Development Experience Clearinghouse Report: FY 2020-2021 DEC Report

PLSO's basic function is to provide nonprescriptive security advice, assistance, accountability, and security information to USAID KEA and its IPs operating in Kenya. PLSO is a USAID-funded contract delivered by WS Insight Limited, a Risk Management Company with its Kenya head office in Nairobi. The program is voluntary for IPs and does not have the authority to order IP action or compliance to PLSO recommendations. During its fifth year of implementation, PLSO made significant progress in establishing itself in Kenya and building upon existing and new relationships with IPs. The PLSO program is delivered through nine dedicated PLSO staff members, including an Operations Manager, five Field Security Advisors, a Senior Analyst, a Country Analyst, and an Information & Liaison Officer. Additionally, the designated PLSO team is supported by a 24/7 Regional Operations Centre, located within WS Insights headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The five regions covered across Kenya are distinguished as Central, Northern, North Eastern, Coast, and Western, giving PLSO full coverage of the country. PLSO provides a variety of services to USAID and its IPs, including PLSO-IP engagement, Security Information Services (SIS), Risk Management Meetings, and Cascade alerting. PLSO-IP engagement involves continuous virtual and face-to-face meetings across Kenya's 47 counties to maintain a high level of security awareness and culture amongst IPs. PLSO transitioned to telephone and video conferencing with IPs following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure continuity of operations and the safety of IP staff. Security Information Services (SIS) include real-time SMS alerts, incident reports, advice notes, daily security reports, weekly security reports, weekly IP incident reports, and weekly activity reports. Since the Covid-19 outbreak in Kenya, PLSO introduced a Covid-19 Report to ensure that IPs are kept informed on the developments regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. Quarterly Security and Risk Management Meetings are organized every three months and are designed to update IPs on the prevailing security situation. The meetings provide a platform for IPs to share their experiences and concerns, and for PLSO to provide guidance and support. During the reporting period, a modification of the PLSO contract was made (Modification #07) in May 2021 after USAID approved to extend the period of implementation awarded to WS Insight. The initial contract was set to expire in May 2020, but an extension was granted for 18 months, lapsing in November 2022. In addition, it was to incrementally fund the award with $1,029,318. In May 2021, WS Insight sent a remaining obligation supplementary bill application to USAID after it was discovered that WS Insight had not received payment for the first two months of the PLSO program (May and June 2016). USAID accepted the application and approved a supplementary invoice worth $63,939. The PLSO program has made significant progress in establishing itself in Kenya and building upon existing and new relationships with IPs. The program has provided a variety of services to USAID and its IPs, including PLSO-IP engagement, Security Information Services (SIS), Risk Management Meetings, and Cascade alerting. The program has also introduced a Covid-19 Report to ensure that IPs are kept informed on the developments regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.