Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD) Program CONTRACT STATUS REPORT FY 2012 Quarter 2: January 2012 - March 2012

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) and is implemented by ICF International under Contract No. AID-486-C-11-00002. The LEAD Program's primary objective is to support the development of low-emissions strategies in the Asia region by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. The program focuses on several key areas, including energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development. During the second quarter of FY 2012, the LEAD team made significant progress in implementing the program's objectives. The team convened the Asia Regional LEDS and LEAD Program Coordination Meeting on February 8-9 in Bangkok, which brought together representatives from various US Government agencies, host-country governments, and other stakeholders to discuss program coordination and collaboration. The LEAD team also completed country consultations in India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, which involved desktop research and in-country meetings with key stakeholders. The consultations aimed to identify program opportunities and priorities, and the results were summarized in the draft Task 1 Report, which was delivered on March 21, 2012. In addition, the LEAD team initiated the development of a revised work plan for FY 2012, which will reflect the results of Task 1 consultations, program coordination activities, and related requests from LEAD country stakeholders. The work plan will guide LEAD program activities for FY 2012 and FY 2013. The LEAD Program also provided logistical and planning support for the Southeast Asia Greenhouse Gas (SEA GHG) Inventory Meetings in Manila and Bangkok, and initiated the development of a performance management plan, which will be completed and delivered in Q3 of FY 2012. Furthermore, the LEAD team conducted various external and internal communications activities, including the preparation of the LEAD program website, drafting press releases, and meetings with stakeholders to discuss collaboration and knowledge sharing. Overall, the LEAD Program made significant progress in the second quarter of FY 2012, and the team is well-positioned to continue implementing the program's objectives in the coming quarters. The LEAD Program's geographic focus is on the Asia region, with a specific emphasis on the countries of India, Nepal, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam. The program's implementation details include the development of a revised work plan, the completion of country consultations, and the initiation of performance management plan development. The LEAD Program's timeframes and recommendations are as follows: the revised work plan will be finalized and delivered in Q3 of FY 2012, and the performance management plan will be completed and delivered in Q3 of FY 2012. The program's recommendations include the need for continued coordination and collaboration among US Government agencies, host-country governments, and other stakeholders to achieve the program's objectives.