FOOD SECURITY SERVICE CENTER II QUARTERLY REPORT June 2019 – September 2019

Launched in response to the 2009 G-8 Summit commitments, FTF draws on the resources and expertise of 11 federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative aims to fortify all participants in the food system, particularly women, the extremely poor, small-scale producers, youth, marginalized communities, and small and medium enterprises. The FTF initiative is grounded in the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS), a five-year blueprint document that sets forth a whole-of-government approach to implement the Global Food Security Act (GFSA). The GFSA allocates $7 billion for a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing global poverty and hunger. The GFSS has three interrelated but independent objectives: 1) inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well-nourished population. The Food Security Service Center (FSSC) II, launched in 2019, is a key component of the FTF initiative. Under the direction of the International Development Group (IDG), FSSC II provides technical assistance to further BFS implementation of the GFSS. The center offers a suite of technical expertise supporting GFSS intermediate results and cross-cutting intermediate results. Specifically, FSSC II technical experts deliver a broad range of integrated, knowledge-driven technical services for each of the project's core objectives. During the first quarter of the FSSC II project, the team mobilized on June 17, 2019, and was able to hit the ground running thanks to the fact that three of the four core staff members formed part of FSSC I. The team processed two requests during the first week of the project and was able to submit all contract deliverables that were due during the quarter. These included the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, First Year Work Plan, FSSC Brochure, Orientation and Training Materials, Update Database of Experts, Contractor Feedback System, and Database Optimization Plan. A key activity during the following quarters will be to optimize the database, which is the single most important tool of the program. FSSC II proposes to hire a consultant to conduct a benchmark study comparing other similar recruiting databases and make recommendations for improvements. The team also plans to continue building consultant loyalty by retaining consultants who have received high marks for their performance, as evidenced by USAID's response on the Consultant Feedback Forms. The FSSC II project has been successful in its first quarter, with the team able to mobilize quickly and submit all contract deliverables on time. The project's focus on optimizing the database and building consultant loyalty will be crucial in ensuring the continued success of the FSSC II project.