Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the USAID/BiH Marginalized Populations Support Activity

The Activity supports local organizations that advocate for the rights, empowerment, and dignity of underrepresented groups in BiH society. It also builds the capacity of local NGOs, BiH institutions, and USAID implementing partners to promote and protect the rights of these citizens. The Activity provides grants to local organizations to enhance their performance and management capacity through formal classroom training, mentorship, and one-on-one coaching. Training topics include legal structures, financial management, human resources, internal control systems, project performance management, procurement systems, organizational sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation. The program also builds the capacity of USAID partners, institutions, and government leaders to promote and protect the rights of underrepresented citizens. The Activity has several expected results, including strengthening the performance of at least 40 BiH NGOs and other organizations, enhancing the performance of at least 75 current USAID local partners, and building the expertise of at least 75 BiH Government leaders of municipalities and ministries collaborating with USAID. The Activity's performance indicators and reporting system are outlined in Section 2 of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The indicators include the USAID Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI), the percentage of citizens participating in decision-making processes, and the trust in institutions value according to the SCORE Index. The data sources for these indicators include Activity reports, CSSP, SCORE reports, and MEASURE-BiH. The Activity's evaluation framework and learning approaches are discussed in Section 3 of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The framework includes the use of logical frameworks, performance monitoring, and evaluation to assess the Activity's progress and impact. The learning approaches include the use of training and capacity-building programs to enhance the performance and management capacity of local organizations and government leaders. The Activity's geographic focus is on Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a specific emphasis on marginalized populations. The Activity's timeframes are from February 2015 to February 2020. The recommendations for the Activity include the need for continued support for local organizations and government leaders to promote and protect the rights of underrepresented citizens. The Activity's implementation details include the provision of grants to local organizations, the delivery of training and capacity-building programs, and the building of partnerships with government leaders and institutions. The Activity's results are expected to contribute to the strengthening of civil society in BiH, the promotion of civic participation in governance, and the protection of the rights of underrepresented citizens. The Activity's monitoring and evaluation system includes the use of performance indicators, data collection and analysis, and quality control and data verification. The system is designed to assess the Activity's progress and impact, identify areas for improvement, and inform decision-making. The Activity's budget and resources are allocated to support the implementation of the Activity's objectives and expected results. The budget includes funding for grants to local organizations, training and capacity-building programs, and partnerships with government leaders and institutions. The Activity's sustainability and exit strategy include the transfer of knowledge and skills to local organizations and government leaders, the development of partnerships with government institutions, and the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the Activity's impact and sustainability.