DCHA/PPM Learning and Training Support Quarterly Report: Year 5, Quarter 3

Management Systems International (MSI) is the prime contractor on this task order, providing training and support services to the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Disaster Assistance and Crisis Response (DCHA) bureau. MSI supports various training activities for DCHA offices, including the Program, Policy, and Management (PPM) office, the Conflict Mitigation and Management (CMM) office, the Crisis and Stabilization (CS3) office, the Center for Media and Conflict (CMC) office, and the Food for Peace (FFP) office. The contractor also provides curriculum design, coaching, facilitation support, e-module development, survey development, and analytical services for DCHA bureau initiatives. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 (April 1 – June 30, 2015), MSI delivered one DCHA 101 course, which was attended by 25 participants. The course was rated 4.73 out of 5, with 100% of participants rating it "very good" or "excellent." The training team also piloted a new pre- and post-test using the audience response system, which showed a high degree of learning for most questions. MSI continued to develop the FFP e-module in the Captivate software and recorded the final narration. The contractor also built upon the design of the Security Sector Assistance (SSA) e-module to create updated drafts for approval by DCHA/DRG. Additionally, MSI began updates to the DCHA at a Glance e-module following the release of new DCHA Fact Sheets. Analytical products were also developed during this quarter, including a final report and PowerPoint presentation on the results and recommendations from the DCHA Professional Development Survey. MSI created a comprehensive site map and continued updating the site content for the migration of the "Support to Staff" online portal on the new USAID Intranet platform, myUSAID pages. MSI conducted a senior staff review workshop for the Crisis and Political Opening Action Coordination Team (COACT) to capture efforts to date and identify recommendations for the "way" forward. The contractor also completed the missing fields in the master alumni database and began drafting the contract's 2015 annual report and final report. Regular planning meetings were held between MSI and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to facilitate the efficient implementation of these projects. E-modules have become a way for offices to reach DCHA staff in the field that might not otherwise be able to undertake training, and careful planning for these e-modules has increased efficiency and improved communication with the client. The DCHA 101 course was found to be a valuable resource for participants, providing a good overview of the DCHA bureau and its offices. Participants appreciated learning about the office profiles and how they complement each other, and the budget process was found to be a challenging but valuable topic. The COACT exercise was also highly rated, with participants finding it informative and useful. The FFP e-module development continued during this quarter, with MSI completing a scoping exercise and developing updated drafts for approval by DCHA/DRG. The contractor also began updates to the DCHA at a Glance e-module following the release of new DCHA Fact Sheets. Overall, MSI has made significant progress in delivering training and support services to the DCHA bureau during the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. The contractor has continued to develop e-modules, deliver courses, and provide analytical products, and has worked closely with the COR to ensure the efficient implementation of these projects.