Annual Work Plan (May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018) for the Evaluation, Research, and Communication (ERC) Project

The project is designed to expand the evidence base related to land-tenure interventions and promote a broader understanding of land tenure issues. The ERC team will execute the activities described in this work plan to fulfill the project goals, which include promoting a broader and deeper understanding of land tenure issues, including emerging focal interests in conflict prevention, countering violent extremism, increasing U.S. national security, and fostering an inclusive business environment. The ERC team will work closely with the Office of Land and Urban (E3/LU) to implement the work-plan activities. Each sub-task in the plan provides a narrative description of the planned work, the deliverables, and an estimate of the staff time (LOE) that will be needed for sub-task implementation. The original ERC task order contains five tasks: Task 1: Impact Evaluation; Task 2: Research; Task 3: Communications; Task 4: Training; and Task 5: Implementation of Pilot Activities. Task 1 was completed in Year 4 of ERC implementation, and work only under Tasks 2-5 is presented here. Under Task 2, the team will complete the endline work on the impact evaluation of the Tenure and Global Climate Change Project (TGCC) in Zambia and will complete midline work on the performance evaluation of the Community Land Protection Program (CLPP) in Liberia. The Task 2 team will also prepare research papers on women's economic empowerment and land rental markets and credit taking, and will collaborate with the CLPP implementation team to distribute relevant content from the evaluations in the subject communities. The Task 2 team will manage the development of a survey, report, and outreach on "Investor Perceptions of Land Risks, Costs and Strategies," and will execute a "data visualization" initiative to produce interactive web-based graphics on outputs and outcomes from the TGCC program. Finally, the Task 2 team will provide technical assistance on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) issues to USAID's Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced Project (SEA) in Indonesia and will prepare a tropical forest and biodiversity analysis and report. Under Task 3, the team will manage and update the E3/LU web site, including making improvements and uploading content from STARR partners, a new MAST Learning Platform, and other sources. The team will also make data from Task 2 evaluations available on the web site through a "data hub" and will prepare and execute the transfer of full control of the web site to E3/LU as the ERC draws to a close. In addition to work on the web site, the Task 3 team will host three webinar panel events, a webinar focused on the Tanzania country profile, and develop a new event focused on responsible land-based investments. The Task 3 team will carry out up to four communications trips (TDYs) to project sites overseas to gather stories, photos, and other content, and will use this content in "evergreen" pieces and other forms. The Task 3 team will also provide significant communications support vis-à-vis the World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty, the Massive Open Online Course, and Task 2 activities. The ERC team will implement the work-plan activities in close coordination with the Office of Land and Urban (E3/LU), which is part of USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment. Changes to deliverables or their completion dates, or major LOE shifts, will need to have the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Minor changes to LOE allocations within a task will be at the discretion of ERC.