Feed the Future DRC Strengthening Value Chains Activity Q1 Report FY18

The program is implemented in three territories of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is funded by USAID. The program began in late May 2017 and will end in May 2022. The program's objective is to strengthen value chains in the specialty coffee, soybean, and dried common bean sectors. This is achieved through the implementation of four components: Building Capacity of Vertical and Horizontal Actors in Targeted Value Chains, Enhancing Coffee Production, Developing and Implementing Public-Private Partnerships, and Enhancing Access to Commercial Finance. The program's geographic focus is on three territories of South Kivu, DRC, where the majority of the country's coffee, soybean, and dried common bean production takes place. The program's implementation is led by Tetra Tech ARD, a consortium of six international contractors. The program's quarterly report for Q1 FY18 highlights the activities carried out from October 1 to December 31, 2017. During this period, the team focused on finalizing and training new staff, setting up the project office and systems, and meeting with local stakeholders. The team also celebrated International Coffee Day with the National Coffee Office and local coffee cooperatives. The program's gender and youth specialist supported the first national assembly for the Women in Coffee and Cocoa Initiative in Goma, and the Value Chain Manager and the Agricultural Inputs Specialist conducted mapping exercises in target territories. A Political Economy Analysis was conducted, which involved consultations with over 80 coffee, soy, and bean value chain stakeholders in the Kivus. The Access to Finance Assessment was also conducted, and results disseminated to local stakeholders. The program's launch event was held in November, which included stands from 18 USAID implementing partners, local businesses, and cooperatives, and over 185 participants. The launch event was widely broadcast on local media, including radio and social media. The program's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team participated in two separate monitoring and evaluation workshops organized by USAID, in collaboration with Food For Peace (FFP) partners. A revised Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP) was drafted, and will be completed in Quarter 2 FY18, in collaboration with FFP implementing partners. The program's safety and security plan was drafted and presented to staff in August and November, and the team participated in additional Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) in December. Numerous stakeholder consultations were held to present the SVC program's objectives and activities to local stakeholders. The program's implementation is focused on strengthening value chains in the specialty coffee, soybean, and dried common bean sectors. This is achieved through the implementation of four components, which include building capacity of vertical and horizontal actors, enhancing coffee production, developing and implementing public-private partnerships, and enhancing access to commercial finance. The program's implementation is focused on strengthening value chains in the specialty coffee, soybean, and dried common bean