FY2015 Quarterly Technical Report Fourth Quarter: Famine Early Warning Systems Network Technology Support Contract (FEWS NET TSC)

The report focuses on the Expanded Remote Monitoring activity, the FEWS NET Data Warehouse (FDW), the Population Explorer tool, and other initiatives. The Expanded Remote Monitoring activity involved completing monthly and quarterly reports, which indicated substantial food insecurity in some zones. Data entry for the June survey was completed, but delays in data availability were experienced due to the need to transport survey forms to the Nairobi office for data entry. The second round of quarterly survey reports and continued monthly reporting for each of three regions monitored were fully completed. Data analysis identified a major area of concern, given late and inadequate rains in one of the primary monitoring areas. A decision was made to delay the third survey round to the fall of 2015 to capture early harvest results more completely. The FEWS NET Data Warehouse (FDW) continued to deliver functionality throughout the quarter. The TSC Project created the data model for the cross-border trade domain, provided training support for FDW rollout in Haiti, and reviewed the seasonal model for its applicability to the production data domain. System updates were implemented, and difficulties presented by the massive import of weekly price data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were successfully addressed. The Population Explorer online application was maintained during Q4. A more efficient data upload procedure was implemented, which should reduce data upload time and costs significantly. An assessment of PopulationExplorer.com website usage found over 9,700 users and more than 277,500 page views from January 1, 2015, to September 25, 2015. Other initiatives included the Yemen Alternative Data Sources for Livelihoods Analysis, the Resilience Measurement, and the Remote Emergency Monitoring Strategy Paper. Preliminary draft results on Yemen's exercise on livelihoods analysis were delivered to FEWS NET IQC for discussion, with limited follow-up revisions. A final report on the Yemen Study was delivered at the end of the quarter. The TSC Project obtained the alternative Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) measure of climate risk from USGS and developed a draft work plan for a Phase II Resilience Measurement activity. Additional data from the World Bank was received, and a revised draft of the final report and preparation of an executive summary were completed. A final report on the Resilience Measurement activity is expected to be presented to USAID in Washington, D.C. at the end of October 2015. A final draft of the Remote Monitoring Strategy Paper was completed in September 2015.