Local Solutions Support for Laos FY19 Q2 Report

The project's primary objective is to enhance the capacity of NPAs to deliver effective services and contribute to the country's development. During the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019, the project continued to focus on recruiting key personnel and establishing the foundation for initial project activities. The Capacity Development Lead position was successfully filled with a candidate who brings 18 years of experience in capacity building and development. The candidate will oversee the design and delivery of technical assistance to NPAs and provide mentoring and support to grantees and other NPAs. The project also made progress in preparing research on the capacity development challenges in Lao PDR and mapping capacity building providers. A methodology was developed to select a sample of NPAs and conduct interviews to assess the supply and demand of capacity building services. The research aims to identify gaps in the country and provide strategic recommendations for addressing them. In addition, the project began compiling capacity development resources that can be adapted for the project. These resources include internal RTI trainings, guidebooks, and templates, as well as those produced by other international organizations. The resources will be tailored to the Lao context once the capacity building priorities and needs of NPAs are confirmed. The project also established a process for selecting and supporting local organizations. A Grants Administration Manual was tailored to the Local Solutions Support project, and preliminary criteria for selecting NPAs to receive grants were outlined. The approval of the proposed grants administration policies and protocols will enable the project to swiftly move forward once grants are ready to be issued. During the upcoming quarter, the project will focus on completing several major tasks, including launching research on NPA capacity building priorities, challenges, and services, and beginning research on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI). The project will also continue to recruit local consultants to assist in conducting interviews with NPAs and other civil society groups. The project's financial performance is expected to be reported in the next quarterly report. However, it is worth noting that the project has made significant progress in establishing the foundation for its activities and is well-positioned to achieve its objectives in the coming quarters. The project's geographic focus is on the Lao PDR, with a specific emphasis on strengthening the capacity of NPAs in the country. The project's context is characterized by a need to enhance the capacity of NPAs to deliver effective services and contribute to the country's development. Overall, the Local Solutions Support Laos project is making significant progress in achieving its objectives and is well-positioned to contribute to the development of the Lao PDR.