Monthly Report: July 2021 - Positive Pathways Activity

under Contract No. 72053220C00001, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development. The program aims to promote positive youth development and community peacebuilding in Jamaica. In July 2021, the program team conducted various activities, including planning and outreach efforts. The team received and reviewed applications for short-term technical assistance (STTA) consultants, with reference checks being completed for the top candidate. Interviews were also conducted with candidates for an STTA to train organizations on the adapted Citizen Security Justice Programme (CSJP) youth assessment tool. The selection process is in its final stages and is expected to be concluded by mid-August. The program team also conducted outreach and potential partnership discussions with various organizations, including the Digicel Foundation, the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, and Junior Achievement. Staff met with the gender analysis consultant to provide context for her trip, identify key research documents, and discuss local gender issues. The Community Peacebuilding Grants Approvals process is pending USAID approval. Training activities were also conducted in July, including the first of two Sport-for-Development (S4D) workshops for community members from the six target communities in Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine. Seventeen persons participated in the in-person training, including representatives of all six target communities. A virtual check-in session was also conducted to provide ongoing support to interested organizations. Grants approvals were received for the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) and the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) in mid-July, with five other approvals pending completion of the SAMS registration. The grants review committee met to review five Social and Behavioural Science concept paper applications, with four applications passed through to the co-design phase. Six Positive Youth Development grant applications were also reviewed, with one determined ineligible, one dismissed due to poor quality, and four passed to the co-creation stage. Assessments were conducted in June and July, with in-person visits to six of the seven target communities. A total of 179 persons participated in interviews and focus group discussions, which will inform intervention designs. The team will visit May Pen in August. Administrative activities included personnel changes, with new staff members starting in July, including a MEL Officer, a Finance Assistant, and a Driver. Offers were made to two program officers and a program assistant, with all three expected to start by mid-August. The program team also conducted an in-depth training on financial transactions with the finance and administrative staff. Achievements in July included the first of two S4D training workshops, which was attended by 17 persons. Issues encountered in July included new COVID restrictions that will impact activities planned in August and delays in the grant approval process due to the requirement that all USG grant awardees be listed on DUNS and SAMS. Anticipated activities for next month include conducting the second S4D Workshop, traveling to Jamaica for various activities, launching the first Peacebuilding grants, and submitting SBS and PYD grant approvals to USAID. The program team will also conduct a Community Peacebuilding Grants signing ceremony, launch the Positive Deviance introduction workshop, and continue baseline assessments.