FY 2023 Q2 GROWTH Quarterly Report

The project aims to strengthen the USAID Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center) by enhancing its capacity to exchange information and resources via training programs, internal and external events, and individual and group leadership activities. The GROWTH team, consisting of nine staff members, is dedicated entirely to the DRG Center and partners with the Center's DRG subject matter experts to inculcate a culture of engagement and learning. The team's primary objectives are to support the DRG Center and its staff in addressing the DRG technical professional development and training needs within USAID's global DRG cadre while using best practices in adult learning. In Q2, the GROWTH project delivered two intensive training sessions reaching 44 participants, including 39 percent Foreign Service National (FSN) representation from all regions. The team also conducted 26 in-person and virtual convening and retreat sessions with 2,310 participants, three webinars with 242 participants, one eLearning course, and 586 eLearning course completions. Additionally, the team provided 63 coaching sessions with 36 coaching clients, totaling 116 hours of support through the live delivery of convenings, retreats, training, and webinars. The GROWTH project has seven objectives to support the DRG Center and its staff. Core Objective 1 focuses on addressing the DRG technical professional development and training needs within USAID's global DRG cadre while using best practices in adult learning. During the quarter, GROWTH supported DRG instructor-led training design, development, and delivery, published one eLearning course, and made progress on several others. The team also launched the DRG Fundamentals as eLearning modules initiative and worked with DRG Center and Anti-Corruption Task Force colleagues on an array of professional development activities. Core Objective 2 aims to design, organize, and facilitate events using professional, innovative engagement processes. In Q2, GROWTH collaborated with eight DRG Offices and the DRG leadership team for a series of listening sessions, which concluded with a capstone reception gathering representatives from 53 implementing partners and 31 DRG Center staff members. The team also collaborated with the Democratic Resilience and Innovation team for the planning and facilitation of a day-long, in-person retreat on January 31, held at the OpenGov Hub, where 61 attendees from USAID, government, and implementing partners gathered to discuss the effect of mis/dis/mal information on democracies. The GROWTH project has made significant progress in supporting the DRG Center and its staff in achieving key learning and engagement objectives. The team's efforts have resulted in the delivery of various training sessions, events, and professional development activities, which have positively impacted the DRG Center's capacity to exchange information and resources. The project's continued success will enable the DRG Center to strengthen its democracy, human rights, and governance efforts and promote democratic renewal globally. The GROWTH project has also been involved in activities central to the democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) policy, providing design assistance on the implementation of convenings related to President Biden's Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, the Partnership for Democracy Development, and the release of the new Rule of Law Policy, among other key DRG initiatives. The project's collaboration with USAID's PDT unit has also supported Continuous Learning Points applications submitted for several DRG training sessions. The GROWTH project's success is evident in its ability to deliver learning opportunities globally, with 47 percent of participants representing USAID Missions. The project's efforts have also resulted in the publication of a new eLearning course, Introduction to Parliaments and National Legislatures, and the ongoing development of three eLearning courses, including Commissioning and Interpreting DRG Surveys: Do's and Don'ts. The project's conversion of DRG Fundamentals in-person training content to a modular eLearning format is also underway, with launch meetings for six DRG Fundamentals eLearning modules having been conducted or scheduled.