Background and objectives:

Lashkargah, provincial capital of Helmand, enjoys strong trade links with rural districts and neighbouring provinces of Kandahar, Nimroze and Farah. The municipal area was increased in 2006 from two to four urban districts. Helmand’s stability and security are threatened due to the insurgency in the province and the lack of tangible development. The goal of the project is to make Lashkergah stable and secure with the capacity to provide sustainable service delivery, through partnerships with its stakeholders, and institutionalized citizen-friendly participatory governance mechanisms. The project builds the capacity of the municipality to plan, develop and implement development projects and will help reduce urban poverty, improve living conditions and basic infrastructure and services.

Activities:
The main activities included:

• Five water supply schemes plus repair and expansion to provide safe drinking water.
• Solid waste clearance and collection for four districts of Lashkargah city.
• Procurement of three dump trucks and septic tanks emptying truck for Lashkargah municipality.
• Access improvement and construction of drainage, culverts and footpath.
• Environment and establishment of two public recreational parks.
• Construction and furnishing of municipality building.
• Provision of engineering equipment for municipality and training for municipal staff.
• Implement small grants projects through 30 CDCs in formal and informal settlements.

Results:
The results so far have included:

• Registered five consulting companies to tender out the water supply network/towers repair and expansion.
• Reviewed a solid waste clearance and collection project proposal, and its Memorandum of Understanding prepared.
• Started two Quick Impact Projects (QIP) works to construct 3,234 M2 (1,470 M) footpath and 2,520 M drain and 6 culverts (each 10 M).
• Identified park sites by Lashkargah municipality,and three to four recreational parks projects proposals.
• Reviewed municipality building maps and technical estimation conducted by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).
• Procured and provided engineering equipment to Lashkargah.
• Conducted 18 new CDCs elections (out of 30 CDCs).
• Provided community mobilization, CAP, proposal and CDC establishment training workshops to abovementioned newly established 18 CDCs by Lashkargah and Kabul training officers.
• Approved 4 CDCs prioritized projects, and prepared six new CDCs project documents.