Local Solutions Support Laos Quarterly Report: October 1 – December 31, 2020 Fiscal Year 2021

The project's primary objectives are to provide knowledge management and advisory services, offer a broad range of capacity development services, and establish a learning process. During the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2020, the LSS team made significant progress in operational activities. The team worked to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and secured registration for the project. Additionally, the team recruited non-key staff and developed a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan in coordination with other USAID implementing partners. The LSS project activities focused on three main objectives. Objective 1 aimed to provide knowledge management and advisory services to inform decision-making for local capacity development in Lao PDR. Activity 1 involved mapping capacity development providers and possible future beneficiaries, as well as analyzing capacity development challenges in the country. Objective 2 focused on providing a broad range of capacity development services to USAID implementing partners and stakeholders in Lao PDR. Activities under this objective included organizational development market improvement, finalizing a protocol and process for selecting and supporting local organizations, and preparing and adapting an organizational capacity assessment tool. The LSS team also piloted a Leadership Development Program and a customized Participatory Local Organizational Capacity Assessment (PLOCA) tool and Capacity Development Action Plan (CDAP) process. Furthermore, the team made progress on LSS MOU and registration by working in coordination with USAID to get a decision from MoHA and securing concurrence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to develop a "Plan of Action" for the project. In terms of human and institutional capacity development, the LSS team worked to recruit new staff, build new partnerships, and define a process to select up to 30 local organizational partners for LSS. The team also coordinated with other USAID implementing partners to devise a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. The LSS project's financial performance is reported in a separate section of the quarterly report. The report highlights the project's activities, progress, and challenges during the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2020. The LSS team's efforts to adapt to the changing national political landscape in Lao PDR are notable. The team's ability to develop alternative plans and partners to work with, despite the MoHA's decision not to engage with the project, demonstrates the team's flexibility and commitment to achieving the project's objectives. The LSS project's focus on human and institutional capacity development is critical to strengthening local capacity in Lao PDR. The project's activities, such as piloting a Leadership Development Program and a customized PLOCA tool and CDAP process, are designed to build the capacity of local organizations and individuals to effectively manage and implement development projects. The LSS project's collaboration with other USAID implementing partners is also noteworthy. The team's coordination with other IPs to devise a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan demonstrates the importance of collaboration and coordination in addressing complex development challenges. Overall, the LSS project's quarterly report highlights the team's progress, challenges, and achievements during the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2020. The report provides valuable insights into the project's activities, objectives, and outcomes, and serves as a useful resource for stakeholders and partners interested in the project's work.