Municipal Waste Recycling Program Quarterly Report – Quarter 2; FY 2018

The program is implemented by the Development Innovations Group (DIG) under the Making Cities Work (MCW) IDIQ contract. Implementation of the program's grants component resumed in the second quarter of FY 2018 after a three-month pause in receiving applications and concept notes. DIG staff conducted scoping missions for the Development Credit Authority (DCA) and ensured a smooth transition of Indonesia into the program. The team met with various stakeholders, including the USAID/Indonesia mission, U.S. State Department, and key Government of Indonesia ministries, to lay the foundation for a successful outreach effort. The MWRP orientation workshop held in Jakarta on February 5 attracted 106 attendees from a range of Indonesian organizations, academic institutions, and businesses. The fourth MWRP submission window (FC-4) closed on March 31 with 30 applications and 35 concept notes, with 55% of submissions coming from Indonesian applicant organizations. As of March 31, 2018, the total value of grants awarded under the program was $2,188,424. Six MWRP grants under the first funding cycle have moved beyond the planning and mobilization phase and are fully operational in all locations. DIG signed fixed amount award grant agreements for six additional projects in March 2018 under the second funding cycle. The program has received 142 submissions in the form of 79 applications and 43 concept notes through four quarterly application cycles under the MWRP Annual Program Statement. DIG has completed four pre-award surveys and risk assessment field visits in Sri Lanka and Vietnam to evaluate potential grantee projects under the third funding cycle. In addition to the grants component, DIG has endeavored to generate additional interest in the MWRP through outreach initiatives, including a webinar panel on women and their roles in the solid waste management sector and a panel discussion at the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The implementation status of active grants from the first funding cycle is satisfactory, with each project proceeding in a satisfactory manner. The two grants in Vietnam experienced some delay in fully mobilizing due to their need to secure project certification from the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). The Center for Environment & Community Research (CECR) in Danang City had its official project launch on March 7, attended by Danang City Representatives and USAID/Vietnam representatives. The program's overall performance is progressing at a satisfactory pace, with a significant increase in the number of MWRP submissions received in the second quarter of FY 2018. The program has made significant progress in implementing its grants component, with six MWRP grants under the first funding cycle fully operational and six additional projects signed under the second funding cycle. The program has also made progress in generating interest in the MWRP through outreach initiatives, including a webinar panel on women and their roles in the solid waste management sector and a panel discussion at the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The program's reporting activity and request to modify the time frame for submission of the MWRP quarterly reports are ongoing. The MWRP has identified a pipeline of potential solid waste management and recycling investment opportunities in the four target countries that could be supported with a USAID Development Credit Authority (DCA) loan guarantee. The program has also updated its Annual Program Statement (APS) and Questions & Answers section, which were posted on the USAID Urban Links website. The status of the MWRP contract amendment expanding program activities is ongoing.