AIDSTAR-Two Project Trip Report – Morocco, Lebanon, United Kingdom April 16 - 27, 2013

The trip was conducted by Curtis Feather, Senior Finance and Administration Officer, and Ousmane Amadou Sy, Independent Consultant, to provide follow-up technical support to MENA grantee implementing partners regarding USAID/USG rules and regulations and financial management best practices. The objectives of the trip were to review progress made by the MENA grantees on USAID compliance and financial management best practices action plans, provide updates on USAID rules and regulations, provide technical support on financial management systems strengthening, and support AIDSTAR-Two project closeout preparation and implementation processes at the grantee level. The trip was divided into three main components: Rabat, Morocco; Beirut, Lebanon; and the United Kingdom. In Rabat, the team worked with the Alliance MENA program Regional Coordinator to review and discuss the results of prior grantee visits and training workshops, defined the process to be followed during the grantee visits, and finalized the documents and tools to be shared with the partners for the USG compliance/financial management systems review and closeout preparation. In Beirut, the field team completed various tasks with the MENA grantee SIDC and its local partners, including an introduction meeting, review of SIDC USAID compliance and best practices status, financial reporting and subaward management, and technical assistance provision. The team provided targeted technical assistance in various areas, including procurement practices, policies, and formats, and bank reconciliation processes. The AIDSTAR-Two Project has implemented the MENA regional program since October 2012, providing grant funding and technical support for CSO's in four countries (Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia) working with key populations (MSM, PLHA, etc.). The primary grantees in the four countries are APCS, SIDC, AMSED, and ATL, and there are also various sub-partners. The AIDSTAR-Two project implementation period for the grantees has been extended to the end of July 2013, and the MENA partners are now implementing their final project activities and preparing for the closeout process. The USAID follow-up and closeout preparation visit was conducted jointly by MSH and Alliance members of the AIDSTAR-Two Project team as well as a consultant contracted by the Alliance to review progress and adherence to USG rules and regulations compliance and financial management best practices by the MENA partners and to provide TA where needed. The team also met with the AMSED management team to discuss their needs, and during this meeting AMSED made a request to receive a technical support visit for compliance/financial management follow-up and closeout preparation. However, the team later asked AMSED to provide responses to several questions regarding their specific needs and actions taken to date before determining if an additional visit will be programmed. The AIDSTAR-Two Project Trip Report highlights the importance of providing technical support to MENA grantee implementing partners to ensure compliance with USAID/USG rules and regulations and financial management best practices. The report also emphasizes the need for closeout preparation and implementation processes at the grantee level to ensure a smooth transition to a new mechanism.