Monitoring, Evaluation, and Coordination Contract (MECC): Annual Project Report October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018

(IBTCI) and its subcontractor, Management Systems International (MSI), to provide monitoring, evaluation, analytic, coordination, and research services to two primary USAID initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The contract is divided into two components: Component 1 supports monitoring, evaluation, and coordination for the Mission-wide Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), while Component 2 supports monitoring, evaluation, and coordination of ACCELERE!, an education program jointly funded by USAID and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). Component 1 focuses on building the institutional capacity of the Government of the DRC, civil society, and private institutions to achieve sustainable development outcomes. The Mission pursues two development objectives (DOs) and a transition objective (TO) to ensure that USG resources have measurable outputs, outcomes, and impacts moving the DRC along the development trajectory. The two DOs are: (1) Selected national-level institutions more effectively implementing their mandates, and (2) Lives improved through coordinated development approaches in Kasai Central, Kasai Orientale, Lualaba, and Haut Katanga. The TO is: (3) Foundation for durable peace strengthened in eastern DRC. Component 2 supports monitoring, evaluation, and coordination of ACCELERE!, which comprises four activities focused on improving access to and quality of education, governance and accountability, coordination and evidence-based learning among partners, donors, and the GDRC, and reducing the number of out-of-school children in DRC. MECC provides independent evaluation, coordination, and performance monitoring services to the program, including the design and implementation of impact and performance evaluations. To fulfill its task order mandate, MECC is comprised of three technical teams, each led by one of MECC's four key personnel. The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team is led by the DCOP for Assessments and M&E and supported by two M&E Specialists. The Learning team is led by the Learning Specialist and supported by a Learning Officer. The ACCELERE! team is led by the ACCELERE! Specialist and supported by an ACCELERE! Officer. During fiscal year 2018 (FY18), MECC achieved several key results, including strengthening access to relevant and reliable high-quality data and information, identifying and supporting adaptive management strategies and mechanisms, and strengthening the M&E resource base in the DRC. MECC also provided performance monitoring support to the Mission's CDCS and regional programming, coordination among stakeholders at the provincial level, and M&E capacity building for Mission staff, Implementing Partners (IPs), and other relevant stakeholders. The MECC team conducted several activities and delivered several products during FY18, including the development of a M&E plan, the implementation of a data quality assessment, and the provision of training and technical assistance to Mission staff and IPs. The team also conducted several evaluations and assessments, including an evaluation of the ACCELERE! program and an assessment of the M&E capacity of the GDRC. Overall, MECC played a critical role in supporting the Mission's CDCS and regional programming, and in strengthening the M&E capacity of the GDRC. The team's efforts helped to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Mission's programs, and contributed to the achievement of the Mission's development objectives.