FADCANIC Capacity Building Activity Quarterly Report October 1- December 31, 2012

The project aims to strengthen FADCANIC's capacity to manage USAID funds and comply with USAID's complex requirements for program implementation. FADCANIC, a civil society organization located in Caribbean Nicaragua, is a major implementer of development projects in the region, focusing on environmental, agricultural, education, and youth development programs. AIR provides FADCANIC with technical assistance in institutional and programmatic areas to manage USAID funds according to USAID standards. The project's objective is to strengthen FADCANIC's capacity to manage USAID funds, develop management practices in administration and finance, personnel management, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic planning. AIR also provides technical programmatic assistance in approaches to working with youth to develop activities that introduce life skills and better employment opportunities. During the October-December 2012 period, activities under each result were implemented. In the area of administration and finance, FADCANIC conducted an evaluation and monitoring of the use of policy manuals, rules, and procedures put into effect by the organization. The evaluation was carried out in two phases, with the second phase completed in early October 2012. The evaluation showed that employees improved their capacity to use the manuals, with an average increase from basic to moderate capacity. Additionally, FADCANIC evaluated the use of manuals to assess their efficiency and sufficiency. The evaluation was completed in November 2012, and a final report with recommendations on the manuals is expected to be submitted to FADCANIC in mid-February for review. In the area of personnel management, FADCANIC developed a personnel database with standard employee information for all personnel. The system was fully functional by the end of 2012 and includes a part dedicated to the Financial and Administrative Department. The HR database includes personal data for each employee, promotion, salary increase, demotion, vacation control, and payroll management. The project's achievements during the October-December 2012 period demonstrate the effectiveness of the evaluation plus training approach in improving employees' capacity to use the manuals. The development of the personnel database also shows significant progress in strengthening FADCANIC's human resources management. The project's next steps include finalizing the report on the manuals, preparing training materials on administrative and financial procedures, and modifying the manuals to meet the needs of FADCANIC and internationally established standard procedures. The project's overall goal is to strengthen FADCANIC's capacity to manage USAID funds and implement effective development programs in the region.