock extension services, marketing, credit or subsidy schemes, and business improvement opportunities. Session four included group work to list primary and secondary economic activities carried out by each group member. The groups brainstormed about the major challenges members face in their economic activities (refer to the table below). During the final session, groups discussed opportunities and each group developed one year plans for their commercial activities.

Major Challenges Listed By Groups

Commercial Group Type Major Challenges Wheat Inaccessibility of certified seeds and market linkages High Value Crop Market linkages and packaging Vegetable Lack of water and market linkages Livestock (small ruminants) Karakul processing Preserves (jam, pickle, sauce) Processing, packing, bottles, labels and market linkages

Veterinary extension services Shortage of technical skills and medicines for animals

Interactive session The first day, the second session was an interactive session between the delegates for the government and the 100 women. A woman from Baghlan province raised the following question for the Director of Baghlan DAIL: "Why wheat cultivation is very limited in our province?”. The Director said that: “Baghlan has 14 districts and wheat cultivation is suitable only in 7 districts. Wheat cultivation is low and can almost cover Baghlan wheat consumers. Those lands where people are cultivating rice require more water, and the wheat cultivation of such land does not give good productions". The interactive session continued with the representatives from ACCI, civil society, INGOs and USAID funded projects and business companies (millers, HVC, karakul and cashmere).

Interactive session between government

delegates and downstream women.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 28

Side event A On day one, government delegates and representatives from civil society actively participated in 2 side events. In this side event, the government delegates (DAIL and DoWA) discussed assistance provided to women farmers and highlighted some of the priority concerns. One concern was increased market share of imported products, such as wool from Belgium and China that is curtailing demand of locally processed wool and damaging income sources for men and women in the wool and carpet business. They proposed GIRoA’s intervention through a regulatory framework to monitor imported products and commodities. The main gap identified was an absence of provincial level Gender Strategy as per National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (2008-2018).

Side event B Representatives from the ACCI, civil society, and businesses (millers, fruit and vegetable related companies, and karakul and cashmere) identified agricultural opportunities, constraints and challenges for women. The main challenges listed included lack of capital, support from family members, market information, business management skill, access to input supply, education, and cultural barriers. The group concluded by recognizing important contributions of women in agribusiness, and said that women need assistance through technology, capital grants, and credit access. Post Conference The gender team in late November documented the conference sessions to inform the next step of the program of activities to strengthen commercial networks for women to improve productivity and linkages in the value chains. Through December, the Gender Advisor reviewed the conference proceedings in the Conference Rapporteur’s Note (attached: Annex IV – 8. Conference Rapporteur’s Note). Six commercial groups were formed of women farmers, processors, and veterinary extension workers. Representatives from provincial line departments (conference side event A), and representatives from I/NGOs, the DoCI, and private businesses (side event B) were unable to produce expected results. The rapporteur’s note indicates that the more focused orientation sessions with the main facilitators could have helped them to better manage their time and emphasize the key event objectives to allow them to realize the expected results. In December, the gender team designed a database for women’s commercial group members in Balkh, Baghlan, and Samangan provinces and met with focal persons in the wheat, horticulture, small

The Gender Outreach Specialist met Ms. Amena, FP of livestock commercial group in Baghlan Province on December 29, 2015.

Directors from DAIL and DoWA of six targeted provinces participating in the open dialogue

facilitated by RADP-N team

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 29

ruminants, preserves, and veterinary extension workers groups.15 The purpose was to: 1) understand their conference experience; 2) determine the status of their group networking activities; 3) main constraints faced in networking, and how to address the constraints; 4) untapped opportunities that could enhance networking; and 5) priority needs of the commercial groups. Reports of the meetings are in the master documents to reference for planning program. Nutrition Hygiene and Nutrition (H&N) Training Eating a well-balanced diet is the keys to maintain a healthy weight and preventing chronic conditions diseases caused by malnutrition. During the quarter, CLIN 1 selected 52 groups of 25 beneficiaries for H&N training in Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, and Samangan provinces. Two groups of 25 are being trained each day - morning and afternoon - four days a week, with ten lessons over the course of five to six weeks. Overall, the H&N trainings have been well received by the majority of beneficiaries. Many expressed strong interest for expanding and continuing the program so they can see and feel a lasting impact on their life. A mother of five from Ayaran village Balkh District, who had no previous information on balanced food as well as good practices of nutrition said: “I didn’t know about hygiene and good nutrition and had been mostly using the same food although, we grow carrots and turnip in our farms.” Since participating in the training, she has experienced improvements in her family. I introduced three important food groups to my children as what I learned during the training”. The family now knows the importance of balanced food and her kids are asking for vegetables in their daily meal schedule. Another beneficiary from Sheberghan district of Jawzjan province who was suffering from malnutrition (her nails falling out) said, “I’ve been to many doctors for treatment but no improvements.” Since she took part in the H&N training and applied the balanced food cooking methods she learned during the training, she sees much improvement. She is more healthy and working more with her family members. “Since I’ve learned about the importance of balanced food in the training, I’ve been using different food groups such as vegetable, beans and etc., ---while preparing meals,” she said. CLIN 1 has received some interesting feedback from the training participants that included:

• Ayaran village Balkh District, Zarghona. A guest in one of the H&N training participant’s house had a baby suffering from diarrhea. The host prepared Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) as she learned in the training. The mother was impressed with the ORS’s result and learned how to make ORS herself.

• Sar Asyab village of Chimtal district of Balkh province. One participant said that the training taught her about food groups and changed her cooking methods. She stressed that now she knows how to prepare a balanced meal to include all food groups. She

15 The focal person meetings commenced on December 22 in Samangan province to meet Ms. Abida, and Ms.

Hazera, focal persons of preserves and livestock commercial groups, respectively. The second field mission held on December 29 in Baghlan province was with Ms. Amena and Ms. Freshta, of livestock and veterinary extension workers, respectively. The third field mission carried out on December 31 in Balkh province covered Ms. Sohila and Ms. Negina, of the horticulture and wheat commercial groups, respectively.

H&N training in Baghlan-e-Jadeed of Baghlan Province, December 13, 2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 30

added: “Well-balanced food is the most important thing in dieting to maintain a healthy body, which could prevent diseases that are caused by malnutrition.”

• Ayaran village, Balkh district of Balkh province Khairunissa. A pregnant participant, learned from pictures showing different deficiencies and prevention methods that one of her children showed symptoms. She learned about the benefits of dairy products. The family has access to milk so instead of selling it all, she and her children are now drinking a glass of milk every day. The same has been reported by many other participants.

During implementation, CLIN 1’s H&N trainers met with some active and influential women and men in the nutrition training target areas to explain the H&N program’s goals and objectives. Those individuals helped the team with coordinating the activity with local village and shura leaders where the H&N trainings were conducted. Details of the meetings are outlined in the table below:

H&N Training and Coordination Activists Meeting

Province District Village Name Title October

Balkh

Balkh Ayaraan Zaitona Women Representative Dehdadi Negari Rahna

Women Shura Head Nahr-e-Shahi

Langar Khana Kalan

Khanom Gul Khal Bebe Women Shura Deputy

Jawzjan Sheberghan Center Halima

DAIL-Home Economics Employee

Samangan Aybak Larghan Fatima Women Representative Marina

November Balkh Dehdadi Sherabad Sabria Head of Women Shura Jawzjan

Sheberghan Jalalabad Sema Women Shura Member

DAIL Halima DAIL-Home Economics Employee

DoWA Najeeba Head of DoWA Samangan

Aybak Larghan

Shakar Women Shura Representative Yasmin

Zarmina Joe Zhwandon

Zainab

December Balkh Dehdadi Sher Abad Sabria Head of women Shura

Sholgara Baba Ewaz Maryam Member of women Shura Jawzjan

Sheberghan Center

Jalal Abad

Sema Head of women Shura Khadija Deputy of women Shura

Jalal Abad

Bahruddin Head of male Shura Saifulrahman Male Village keeper Moh. Kazim Male Cashare Ab. Baqee Head of Male Shura

Samangan

Aybak Center

Joe Zhwandon

Zainab Deputy of Women Shura Representative

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 31

Qurban Gul Women Representative As of December 31 CLIN 1’s team completed the H&N training for a total of 800 female beneficiaries in the above provinces as detailed in the table below:

The training is currently ongoing for another 500 beneficiaries in the subject provinces as outlined in the tables below:

List of Ongoing H&N Training Beneficiaries

Province District Village Group Beneficiaries Start Date

Baghlan Baghlan Center

Sarak 10

2 50 06 Dec

Sarak 3

2 50 07 Dec

Balkh Dehdadi Sher Abad 4 100 02 Dec

Sar Asya 4 100 03 Dec

Jawzjan Sheberghan Center Jalalabad 2 50 20 Nov

2 50 21 Nov

Samangan Aybak Center Larghan 2 50 08 Nov

1 25 09 Nov

List of Completed H&N Training Beneficiaries

Province District Village Group Beneficiaries Start Date End Date

Balkh

Balkh Dehrazy 2

25

15 Sep 20 Oct 16 Sep 22 Oct

Nahr-e-Shahi

Takhta Pul

1 15 Sep 20 Oct 1 16 Sep 22 Oct 1 28 Cot 29 Nov 1 29 Oct 01 Dec

Balkh Ayaran

2 26 Oct 30 Nov 2 29 Oct 01 Dec

Langar Khana

2 26 Oct

30 Nov 28 Oct

Baghlan

Baghlan-e-Jadeed

Sarak 12 2 18 Oct 29 Nov

2 19 Oct 30 Nov

Jawzjan

Sheberghan

Ed Mala

4 04 Oct 03 Nov 2

08 Nov

14 Dec 1 15 Dec

Jalal Abad 1 15 Dec

Samangan

Aybak Laraghan 4 27 Sep 02 Nov 1 08 Nov 08 Dec 2 09 Dec 13 Dec

Aybak Center

Joe Zhwandon

1 08 Nov 08 Dec

Total 32 800

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 32

Joe Zhwandon 1 25

Total 20 500

Science, Innovation, Technology and Partnerships (STIP) Alcis continued agricultural vulnerability research and mapping during the quarter. One of the project’s objectives is to examine the impact of seasonal weather on agriculture in the RADP-N area, as concerns had been raised about the risk of drought and poor crop returns following low snow fall. Alcis used a number of datasets to assess the vulnerability of agricultural areas to meteorological impacts. Drier periods may put less pressure on the land and farmers in areas with high irrigation network densities, compared to areas with a lower density of irrigation networks. These latter areas may struggle through drier periods, with lower yields distributed across higher numbers of people, leading to potential shortages and perhaps even conflict. Examples of the outputs are shown in the 3 figures below, where green areas represent less vulnerable areas and yellow areas are more vulnerable to meteorological impacts.

Figure 1. Agricultural Vulnerability - Assessment of Irrigation, Agricultural Quality and Population Density (Western RADP-N area)

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 33

Figure 3. Agricultural Vulnerability - Assessment of Irrigation, Agricultural Quality and Population Density (Eastern RADP-N area)

Figure 2. Agricultural Vulnerability - Assessment of Irrigation, Agricultural Quality and Population Density (Middle RADP-N area)

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 34

This analysis does not include weighting of different parameters; irrigation density, agricultural quality, and population density are treated equally. Alcis’ settlement data, which includes the location of every residential compound in Afghanistan captured from high resolution satellite imagery, was essential to conduct the assessment. The analysis shows vulnerable areas in the far west of the RADP-N area of interest in Sheberghan, and also in the east, in Yaftal-e-Sufla and Faizabad. The next step in the analysis will be to use meteorological data to further define agricultural areas that may be more at risk. The output from this work will be spatially referenced data layers showing the perceived level of risk to agriculture based on current significant weather and other factors compared to historic levels. This data can be made available in the GeoExplorer on a bi-weekly basis to assist planning. Further analysis can be used to assess the number of impacted communities and the potential outcome on agriculture. Meteorological data research and acquisition The next step to examine vulnerable areas was to incorporate meteorological data. Research was undertaken to identify and acquire the most appropriate, accurate data available within the budget parameters. Data has been purchased that includes the following meteorological parameters:

• Daily maximum and minimum temperature (degree Celsius) • Daily precipitation (millimeters) • Historic (2008-present) daily maximum/minimum temperature and precipitation • Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) data (millimeters), both current and historic (2008-

present) The data is being provided as 10 km resolution raster (image) data. An example is provided in the Figure below. The very high temporal resolution of the daily data will allow us to generate accurate average figures for any time period, or blocks of time. It will also allow accurate definitions of trends over time, allowing for better forecasting and understanding of the current meteorological conditions in the context of historical trends. As such, these data provide a means to conduct numerous additional analyses, and add significant value to Alcis’ developing model of vulnerability zones.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 35

Figure. Daily high temperature data corrected for elevation at 10km resolution

Multi-temporal meteorological data was acquired December, providing a number of key metrics that will be routinely mapped across the RADP-N area of interest. Draft map outputs were created, including how current values of meteorological metrics compare with historic averages. The metrics shown in the draft outputs shown in the five Figures below are:

• Daily maximum and minimum temperature (degree Celsius) averaged over a specific two-week block of time

• Comparison of average maximum and minimum temperatures with historic averages • Daily precipitation (millimeters) averaged over a specific two-week block of time • Comparison of current precipitation with historic averages for the same time period

The Figures shown below can be accessed at full resolution at Alcis’ RADP-N cloud –based data storage location, accessible here: http://bit.ly/1Imoj4L Alcis is currently putting in place the necessary processes to automatically download, integrate and store the information, as well as prepare derivatives routinely. Alcis is also evaluating snow-related information. The outputs from this will consist of a number of map products and digital data layers which will be shared via the RADP-N online GeoExplorer platform.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 36

Figure. Averaged maximum temperature over a 2-week period

Figure. Averaged minimum temperature over a 2-week period

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 37

Figure. Difference between Current Averaged Maximum Temperature and Historic Values

Figure. Total Precipitation over a Specific Two-Week Period

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 38

Figure. Comparison of Current Total Precipitation with Historic Values

At the beginning of December, Alcis deployed, Matt Angell the GIS Analyst, to Afghanistan to aid programmatic activities. He supported the management and M&E teams with GIS and technical assistance and advice. RADP-N Activity Map The following maps reflect the CLINs’ activities by province, implemented during the quarter (October – December, 2015) in RADP-N’s target areas (Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Jawzjan, Kunduz and Samangan):

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 39

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Upcoming Plans RADP-N’s key expected activities in the coming quarter include:

CLIN 1: WHEAT

• Activity 1.1: Develop Private Sector Systems for Input and Technology Supply o Sub-activity 1: Marketing of sample seed packs through new outlets

� Use seasonal marketing strategies including mobile selling ‘road shows’ � Develop agreements with existing outlets, evaluate potential for own

outlets in district centers � Make standard 50 kg and sample 7 kg packs available; appraise impact

and potential for scaling up o Sub-activity 2: Sourcing and marketing herbicide specific equipment

� Identify suppliers of high quality hand tools, PPE, BPS, larger scale weed sprayers, booms, nozzles, herbicides, and specialized nozzles

o Sub-activity 3: Develop new and existing laser land leveling (LLL) businesses (an OFWM component)

� Make entry to this new activity easier for established contractors through subsidized sales

� Work with supply chain to provide spares, repairs, and support services � Facilitate demonstration at scale for farmers unfamiliar with the

technology through subsidized field operations (also supports the establishment of new contractor businesses)

o Sub-activity 4: Improving quality assurance (i.e. problems in input supply: herbicides)

� Explore synergies with World Bank-funded Afghanistan Agriculture Inputs Project

� Invite and support ideas from the private sector on addressing quality assurance problems

• Activity 1.2: Facilitate Delivery of Extension Services to Improve Farming Techniques

o Sub-activity 1: Weed control training using Ag Depots � Invite bids for training 10,000 farmers in four provinces to include a

marketing component for new equipment o Sub-activity 2: Wheat variety extension using participatory approaches

� Training on variety specifications; give samples; identify and plant the mother site

o Sub-activity 3: Advanced farmer groups for soil and water conservation systems (an OFWM component)

� Lead farmers to develop and implement CA conversion to train other farmers and develop relationships as a CA farmer network (Phase 1 of 3)

• Activity 1.4: Improve Market Linkages among Farmers, Agribusinesses and Consumers

o Sub-activity 1: Support and promote seed companies and cooperatives as aggregators of quality grain

� Develop contract supply of durum wheat from seed companies to pasta factories

� Develop contract growing of durum wheat from producers to aggregators

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 44

o Sub-activity 2: Linkage meetings between farmer groups, seed companies and mills

� Design activity and hold first multi-stakeholder meetings � Map mill buying patterns and introduce millers to potential producers

• Activity 1.5: Provide Technical Assistance to Enterprises Focused on Value Addition

o Sub-activity 1: Participatory seed and grain quality evaluation (industry working group)

� Evaluate available samples with quality testing protocols and document results

� Catalogue grain traded by variety, volume, price, and quality � Analyze zinc and iron content of available varieties

• Activity 1.6: Improve Household Health and Nutrition

o Sub-activity 1: Implement nutrition training � Train women in project locations across the four CLIN 1 target provinces

CLIN 2

GRAPES/RAISINS VALUE CHAIN

• Activity 2.1: Work with Farmers to Increase Production o Sub-activity 1: Broader adoption of trellising technology

� Convert 25 ha of traditional vineyards to trellised vineyards � Train input suppliers to support the newly trellised vineyards � Input suppliers train farmers on trellising

o Sub-activity 3: GAP for grapes � Train farmers in GAP through input suppliers and lead farmers

o Sub-activity 4: Assistance to install demonstration solar irrigation systems (for all CLIN 2 value chains)

� Develop a manual for costs and benefits of the systems � Provide a grant to the solar irrigation business to promote the technology

• Activity 2.2: Improve Management of Farmer Organizations

o Sub-activity 1: Provide business planning, marketing, management, and member services development training

� Focus group discussions to adapt the modules and evaluate trainers’ performance

o Sub-activity 2: Assist farmer organizations to aggregate commodities and link to buyers

� Organize locations for aggregation and develop transportation systems � Explore mobile-phone SMS systems for aggregation needs � Connect with DAIL pack houses

• Activity 2.3: Promote Improved Post-Harvest Handling Techniques

o Sub-activity 1: Promote effective PHH systems � Map out ZOI of RADP-N and NHLP

o Sub-activity 2: Use radio and SMS messages to promote best PHH practices � Work with input suppliers on PHH messaging � Work with farmer groups on PHH messaging

o Sub-activity 3: Link lead farmers/associations with PHH system actors

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 45

� Commission packing materials for demonstrations � Organize producer-based demonstrations

• Activity 2.5: Improve Market Linkages among Farmers, Agribusinesses and

Consumers o Sub-activity 1: Trade Fairs—to be done for all CLIN 2 Value Chains

� Identify domestic and prospective international trade fairs and exhibitions � Promote awareness/interest in trade shows with importers, exporters,

processors, and large traders/wholesalers � Provide training to trade show participants � Send stakeholders to national and international trade fairs � Provide technical assistance and grants for equipment and other support

o Sub-activity 2: Cooperate with the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI)— for all CLIN 2 value chains

� Participate in the BCCI’s agriculture and export committees � Participate in BCCI and the ACCI export promotion and trade fairs � Coordinate participation in agriculture fairs and expos

o Sub-activity 3: Application of product quality standards— for all CLIN 2 value chains

� Determine specifications for foods to sell in new markets � Evaluate feasibility of entering these markets for larger processors and

identify priorities � Conduct awareness campaign to encourage adoption of standards by

producers and processors � Conduct local and international field trips for demonstration and capacity

building � Create linkages between processors and local or international testing

laboratories � Provide grants to labs for testing required for certification

• Activity 2.6: Increase Management and Technical Capacity of Agribusinesses—for all CLIN 2 value chains

o Sub-activity 1: Identify target agribusinesses in Kunduz, Badakhshan, and Baghlan provinces

� Identify agribusinesses in target provinces o Sub-activity 2: Conduct Business Edge training for agribusinesses

� Design concept note for Kunduz Business Edge training (Mazar completed Year 1)

o Sub-activity 4: Provide individualized technical assistance to larger businesses � Carry out organizational assessments � Design individualized technical assistance

o Sub-activity 5: Provide targeted assistance with investments � Assess investment needs of various value chain stakeholders � Assist with grants and access to finance

MELON VALUE CHAIN

• Activity 2.1: Work with Farmers to Improve Market Oriented Production o Sub-activity 2: Melon seedling cultivation

� Develop cost benefit analysis of greenhouse propagation of melon seedlings related to early markets and melon fly loss reductions; disseminate to stakeholders

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 46

• Activity 2.4: Develop Lead Farmers to Mentor Other Farmers in their Communities o Sub-activity 2: Support farmer organizations

� Link farmers with existing melon farmer organizations

• Activity 2.5: Improve Market Linkages among Farmers, Agribusinesses, and Consumers

o Sub-activity 1: Trade Fairs � Refer to Sub-activity 2.5.1 in Grapes/Raisins

o Sub-activity 2: Cooperate with the BCCI � Refer to Sub-activity 2.5.2 in Grapes/Raisins

• Activity 2.6: Increase Management and Technical Capacity of Agribusinesses

� Refer to Activity 2.6 in Grapes/Raisins o Sub-activity 1 (in addition to those listed in Grapes/Raisins):

� Make arrangements with DAIL and stakeholders regarding pack house management

� Train farmer groups and agribusinesses in pack house management DRIED FRUITS/NUTS VALUE CHAIN

• Activity 2.3: Improve Post-Harvest Management o Sub-activity 1: Work on improved processing of dried fruits and nuts

� Support grants for improved PHH practices o Sub-activity 2: Use radio and SMS messages to promote best PHH practices

� Refer to Sub-activity 2.3.2 in Grapes/Raisins and Sub-activity 2.3.1 under Melons

o Sub-activity 3: Link lead farmers and associations with PHH system actors � Refer to Sub-activity 2.3.3 in Grapes/Raisins � Improve facilities for testing the quality of nuts

• Activity 2.4: Develop Lead Farmers to Mentor Other Farmers in their Communities

o Sub-activity 3: Support farmer organizations � Refer to Sub-activity 2.4.3 in Grapes/Raisins

• Activity 2.5: Improve Market Linkages among Farmers, Agribusinesses, and

Consumers o Sub-activity 1: Trade fairs

� Refer to Sub-activity 2.5.1 in Grapes/Raisins o Sub-activity 2: Cooperate with the BCCI

� Refer to Sub-activity 2.5.2 in Grapes/Raisins CLIN 3

MEAT VALUE CHAIN

• Activity 3.1: Strengthen Meat Value Chain o Sub-activity 1: Develop meat value chain Market Information System

� Identify potential value chain grantees � Assess meat value chain challenges and opportunities in target locations

o Sub-activity 2: Training on business skills development and feed lots/lamb rearing

� Review and update meat value chain training materials as needed o Sub-activity 3: Increase Production and Sales of Improved Quality Meat

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 47

� Identify farmer groups (women) interested in feedlots and set grant protocols

CASHMERE VALUE CHAIN

• Activity 3.2: Strengthen Cashmere Value Chain o Sub-activity 1: Analyze contextual value chain operational frame

� Identify potential value chain grantees � Assess cashmere value chain challenges and opportunities in target

locations o Sub-activity 3: Facilitate sales and promote awareness of market demand among

producers � Support the establishment of cashmere collection points

INTERSECTING ISSUES

• Activity 3.1: Feed Suppliers o Sub-activity 1: Integrate feed suppliers (banks) into CLIN 3 and assess the need

for new feed suppliers � Conduct viability study to commercially integrate 10 existing feed

suppliers (banks) into CLIN 3 activities

• Activity 3.2: Trainings o Sub-activity 1: VFU capacity building and ToF

� VFUs offer SRHHP training to producers (continued from Year 1)

PROGRAM APPRAISAL

Evaluations, Assessments or Audits

Evaluations Contract for RADP-N’s “Annual Farmer Survey” was signed in December. Work was begun on part of the contractor (RSI) to understand the scope and breadth of Year One interventions in order to provide a tailored and appropriate approach to the survey. Meetings were held with all CLINs. We expect that the survey approach and tools will be finalized and the survey underway in January 2016. Monitoring RADP-N conducts routine monitoring of its activities; these are considered Tier 2 in the USAID Afghanistan monitoring structure. Monitors provide evidence-based feedback and recommendations to program management in an effort to improve program and activity-level performance. All monitoring visits have a full report (approximately five pages with photos), which are reviewed by program managers. In the quarter, the monitoring team conducted a total of 64 field monitoring missions.

Completed and/or Planned Major Findings/ Recommendations Actions Taken/ Planned To Be

Taken and Comments October

H&N

H&N ToF Dehrazi, Balkh District, Balkh Province

� The field montior reported that trainers were very professional and delivered

� The underage attendants were not beneficiaries. CLIN1 does not allow underage participants to

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 48

the training using practical and theoretical sessions.

� USAID branding was available on-site and in the training materials.

� The field monitor reported two underage participants.

� The training venue was too small to comfortably accommodate the training participants.

� The field monitor reported that the trainings did not last for two hours as per the concept note.

register for the course. The mothers were unable to attend, so they sent their daughters. While RADP-N does not count them as official participants, we do not turn them away from hearing the messages.

� The trainings are being held in private homes, and are not designed as training venues. It is a challenge in villages to find adequate space for large groups so we seek space in the home of a trainee.

� With lessons that contain information on several subjects, and extended group work and discussions, it is possible that the information can be taught in a shorter time, depending on participant involvement. We record the average time for each lesson, adequately facilitated and incorporating all content.

H&N ToF Takhta Pol, Nahr-e-Shahi District, Balkh Province

� The field monitor reported that trainers were very professional and delivered the training using practical and theoretical sessions.

� Overall the monitor reported the training very informative and related to the topics of discussion.

� The training venue was big enough to accommodate 24 people.

� USAID branding was available on-site and in the training materials.

� The monitor reported 45 min of training while it’s supposed to be two-hours.

� We acknowledge that despite the

flexibility in the lessons, in this case the training was shorter than usual. Trainers have been advised accordingly and are now reporting start and end time.

H&N ToF Larghan Village, Aybak District, Samangan Province

� The field monitor reported that the trainers successfully delivered the training using flip charts and practical sessions.

� USAID branding was present both on training materials and in the venue.

� Through interviews with the trainees the monitor confirmed that participants have learned valuable information during the training.

� The monitor reported printing quality of the handouts was low.

� Acknowledged. The next printing will be on higher quality paper.

H&N ToF Takhta Pol, Nahr-e-Shahi District, Balkh Province

� The monitor confirmed that the trainers were very experienced and successfully conducted the training, though the training didn’t last for two hours as per the concept note.

� USAID branding was available at the site.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 49

� The trainers used photos showing good and bad nutrition.

H&N ToF Dehrazi, Balkh District, Balkh Province

� The monitor confirmed that, the trainers were experienced and considered theoretical and practical sessions and group work.

� The monitor reported that, USAID branding was present.

� The field monitor reported that the training did not last for two hours as per the concept note.

� The monitor reported that the training venue was too small to accommodate the training participants.

� With lessons that contain information on several subjects, and extended group work and discussions, it is possible that the information can be taught in a shorter time, depending on participant involvement. We record the average time for each lesson, adequately facilitated and incorporating all content

� The trainings are being held in

private homes, and are not designed as training venues. It is a challenge in villages to find adequate space for large groups so we seek space in the home of a trainee.

H&N ToF Takhta Pol, Nahr-e-Shahi District, Balkh Province

� Field Monitor confirmed the availability of USAID branding at the training venue.

� The field monitor reported that the training did not last for two hours as per the concept note.

� Trainers were new and could not manage the class.

� We have two new trainers in Balkh, paired with our two experienced Balkh trainers. They have received training in facilitation. Rules are explained to participants at the beginning of each course. With good facilitation these rules would be enforced. We will follow up with our trainers.

H&N ToF Dehrazi, Balkh District, Balkh Province

� The monitor confirmed that the overall training was useful and covered the H&N topics.

� The monitor confirmed USAID branding in the training venue.

� The field monitor reported that, the trainers were very experienced, but could not manage the class properly.

� The field monitor reported that, the training did not last two hours as per the concept note.

� The monitor reported that the training venue was too small to accommodate the training participants.

� Our trainers have received training in facilitation. Rules are explained to participants at the beginning of each course. With good facilitation these rules will be enforced. We will follow up with our trainers.

� With lessons that contain

information on several subjects, and extended group work and discussions, it is possible that the information can be taught in a shorter time, depending on participant involvement. We record the average time for each lesson, adequately facilitated and incorporating all content.

� The trainings are being held in private homes, and are not designed as training venues. It is a challenge in villages to find adequate space for large groups so we seek space in the home of a trainee.

H&N ToF Larghan Village, Aybak District, Samangan Province

� The field monitor reported that, the trainers were very experienced and

� CLIN1’s nutrition staff – program director, two consultants and nutrition supervisor – monitor

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 50

delivered the training using practical and theoretical sessions.

� The monitor confirmed that, the training lasted for two hours and participants were satisfied with the way trainers delivered the training.

training activity to coach trainers in good facilitation of subject matter, and to make revisions to curriculum to ensure that concepts are successfully communicated. In making modifications we incorporate feedback from RSI and DAI M&E staff.

PHH

Improved PHH (ToF) Khowja Gul-e-Surkh, Feroz Nakhcheer, Samangan

� The field monitor confirmed that the trainees were satisfied with the training.

� The monitor reported that the training included both theoretic and practical sessions.

Improved PHH ToF Qarakent Village, Sheberghan, Jawzjan

� The monitor reported that the training included both theoretic and practical sessions.

� The Monitor confirmed that the participants received instructions on how to use Potassium Carbonite for cleaning grapes bunch.

Improved PHH ToF, Hazrt-e-Sultan Center, Samangan Province

� The field monitor reported that training materials were properly arranged and were distributed to all participants.

� The monitor reported that the training included both theoretic and practical sessions.

Improved PHH ToF Qarakent Village, Sheberghan, Jawzjan Province

� Field monitor interviewed some of the participants and found that the training was properly arranged, the participants were satisfied and interested with the training.

� The field monitor reported no banner was seen with USAID branding on training site due to security reasons.

SRHHP

SRHHP Aybak District, Samangan Province

� Field monitor confirmed that the training was well organized and trainers were well prepared.

� The monitor reported no practical session, but participants were divided into working groups.

November

CLIN 1 H&N Training: 8 visits

Negari, Dehdadi, Balkh The sign-in sheets to be signed or thumbed by participants will avoid any audit concerns in future.

� Length of training – we have expanded curricula where modules were reported consistently short.

� Worked with the trainers to minimize distractions during training.

Joy Zhowandon, Aybak, Samangan

Larger venues should be considered by the CLIN

Takhta Pul, Nahri Shahi, Balkh (2 missions, separate modules)

� Trainers should brief trainees about the donor of the training.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 51

� Bigger size illustrative posters may be considered so that all trainees can see the posters (they are A4 size)

� Worked with trainers and communities to ensure that the same women attend all sessions (i.e. do not send relatives in case of unavailability).

� A review of venue selection was conducted and management is aware of the issue and will address it to the extent possible. Venues are donated by the community and allow women to feel comfortable with easy access. As such, sometimes tradeoffs must be made for safety and ease of access versus size.

Negary, Dehdadi, Balkh

Trainees in this group receive Reminder Bracelets for each lesson completed; this is recommended to be replicated in other groups. It shows the women how far they have come in their learning, and visibly encourages them to complete the full set of modules.

Langar Khana Kalan, Dehdadi, Balkh

The trainers were found to be exceptionally skillful and knowledgeable, therefore it is recommended to continue using these trainers in similar trainings in the future.

Aaryan, Balkh, Balkh Bigger size illustrative posters may be considered so that all trainees can see the posters (they are A4 size)

Larghan Village, Aybak, Samangan

Bigger size illustrative posters may be considered so that all trainees can see the posters (they are A4 size)

CLIN 3 SRHHP: 6 visits

Sansiz, Faizabad, Jawzjan � Experienced trainers with sound knowledge of topics.

� Participants who were very engaged in discussion points.

� Clear flip charts were used as teaching materials, and were distributed to participants for reinforcement.

Areas for improvement � Lack of USAID branding at site � Shortened training times (vis-à-vis the

concept note) � No practical modules part of the

training thus far. � If trainers need to shorten training

times to accommodate trainees, this should be explicitly planned for in the concept note, and reworked to include additional sessions to ensure knowledge transfer.

� USAID branding should be present at training sites.

� It is advised that practical sessions be provided for farmers to practically exhibit and reinforce theoretical training sessions.

� Reports sent to relevant CLIN team for review, feedback and incorporation.

Shahab, Balkh, Balkh Layaba, Faizabad, Badakhshan Nawabad-e-Hesari, Faizabad, Badakhshan Pol-i-Baraq, Sholgara, Balkh

Abdul Nazar, Khulm, Balkh

CLIN 2 SMS Marketing Program: 5 visits

Takhta Pul, Nahri Shahi, Balkh � Some farmers received the SMS, some had not, and some reported that they did not know (largely due to literacy issues).

� Main SMS topics included PICs bags and tree pruning for winter season.

� Most farmers had not yet made any purchases from the input supplier

� Followed up with the grantee

regarding the SMS timings to ensure that farmers are alerted ahead of time.

� Reviewed the SMS system to ensure SMS were sent.

Samarqandian, Balkh district of Balkh

Khair Abad, Aqcha, Jawzjan

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 52

grantee, although most reported they were willing if prices were reasonable and product quality was high (esp. seeds).

� Karwan Sabz should inform farmers during the field day approximately when the SMSs will be sent to the farmers.

� During monitoring visits, farmers had recommendations on topics they wanted to learn more about; this feedback could be given to the team creating the messages for dissemination.

� Providing additional oversight to ensure all field days are carried out as requested/contracted.

� Recommended the grantees to shift cancel their contract with Haseeb Soft and choose another bulk SMS provider that is more reliable. The grantees made new agreements with Afghanistan Payment in coordination with the RADP-N technical team.

CLIN 2 SMFM ToT: 1 training

Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh,

� Total of 21 individuals participated. � Reportedly well-organized. � Trainer was prepared and used specific

curriculum and teaching aids. � Participants were divided into groups

for group work and further discussion on topics.

� Sufficient time was allocated for the training, which allowed the trainer and participants to have discussions and share ideas and their experiences.

Recommendations: � Some trainees came late or left early; as

these are trainers who will impart further trainings, care should be taken for all participants to attend 100% of sessions.

� Monitoring sessions for ToF to be

undertaken in December in order to provide more comprehensive feedback on program efficacy.

December

CLIN 1 H&N Training: 8 visits

Sarake 10, Baghlani Jadid, Baghlan December 14th

� The trainers were very experienced and delivered the training using practical and theoretical sessions.

� 24 participants were involved in training and asked many questions.

� If participants bring children to the training venue, the CLIN or house owner should arrange a separate place for them to play so that it does not interrupt the training.

� CLIN 1 has taken action to ensure that all participants’ sign in with their own thumb-prints on RADP-N approved tools.

� CLIN 1 has taken action to ensure that all participants attend every training, and do not substitute with other family members.

� USAID branding and verbal communication regarding the donor has been introduced to trainees at the start of sessions.

Baba Ewaz, Sholgara, Balkh (2 missions, separate modules) December 7 and 21

� Trainers were well prepared and experienced; they used printed photos and a small round table to assist the participants with better understanding of discussion topics.

� A total of 25 participants were available. � It is recommended to print teaching

materials in larger size which can be visible to all participants in training venue.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 53

Shir Abad, Dehdadi, Balkh December 15

� Like other lessons, this lesson had both theoretical and practical role plays and found to be interesting for the trainees.

� A total of 22 people were present in the training.

Jalal Abad, Sheberghan, Jawzjan (2 missions, separate modules) December 23 and 29th

� First training for these trainers; they were successful in delivering the training using theoretical sessions.

� Trainers successfully created a friendly environment in which everyone could participate and discuss topics.

� A total of 26 women were trained. It was reported that 2 participants were absent. Moreover, three (3) attended the class without invitation.

� The training venue was sufficient, but cold. Therefore, it is recommended that a heater be provided.

� Children distracted some participants. � It should be communicated to those who

participate the training without being nominated for participation that the hygiene package will be distributed only to nominated participant. This can prevent any issue that might rise by end of the course.

Eid Mahala, Sheberghan, Jawjzan December 1

� 26 women participated in the training � The trainers were found to be skillful and

knowledgeable, therefore it is recommended to continue using these trainers in the similar training in the future.

� It is recommended that in the future trainings, bigger size illustrative posters so that all participants can easily see materials.

Joy Zhowandon, Aybak, Samangan December 21

� The training venue was very good, the facilities provided to participants were good as well; and USAID branding was available at the training venue.

� It was reported that 4 participants were absent and their daughters participated on their behalf.

� Trainers should not allow anyone to sign the sign in sheet on behalf of someone else.

� Participants should not nominate others to participate on their behalf.

CLIN 2 SMS Marketing Program: 2 visits

Muhammad Ali Bik, Khulm, Balkh December 27

Similar findings across sites. The main findings included:

� Some farmers had received the SMS, some reported they had not and some reported that due to being illiterate cannot read the SMS to confirm.

Shahr Qadim, Aybak, Samangan

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 54

December 29th

� Most of the interviewed farmers confirmed that they have attended the field day that was conducted by Karwan Sabz company

� Interviewed farmers expressed their interest in receipt of SMS on agricultural topics.

“SMFM” – Direct Training to Farmer Organizations (First Session) : 3 Trainings

Attayee Hotel, Sheberghan, Jawzjan December 7 and 10

� The field monitoring mission confirmed that the training was participated by a total of 27 individuals, 25 participating organization members (trainees), and 2 DAIL representatives.

� All the interviewed participants stated that the training was very useful and practical in their businesses.

� The participants confirmed that the trainer was skillful and knowledgeable.

Murwared Hotel, Aybak, Samangan December 7 and 10

� Interviews with the trainees revealed that the curriculum met their expectations and the training methodology was good.

� The monitor confirmed that the training was well organized and both theoretical and group works were held.

� It is recommended that the trainer make sure that all trainees observe punctuality.

Puli Khumri City, Baghlan December 6 and December 10

� RSI Field Monitor visited the training venue on December 6 and 10 and confirmed the ToF session.

� A total of twenty six (26) participants attended the training.

� The facilities provided for the participants of the training were good including the training venue, training materials and stationery. The USAID branding was present in venue.

� Trainers successfully delivered the training. The participants were very engaged in discussion points, group works and class activities.

� Participants received transportation allowances. Some of the participants were not satisfied with the amount and stated it is less than the amount they spent coming to training.

� The training methodology and trainers’ (two trainers) skills were rated high by interviewed trainees who had been randomly selected to rate them.

CLIN 3 SRHHP: 3 visits

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 55

Nawabad-e-Hesari, Faizabad, Badakhshan December 8

� The field monitor confirmed that 15 female herders attended the training and reportedly the trainer was found to be skillful and knowledgeable.

� The training reportedly lasted one hour, while the concept note stated a three-hour time period for training.

� Time periods should be filled with more information, group work or practical exhibition of learned topics. Alternately, concept notes should be rewritten to conform to actual training periods.

� USAID branding was present in the training venue.

Asqalan Awal, Kunduz city, Kunduz December 13

� The field monitor confirmed that 15 participants attended the training.

� The field monitoring mission found that the training was well organized and the trainer had sound and broad knowledge of the topic.

� Because of security concerns, the trainer did not carry any training materials with himself.

Dasht-e-Shuhada, Faizabad, Badakhshan December 8

� A total of 15 herders attended the training.

� No USAID branding was available in the training venue.

Butcher Shop Improvement –Training of Butchers: 4 visits Faizabad, Badakhshan December 6

Similar findings across sites: � The training was conducted in butcher’s

shop. � Appropriate visual materials used. � The participant and trainer were

sometimes distracted by buyers who were coming to buy meat.

� USAID branding was not present at all locations.

� Training lasted just one hour. Recommendations: � Provide USAID branding. � Conduct follow-up visits or training, as a

one-hour training may not result in behavior change.

� Conduct training in a location where there will not be distractions, or during non-busy times.

Malekan, Firooz Nakhchir, Samangan December 9 Sayed Abad, Mazar city, Balkh December 9

Qadim, Sholgara, Balkh December 15

Lessons Learned N/A

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 56

COLLABORATION WITH GIROA, OTHER DONOR AGENCIES AND OTHER USAID PROJECTS

RADP-N and GIRoA Coordination

October: October 14: CLIN 1’s Samangan-based Area Manager attended the Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) sectorial meeting in the DAIL office. The representatives of the following organizations participated: Afghan Aid (AA), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), GIZ/SEDEP, Welt Hunger Hilfe, ACTION FAIM, and International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, Rural Rehabilitation Development, and DAIL Environment Protection. In the meeting, participants presented their activity reports with DAIL. CLIN 1 presented its H&N trainings and seed business development, Conservation Agriculture (CA), LLL and weed control training. The Samangan DAIL Director briefed the group on the 2016 annual activities plan to be shared in November or December. October 14: CLIN 2 Value Chain Specialists met with the DAIL Cooperatives Managers of Jawzjan and Samangan to obtain a list of proposed cooperatives for SMFM training. DAIL provided a list of five cooperatives from Jawzjan and ten cooperatives from Samangan. Both Cooperatives Managers welcomed the farmers’ organization capacity building initiative led by RADP-N. October 14: CLIN 2 Value Chain Specialists visited the Administration Manager of Samangan Justice Department to collect a list of active agricultural associations in Samangan province. The list was not obtained as the Justice Department does not keep records of associations registered with the Ministry of Justice. CLIN 2 coordinated with NHLP and obtained a list of two associations from Samangan province. October 15: CLIN 2 staff met the National Resource Manager (NRM) of Samangan DAIL and obtained a list of forestry associations who work in pistachio production. The NRM welcomed the farmer organization capacity building initiative led by RADP-N. October 15: CLIN 2’s gender team met with the Home Economy Manager of Jawzjan DAIL and four female farmers interested in participating in RADP-N’s grapevine trellising program. The female farmers agreed to contribute to the cost for the trellising and to become lead farmers tasked with supporting other female farmers in their communities. October 20: CLIN 1’s Jawzjan Area Manager visited the Jawzjan provincial directorate of economy to introduce himself as new Area Manager. October 20: CLIN 3 Provincial Coordinator attended the Baghlan provincial ARD sectorial meeting and briefed the participants on CLIN 3’s Year 1 achievements and Year 2 plans. October 21: CLIN 1’s Baghlan Area Manager participated in the ARD sectorial meeting and presented information about PICs, H&N training, and the seed business development program. The Agha Khan Foundation, SEDEP, CLIN 3, Good Performers Initiative, and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) also participated in the meeting.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 57

October 25: CLIN 3’s Kunduz Provincial Coordinator met with DAIL and Provincial Veterinary Department to provide updates on CLIN 3’s upcoming activities including SRHHP’s ToTs and ToFs in Kunduz. October 26: CLIN 1’s Jawzjan Area Manager participated in DAIL’s agricultural and project implementers and NGO coordination meeting. DAIL Director asked the participants to share their 100 days activities plan. October 26: CLIN 1’s H&N trainer met Jawzjan DAIL’s Economic Department representative and explained the ongoing H&N trainings. She said she was impressed with the training sessions in Ed Mala village at Jawzjan. October 26: The CLIN 3 Provincial Coordinator for Jawzjan attended the ARD meeting held at Sheberghan DAIL office. The meeting focused on improving activity coordination with DAIL. CLIN 3 presented the butcher shops improvement activity. The DAIL Director promised to extend his support for this activity. October 26: The CLIN 2 Value Chain Specialists met with the director of Badakhshan DAIL and introduced the SMFM farmer organizations capacity building initiative and requested a list of active cooperatives from the targeted districts. The DAIL director welcomed the opportunity and provided a list of six active cooperatives in Badakhshan province. October 26: The CLIN 2 Value Chain Specialists met with the Cooperatives Manager of Baghlan DAIL and obtained a list of five cooperatives to attend the SMFM training. October 27: The CLIN 3 Area Manager met with the Head of Planning and Policy of Jawzjan DAIL in which the Area Manager explained CLIN 3’s activities for the coming 100 days. October 28: CLIN 1’s Samangan Area Manager participated in a coordination meeting in the DAIL office with 25 implementing partners and NGOs. DAIL asked all participants to share their activities for fiscal year 2016. October 28: The CLIN 2 team met with the Samangan DAIL director and introduced the solar powered water pump grantee and presented the grant’s targeted communities and deliverables. Agreement was reached on selection of beneficiaries in coordination with DAIL extension workers in Hazrat-e-Sultan and Feroz Nakhcheer districts of Samangan province. The DAIL director expressed his satisfaction with the activity. October 28: CLIN 3’s Kunduz Provincial Extension Officer met Aliabad district DAIL Livestock officer to discuss the livestock farmer selection criteria for SRHHP ToF in Aliabad district. October 29: CLIN 3’s Provincial Coordinator met with the Badakhshan DAIL director to discuss SRHHP training and upcoming plans. October 31: CLIN 1’s Balkh team attended in the CIMMYT agricultural stakeholder coordination meeting in the DAIL office to discuss the wheat weed control management activity. November: November 4: CLIN 3’s Provincial Coordinator attended a coordination meeting with DAIL Provincial Veterinary Department Kunduz, to provide them with updates on CLIN 3’s Kunduz

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 58

activities planned for the next few months and modified the SRHHP/ToT workshop for 19 selected paravets. November 8: CLIN 1’s Baghlan Area Manager participated in the DAIL ARD meeting chaired by the DAIL director. The director presented DAIL activities in the province and was followed by CLIN 1’s Area Manager who presented H&N training, laser land leveling, weed control and the SBD program. The following organization also participated: AKF, GIZ/ SEDEP, DCA, ACTED, North and Northeast Agriculture Support Program and Good Performance Initiative. November 11: CLIN 1’s representative attended Balkh DAIL ARD sectorial meeting. The meeting was basically on wheat agronomy (nutrient and weed management). CLIN 1 discussed activities carried out in the previous cropping season. November 11: CLIN 3’s Provincial Coordinator attended the DAIL coordination meeting in Sheberghan. The Provincial Coordinator briefed the participants on CLIN 3’s butcher training activity. The DAIL director appreciated the initiative. November 16: The CLIN 1 Samangan Area Manager attended the ARD sectorial meeting hosted by the DAIL office. Representatives from Afghan Aid, AKF, GIZ/SEDEP, ACTION FAIM, Rural Rehabilitation Development Environmental Protection and DAIL Environment Protection department participated. NGO representatives presented their activities reports with DAIL, and CLIN1 reported on H&N, SBD, CA, LLL, and weed control trainings. November 22 and 23: The CLIN 2’s Value Chain Specialists met with Hazrat-e-Sultan and Feroz Nakhcheer district DAIL extension workers and shared and coordinated the selection criteria of 10 lead farmers to receive solar pump units. November 23: CLIN 2 conducted a meeting with Balkh ACCI to discuss the upcoming event of Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce scheduled for 8-10 December. This event is the 11th US – Afghanistan Business Matchmaking Conference that has been held every year in December. It was too late for RADP-N to attend with its business partners though it was helpful to see the list of participating companies. The list will be used by the team to identify companies that RADP-N may support. The CEO of BCCI provided the list of companies, however, no participating companies’ activities were found to be relevant to RADP-N value chains. November 26: The CLIN 2 team and RADP-N’s COP met the CEO of Balkh ACCI in RADP-N Office and discussed the facilitation of market linkages. Balkh ACCI promised to provide support for RADP-N in conducting Business to Business meetings, matchmaking events, and trade fairs. December: December 1: CLIN 3 Provincial Coordinators attended Badakhshan and Kunduz DAIL’s monthly coordination meetings to coordinate CLIN 3’s activities with DAIL. The DAIL director asked for an annual report specific to his province. December 7: Gender team members, the DCoP, and CLIN 3’s Balkh provincial female extension officer attended a coordination meeting on establishment of Women’s Empowerment Working Group at the Balkh DAIL office. The meeting was convened by Adviser for the Department of Home Economics MAIL, chaired by the Director of DAIL Balkh, and facilitated by DAIL Advisor and Gender Specialist of the CBCMP II. The meeting was attended by GIZ/SEDEP, Good Performance Initiative (GPI), (DCA), Balkh DoWA Director, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Critical Asset Rapid Distribution Facility (CARDF), Hungarian

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 59

Interchurch Aid (HIA), NHLP, Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR), and Economic Faculty from the University of Balkh. Deliberations included objectives and the ToR for the establishment of Empowerment Working Group for Women in Agriculture.

December 10: A CLIN1 team member attended the Balkh DAIL sectorial meeting. The meeting covered the establishment of 3 Women Empowerment Working Committees in Balkh DAIL. The aim of establishing these committees in DAIL is to build coordination between DAIL and supporting agencies. The following committees include:

• Advisory Committee • Coordination Committee • Media and Advocacy Committee

The Climate Change Adaption Program (CCAP) and New Asset projects presented their views on the establishment of the following:

• Green areas and protect environment • Job opportunities for women • E-library

December 15: CLIN 1 Samangan Area Manager attended the ARD sectorial meeting hosted by the Samangan DAIL office. In the meeting, NGOs and RADP-N CLIN 1 and 3 AAEP II, Afghan Aid (AF), Welt hunger Hilfe (WHH), ACTION FAIM, GIZ/SEDEP/GFA, DAIL and Economic representatives participated. DAIL Director led meeting and reviewed DAIL department activities in last month, GNOs representative also present annual activities reports and their plans for 2016. RADP-N, CLIN 1 annual activities; Weeds Integrated Management, Conservation Agriculture, Wheat Reaping, PICS bags and Hygiene Nutrition trainings report and planned activities, Seed Business Development SBD, Weeds Integrated Management training, Farmer CA, LLL and Hygiene and Nutrition trainings information shared with meeting participants, DAIL director appreciated CLIN 1 activities and had a comment on planed weeds control trainings and said it will be better to recommend mechanical weeds controls methods for farmers instead of chemical prevention.

December 20: CLIN 3’s Provincial Manager, Regional Field Coordinator, and Jawzjan Provincial Coordinator met with the dean of veterinary science faculty of Balkh province. The purpose was to provide training materials and discuss possible cooperation for capacity building of students through CLIN3 refresher trainings. December 21: The RADP-N team met with Samangan DAIL Director. The meeting updated the DAIL on the progress of solar pump installation at Feroz Nakhcheer and Hazrat-e-Sultan districts. December 29: Gender team members attended the first coordination meeting on the Women Empowerment Working Committee of Balkh province, held at Balkh DAIL office. During the meeting DAIL officials announced the names of four working committees below:

• Advisory committee • Coordination Committee • Advocacy and Media Committee • Monitoring and Supervision Committee

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 60

They nominated RADP-N as the member of Coordination and Monitoring and Supervision Committee.

Links with Other Donor Agencies

October: The North donor coordination meeting held during October was hosted by AAEP II. The meeting was dominated by the security issues in Kunduz and the impacts on activity implementation. RADP-N’s November women's conference was discussed and connections made to ensure participation. It was agreed that the meeting would be bi-monthly with the next meeting hosted by SEDEP. November: November 11: CLIN 1 Jawzjan Area Manager participated in the agriculture and NGOs sectorial meeting. NGO representatives, heads of farmers associations and cooperatives, Economics departments, and several other organizations involved in agriculture participated. November 21: The CLIN 3 Project Manager met the NHLP senior livestock master trainer in DCA’s Mazar-e-Sharif office to coordinate extension activities through VFUs in Jawzjan and Balkh provinces as NHLP also runs livestock extension training for farmers.

November 26: CLIN 3’s Deputy Director accompanied by the Training Coordinator met with the ILO Roads to Jobs Project in Mazar. They discussed on how to deal with the lack of shelter, water, and animal health services through the VFUs in Samangan province. They agreed that CLIN 3 will develop a concept note to cover this problem.

December:

December 16: CLIN 3’s Project Manager and training coordinator met with the GIZ/SEDEP

Team Leader in Mazar-e-Sharif to discuss activities, particularly better coordination of butcher shop improvement activities.

Collaboration with Other USAID Projects

October: October 8: The Value Chain Advisor met with representatives of RADP-South and West hosted by RADP-South to discuss national level constraints and to clarify the ranking of the nominated constraints to assist in targeting resources. RADP-South has the lead in the developing process and will share the reporting as it develops. October 25: CLIN 3’s technical staff met with the Checchi consulting company representatives to discuss to Checci’s planning for the November Data Quality Assessment activity. Following the meeting, the Checchi representatives visited two VFUs at Khulm and Chaharbolak districts in Balkh province. RADP-N was requested by USAID to reach out to the USAID-funded Mycotoxin Research project based at Badam Bagh Research Facility in Kabul to provide observations of local flour mills in the north. After an exchange of information and protocols assisted by AAEP II, RADP-N provided field observations to the Mycotoxin Research Project. November: November 29: RADP-N’s DCOP, and CLIN 2 and 3 staff attended the USAID-funded projects coordination meeting at the Balkh DAIL Office. The meeting was to report on USAID’s projects

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 61

and coordination with DAIL, as well as implementation problems and challenges. RADP-N presented a summary of its activities. December: December 16: The CLIN 3 technical team including the Project Manager, Regional Field Coordinator, Regional Extension and Value Chain Coordinator, and Regional Training Coordinator met with the senior staff of AAEP II (David Frey, North Regional Site Manager and Livestock Officer) to coordinate livestock extension activities. AAEP II has established an extension working group and has asked CLIN 3 to introduce one experienced staff to attend the AAEP II monthly meeting to share extension experiences. CLIN 3 introduced the Regional Field Coordinator as its representative to attend this monthly meeting. Beneficiary Follow Up As requested by USAID, the three CLIN teams have concentrated on follow up contact with beneficiaries. Throughout this report we have interspersed contact details by identifying the staff position, e.g., Provincial Coordinator, Provincial Value Chain Specialist, involved in the beneficiary contact, as we improved reporting in this area starting in the November monthly report by providing details following an approach along the lines of a Field Officers Journal, variations of which are used by many international donors to report on staff field activities. The FOJs are included in annex V – December FOJs.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES Personnel The following table lists the permanent staff changes and short-term personnel that occurred during the reporting period.

NAME IP STTA/ LTTA

POSITION ARRIVAL

DATE DEPARTURE

DATE

Expatriate Staff

Steve Atkinson ACDI VOCA

LTTA CLIN 2 Team Leader 11/20/2015

Peter How JDA STTA Project Director 11/22/2015 12/11/2015

Matt Angell ALCIS STTA GIS Technical Trainer 12/02/2015 12/20/2015 National Staff

Ahmad Fahim ACDI/V

OCA N/A

Provincial Implementation Manager

02/10/2015 10/01/2015

Mustafa Ramiz ACDI/V

OCA N/A Value Chain Specialist (Training) 05/03/2015 10/12/2015

Irshad Asim DCA N/A Business Development Officer 09/01/2015

Nasratullah Abdullah DAI N/A Gender Outreach Specialist (LTTA)

10/06/2015

Abdul Hai Mohammadi DAI N/A M&E Specialist 10/11/2015

Nasratullah Abdullah DAI N/A Technical Coordinator (STTA) 09/06/2015 10/05/2015

Parwin Haji Sadruddin DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Suhrab Mohammad Shoaib

DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Mohammad Osman DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 62

NAME IP STTA/ LTTA

POSITION ARRIVAL

DATE DEPARTURE

DATE

Sonia Atta Mohammad

DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Maria Mohammad Eisa

DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Ahmad Walid DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Mohammad Sharif DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Mohammad Atef DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Khayber Sayd Rahman

DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Ahmad Shah DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Shamila Sayed Habib DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Mohammad Hanif DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Naqibullah Ezatullah DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Mohammad Reza DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Abdul Mohammad DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Nooria Ziaullah DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Zuhal Ghulam Sakhi DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Abdul Khalil DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Sebghatullah Abdullah DAI N/A Enumerator for the Gender Study 09/09/2015 10/08/2015

Jayhoon Nasrat JDA N/A Jawzjan AM 10/13/2015

Wahidullah Kohzad JDA N/A Jawzjan Area Agronomist 10/13/2015

Tuba Mohmand JDA N/A H&N Trainer 10/14/2015

Fatima Shinwari JDA N/A H&N Trainer 10/14/2015

Geeti Mohammad Hussain

DAI N/A M&E Specialist 11/01/2015

Abdul Ghafar DAI N/A B6 Driver 11/01/2015

Dr.Zaid Hares DCA N/A Provincial Coordinator for

Samangan 11/09/2015

Haroon Abdul Ghias DAI N/A Grants Technical Manager 11/12/2015

Dr.Hamed Nawabi DCA N/A Regional Training Coordinator

Samangan 11/15/2015

Naseer Ahmad DAI N/A Rapporteur 11/22/2015 11/29/2015

Maria Sai JDA N/A Hygiene & Nutrition Supervisor 11/29/2015

Dawood DCA N/A Support Staff Samangan 12/01/2015

Mohammad Numan DAI N/A Soft Skin Driver 12/03/2015

Mohammad Hamid DAI N/A Soft Skin Driver 12/06/2015

Rohullah Karimullah DAI N/A Finance Manager 12/07/2015

Ahmad Khalid DAI N/A B6 Driver – Kabul 12/10/2015

Abdul Qahar DAI N/A Finance Assistant - Badakhshan 12/13/2015

Sammiuddin Amanuddin

DAI N/A

Compliance Specialist (Auditor) 12/13/2015

Ferdous DCA N/A Support Staff Samangan 12/22/2015

Adaption of the Activity On October 3, USAID approved the SMFM concept note. However, the RADP-N team revised the training activity and determined that it should be directly implemented rather than by a grant.

RADP-N Quarterly Report: Oct–Dec 2015 63

USAID was informed of this change on October 19, and the approval adjusted accordingly. Following the direct implementation of this training program, the CLIN 2 team will explore opportunities to make grants to participating farmers’ organizations to help them adopt principles promoted in the SMFM training. Modifications and Amendments N/A

ANNEX I: PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TABLEPlease see the attached Excel document to view RADP-N’s actual achievements versus targets for its performance indicators.

ANNEX II: ENVIROMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING REPORTPlease see the attached Excel document.

ANNEX III: GRANTS REPORTPlease see the attached Excel document.

ANNEX IV: CLIN SURVEYSPlease see the attached pdf documents for full copies of CLINs’ beneficiary- and/or activity-related assessments conducted during the reporting period.

ANNEX V: DECEMBER FOJSPlease see the attached documents for full copies of CLINs’ FOJs for the month December, 2015.