Quarterly Activity Report: Services Under Program and Project Offices for Results Tracking Phase II (SUPPORT-II) Program

AID-306-C-12-00012. The purpose of S-II is to execute a host of services through the Office of Program and Project Development (OPPD) to improve the efficiency of programs implemented by the Mission's Technical Offices. These services include assessments, evaluations, and gender analyses, logistical support for hosting conferences, meetings, and workshops, management information and reporting, mapping services and products, performance management, third-party monitoring, and translation and interpretation services. The program is managed by Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc. (Checchi) in collaboration with other members of the Checchi Team, including the Kabul University Translators Association (KUTA), Social Impact Inc. (SI), Social Development Legal Rights (SDLR), Synergy International Systems, Inc. (SIS), and Overseas Strategic Consulting, Ltd (OSC). The reporting format for the Quarterly Activity Report (QAR) reflects the tasks identified in the Annual Work Plan and the Contract document. During the second quarter reporting period, October 1 - December 31, 2012, the key accomplishments of the program include the completion of a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) of 22 custom and standard indicators for OPPD, performance evaluations for ODG's CTAP and SNG programs, and review of four additional evaluation scopes of work (SOWs) scheduled for implementation in 2013. The program also completed gender analyses for POWER, TAFA III, TARP, and WIT, and recruited for CLDP and IHSSP gender analyses, which will begin in January 2013. The program has also made significant progress in management, with the addition of new personnel, including Dr. Mafiz Islam as the Program Design-Monitoring and Evaluation Team Leader, Mr. Noor Atel as the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and Ms. Hosay Rahimi as the Human Resources Assistant. The program has also subcontracted with Garda World for two Risk Management Consultants, Mr. Kit Bawden and Mr. Michael Mills, who were mobilized at the end of September. The program has successfully conducted OPPD's DQA in October-November for 22 custom and standard indicators for 16 implementing partners. The program has also provided recommendations to implementing partners concerning their data specifications and data security, and suggested that they participate in a training PMP-related workshop to reinforce these recommendations. The program has also made significant progress in information reporting, with the analysis of the Mission's procedures for generating information for periodic reports and data calls. The program has prepared recommendations on how to streamline management and reporting of data and information and use of program information systems to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of time spent on preparing related reports and responding to data calls. The program has also provided short and long-term technical assistance for the purpose of conducting field-based project monitoring. The program has provided monitoring teams with the necessary skills and experience for USAID/Afghanistan COR concurrence, and has facilitated presentations to the Mission, GIRoA, and other donors and partners on the findings, and solicited feedback on recommendations. The program has also coordinated with OPPD and relevant technical offices to recommend when program evaluations should be conducted based on third-party monitoring. The program has identified the following situations, which could also trigger the need for program evaluations: changes in program strategy, targets, or activities; significant changes in the program's budget or resources; and significant changes in the program's performance or outcomes. The program has successfully conducted the following tasks and deliverables: * Task 1: Performance Monitoring Support - The program has successfully conducted OPPD's DQA in October-November for 22 custom and standard indicators for 16 implementing partners. * Task 2: Program Results Data - The program has provided recommendations to implementing partners concerning their data specifications and data security, and suggested that they participate in a training PMP-related workshop to reinforce these recommendations. * Task 3: Information Reporting - The program has prepared recommendations on how to streamline management and reporting of data and information and use of program information systems to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of time spent on preparing related reports and responding to data calls. * Task 4: Monitoring - The program has provided short and long-term technical assistance for the purpose of conducting field-based project monitoring. * Task 5: Recommendations - The program has coordinated with OPPD and relevant technical offices to recommend when program evaluations should be conducted based on third-party monitoring. The program has also made significant progress in financial management, with the submission of a December 2012 invoice for $5,077,949.52, which is the amount remaining to be billed in the Base Year.