Monitoring and Evaluation Support Activity (MEASURE-BiH) Quarterly Report April 1, 2015 – June 30, 2015

The report highlights the accomplishments and deliverables of MEASURE-BiH during this quarter. MEASURE-BiH provided technical assistance to the Mission's Performance Management Plan, Project M&E Plans, and Activity M&E Plans. In Component 1, MEASURE-BiH M&E Specialists worked closely with the MEASURE-BiH COR to better align the four Mission Project Logical Frameworks, including reviewing and revising indicators, and collecting data for baselines and actuals from existing data available in M&E Reports and IP databases. M&E Specialists also provided technical assistance to a number of Implementing Partners (IPs) to finalize their M&E Plans. In Component 2, MEASURE-BiH Staff completed qualitative and administrative data collection and initialized an impact analysis and implementation study for the FIRMA impact evaluation. Completion and delivery of the FIRMA impact evaluation report is expected in the next quarter. The Scope of Work (SOW) for the final performance evaluation of the Strengthening Independent Media (SIM) Activity was finalized. MEASURE-BiH also completed phase one of the Political Economy Assessment (PEA), which consisted of a desk review. The MEASURE-BiH M&E Specialist for Democracy and Governance (DG) and DG Research Analyst provided research support for the assessment. MEASURE-BiH made significant progress in the development of the Component 3 Geographic Information System (GIS) and developed a number of useful maps that portray data from several USAID-funded activities using ArcGis online. MEASURE-BiH initiated the Component 4 Training Program for IPs by designing several courses that were identified as high priority from the Training Needs Assessment (TNA). These included: (1) Introduction to Performance Management and Activity M&E Plans; (2) ADS 205, Gender; (3) Developing a Statement of Work for Evaluations and Assessments; and (4) Using M&E and Performance Information for Accountability, Outreach, and Decisions. The MEASURE-BiH activity is organized within five components, which include providing technical assistance for the Mission's Performance Management Plan, Project M&E Plans, and Activity M&E Plans; designing and conducting evaluations, surveys, studies, and sector assessments; Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping; providing M&E training and technical assistance; and strengthening local M&E capacity and developing a 'Center of Excellence (CoE)'. The activity also supports the USAID Forward reform agenda by enhancing the capacity of local institutions, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to serve as engines of growth and opportunity in BiH. The purpose of MEASURE-BiH is to provide performance management services to assist USAID/BiH in monitoring, evaluating, and relaying information about the Mission's development interventions. The MEASURE-BiH Team will provide technical, analytic, advisory, training, and monitoring & evaluation and other services using a flexible and demand-driven approach. These services are required by the Mission to support its performance measurement, planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and activity mapping and performance information management and dissemination activities. The two primary objectives of the MEASURE-BiH activity are to provide USAID/BiH with technical, analytic, advisory, training, monitoring, evaluation, and related support services to assist USAID/BiH in effectively monitoring, evaluating, and relaying information about interventions, and to build social science research and program evaluation capacity in BiH, which will develop local capacity to conduct high-quality independent evaluations and other studies for USAID/BiH and other donors.