Program Development Quickly III (PDQ III) IQC Quarterly Report

foreign policy initiatives. Under this contract, Training Resources Group, Inc. (TRG) has assisted OTI by finding new ways to improve staff education, efficiency, and effectiveness to maximize overall organizational success in country programs. TRG's role for this IQC is to provide inputs and support in the areas of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Professional Development and Training, Knowledge Management (KM), and Outreach. Implementation of the PDQ III IQC has involved numerous activities under Task Order 1: OTI Yemen Strategy Review Session (SRS) and Task Order 2: Short-term Facilitation and Training. Task Order 2 activities, which have involved the facilitation and training at OTI SRSes, have been ongoing since January 2013 and have thus far included 15 activities, with four of which have ended their period of performance by the time of this quarter's PMR. The objectives of these activities have included confirming program priorities and strategy, identifying and integrating lessons learned from grant development and implementation, and fostering a cohesive and energized team. Significant progress has been made in implementing the PDQ III IQC. For example, a Strategic Review Session (SRS) for OTI's Libya Transition Initiative (LTI) program was held in Marrakech, Morocco from April 8-10, 2013. The objectives of this meeting were to confirm the program's priorities and strategy, identify and integrate lessons learned from grant development and implementation, and foster a cohesive and energized team. The LTI participants covered a lot of ground in this SRS, including visioning of what the results of a successful program might look like, exploring lessons learned from the immediate past, and discussing what an "culture of tolerance" might be like in terms of their programming. Another notable activity was the Country Representatives Consultations, which were held in Washington between May 22-24, 2013. The consultations were attended by 13 OTI Country Representatives, and the objectives for the consultations were to promote cross-program learning among Country Reps, elicit substantive input on OTI's strategic direction and priorities, and increase understanding of and participation in the practices that make OTI a learning organization. The outcomes of the consultations included establishing and strengthening connections among the Country Reps and with the SLT, sharing analysis of current political developments in Lebanon, and engaging in contingency planning around the rapidly changing security environment in country. The Lebanon Civic Support Initiative conducted a three-day strategic review session (SRS) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman, Jordan on June 10-12, 2013. The objectives of this session were to ground all team members in the objectives of the program under the new reconfiguration, share analysis of current political developments in Lebanon, and engage in contingency planning around the rapidly changing security environment in country. The outcomes of the session included addressing emerging questions and clarifying expectations on approach to the reconfigured program, deciding on project activities, timelines, and concrete action steps for the next 3-6 months, and examining the present issues affecting the program. Overall, the PDQ III IQC has made significant progress in supporting U.S. foreign policy initiatives and improving staff education, efficiency, and effectiveness in country programs. The implementation of numerous activities under Task Order 1 and Task Order 2 has been ongoing since January 2013, and the outcomes of these activities have been positive, with significant progress made in confirming program priorities and strategy, identifying and integrating lessons learned from grant development and implementation, and fostering a cohesive and energized team.