CEP II Year 4 Quarter 2 Report (Jan - Mar 2012)

CEP II is implemented by Tetra Tech ARD (TT ARD), a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program is a flexible grant-making mechanism that has adapted to the social, economic, and political climate of West Bank and Gaza. CEP II supports the voices and forces of moderation across the West Bank and Gaza and promotes opportunities for communities to link tangible improvements in their daily lives with positive developments in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. CEP II works with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations to deliver this assistance. In addition to its work as a D&G program, CEP II helps to reduce the economic stress of marginalized and vulnerable households through the provision of relief and assistance and works to support early recovery by identifying and creating sustainable economic opportunities, following an intensive Israeli military campaign in late 2008. During the life of the program, CEP II implemented 189 grants and subcontracts, valued at $51,661,403 million, impacting the lives of Palestinians 1,653,041 million times with either direct or indirect assistance. Of CEP II's activities, 123 in-kind grants fell under its first two objectives, 52 standard and direct assistance grants fell under Objectives 3 and 4, and 7 subcontracts supported programming across objectives. CEP II was highly responsive to US government priorities: over the life of the program, 62% of its grant-making and 89% of the grants budget ($46,059,563) was developed in response to US government priorities. This quarter, CEP II focused its grant-making under its second objective to strengthen the Palestinian Authority (PA). The program worked with the PA's Ministry of Agriculture to transform an existing lab into the first national food safety laboratory, enabling the PA to provide a new service to Palestinian meat and dairy companies looking to expand into nearby markets. CEP II also supported the PA's efforts to improve the quality of education in the West Bank and Gaza, with a focus on increasing access to education for marginalized and vulnerable populations. In terms of progress against the workplan, CEP II made significant strides in the second quarter of its fourth year. The program completed 34 grants and subcontracts, valued at $10,441,111 million, and made significant progress in its efforts to strengthen the PA and improve the quality of education in the West Bank and Gaza. CEP II also continued to work with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations to deliver assistance and support early recovery efforts. The program's quarterly highlights include the successful completion of a grant to support the PA's efforts to improve the quality of education in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as the launch of a new grant to support the PA's Ministry of Agriculture in its efforts to transform the existing lab into the first national food safety laboratory. CEP II also continued to work with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations to deliver assistance and support early recovery efforts. In terms of risks and mitigation, CEP II identified several risks and developed strategies to mitigate them. The program's main risks include the potential for delays in grant implementation, the potential for changes in the social, economic, and political climate of West Bank and Gaza, and the potential for challenges in working with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations. CEP II developed strategies to mitigate these risks, including establishing clear communication channels with grantees, conducting regular monitoring and evaluation, and building strong relationships with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations. Overall, CEP II made significant progress in the second quarter of its fourth year, completing 34 grants and subcontracts, valued at $10,441,111 million, and making significant strides in its efforts to strengthen the PA and improve the quality of education in the West Bank and Gaza. The program continues to work with local and national Palestinian Authority entities and local non-governmental organizations to deliver assistance and support early recovery efforts, and is highly responsive to US government priorities.