Annual Progress Report – FY5

The primary objective of the MELS Activity is to provide technical assistance to USAID's Feed the Future Malawi Ag Diversification Activity, with a focus on performance evaluations, assessments, studies, and capacity strengthening. During Quarter Four of Fiscal Year 2021 (July-September 2021), IBTCI completed several project management tasks, including the submission of quarterly activity reports, biweekly calls with the Contract Officer's Representative (COR), and quarterly financial accruals. Additionally, the team conducted a survey for Agriculture Diversification (AgDiv) farm-level outcome indicators, which involved developing a fieldwork implementation plan, programming questionnaires, and training enumerators. The survey fieldwork started on August 25, 2021, and was completed by September 11, 2021. Data cleaning and processing were performed in September 2021, and data for FTFMS/DIS entry was produced and submitted to USAID and AgDiv on October 14, 2021. The team also planned to verify AgDiv reported indicators in Quarter One of Fiscal Year 2022. A webinar on cost-benefit analysis took place on July 8th and 13th, 2021, with the aim of strengthening local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments. The MELS team developed a mitigation approach to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, which involved social distancing, personal protective equipment, hand washing, and minimal face-to-face meetings. In Quarter One of Fiscal Year 2022, the MELS team plans to submit the annual survey report, arrange a presentation for the Sustainable Economic Growth (SEG) office regarding lessons learned and primary findings from the survey activity, and submit a plan for AgDiv indicator verification after obtaining reported results from AgDiv. The MELS Activity has made significant progress in strengthening local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments, with a focus on performance evaluations, assessments, studies, and capacity strengthening. The team has also demonstrated its ability to adapt to challenges posed by COVID-19, ensuring the continuation of activities with minimal disruption. The MELS Activity has been funded by USAID and has been implemented by IBTCI since 2018. The primary objective of the activity is to provide technical assistance to USAID's Feed the Future Malawi Ag Diversification Activity. The activity has made significant progress in strengthening local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments, with a focus on performance evaluations, assessments, studies, and capacity strengthening. The MELS Activity has been implemented in Malawi, with a focus on the Feed the Future Malawi Ag Diversification Activity. The activity has been funded by USAID and has been implemented by IBTCI since 2018. The primary objective of the activity is to provide technical assistance to USAID's Feed the Future Malawi Ag Diversification Activity.