LASER FY5 Mid-Annual Performance Report

The program is executed through a growing network of researchers and development practitioners in 86 countries. LASER's objective is to enhance discovery and application in practice of evidence-based solutions to development challenges. LASER's theory of change is based on closer collaboration between researchers, development practitioners, and donors, resulting in research that is translated into useful policies, products, and practices. The program's results framework outlines four objectives: increased delivery of collaborative and effective research, increased synthesis and translation of research results, increased dissemination of translated research results, and sustainability of LASER approaches. The program's intermediate results include: * IR 1: Increased delivery of collaborative and effective research * IR 2: Increased synthesis and translation of research results * IR 3: Increased dissemination of translated research results * IR 4: Sustainability of LASER approaches The program has made significant progress in implementing Embedded Research Translation (ERT), which has been working well. However, concurrent capacity strengthening for effective research translation and quality control on research translation has been challenging. LASER has reviewed 61 deliverables across projects within the first six months of FY23. The program will continue to strengthen and simplify the review process to support quality assurance of research products. LASER is partnering with Purdue Policy Institute to provide review services in the no-cost extension phase. The program's key achievements for FY23 Q1/Q2 include: * Top achievements for FY23 Q1/Q2: LASER has made significant progress in implementing ERT, and the program has reviewed 61 deliverables across projects. * Top two cumulative LASER achievements since project start: LASER has increased delivery of collaborative and effective research, and the program has increased synthesis and translation of research results. The program's engagement with partners has been successful, with LASER partnerships with institutions of higher education and new and ongoing partnerships with human and institutional capacity building. LASER's monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) progress has been satisfactory, with progress against indicators has been reported. The program's MEL updates have been provided, and the deviation from M&E targets has been reported. The program's USAID engagement has been successful, with current and active USAID buy-ins to the program. The program's pivot points and challenges have been reported, and the key actives for next reporting period have been outlined. The program's environmental monitoring and social considerations have been reported, and the deliverables completed in Q1 and Q2 FY23 have been provided. The program's results framework and revised results framework have been provided in Appendix 1 and 2, respectively. The program's performance indicator table and summary table for current active buy-ins have been provided in Appendix 5 and 6, respectively. The program's summary of deviation from FY23 work plan has been provided in Appendix 7.