Feed the Future Kenya Innovation Engine FY2016 QII Quarterly Report

- International Development under a hybrid fixed-price contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Kenya Mission. The program aims to support competitively-selected innovations in agriculture and nutrition through catalytic grant funding and short-term technical assistance. Since March 2013, KIE has received over 670 applications, resulting in 20 innovations recommended for funding, with 18 of which have been issued with grant funding. During the quarter period (1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016), KIE received contract modification six from USAID, which provided additional scope and budget to the KIE contract. This modification increased KIE's budget across contract line items to include additional budget for short-term technical assistance and operational costs associated with coaching, mentoring, and managing an increased grant portfolio. KIE prepared and submitted five Stage 2 award packages to USAID for Contracting Officer approval and received approval of all five Stage 2 awards in March 2016. KIE issued Stage 2 grants to Wanda Organic, ALIN, and Takaful for innovation pilot roll out and plans to issue Stage 2 grants to Value Farms and Indicus early next quarter. The program continued to oversee activity implementation and milestone achievement of on-going grants and provided coaching and mentoring of innovations through KIE portfolio managers and short-term technical assistance. For recently closed out grantees, KIE conducted end-line rigorous assessments and finalized reports for KEMRI, KLMC, and Amtech. As a result of rigorous assessment, KLMC and Amtech were recommended for stage progression to pilot roll out. KIE also continued to explore collaboration with other USAID and USG projects, co-investing opportunities from the private sector, and partnership with the public sector. The program held a consultative meeting with the heads of cooperatives working in Meru County and participated in the Hombay International Investment Conference during the quarter. Qualitative impact was observed in the successful completion of grant implementation periods by University of Nairobi II, Maseno University, and Kenya Biologics. KIE completed and shared final rigorous assessment reports for KEMRI, KLMC, and Amtech Technologies with the respective awardees. In terms of Monitoring and Evaluation, KIE conducted the semi-annual productivity survey for six innovations – Wanda Organic, Amtech Technologies, ALIN, Lachlan, iProcure, Kenya Biologics, and Maseno. The survey aimed to assess the progress and impact of these innovations. Additionally, KIE held rigorous assessment end-line meetings with Maseno University, University of Nairobi II, and iProcure with support from Dalberg. Rigorous assessment end-line reports for Maseno University, University of Nairobi II, and iProcure will be submitted to USAID early next quarter. KIE's Innovation Engine leverages other public and private resources to grow innovations to scale, with local institutions benefiting through cultivation and broad dissemination of innovative practices. The program's focus on supporting competitively-selected innovations has led to the development of innovative solutions in agriculture and nutrition, contributing to the improvement of food security and economic growth in Kenya.