Quarterly Performance Report: Capacity Building and Change Management Program-II

The program is implemented under the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance Leader with Associate by the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). The program builds on a previous United States Department of Agriculture activity and aims to strengthen the human and institutional capacity of Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). The program also focuses on key directorates within MAIL, 20 provincial Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAILs), and 50 district offices in Afghanistan's agricultural region. The program has five objectives: Objective I prioritizes and strengthens support functions in MAIL's Directorates of Finance, Accounting, Monitoring and Evaluation, Procurement and Contracts, Administration, and Human Resources. Objective II strengthens provincial DAILs' capacity to plan, program, and secure resources to support extension services. Objective III prioritizes and deepens the capacity of directorates essential to MAIL's capacity to carry out extension, research, and research services. Objective IV assists MAIL in transitioning its long-term capacity-building program to the World Bank's Capacity Building for Results Program. Objective V strengthens MAIL's capacity to coordinate activities of USAID-funded programs like the Regional Agriculture Development Program to improve agricultural productivity and regenerate agriculture businesses. The program uses the change management model of technical assistance, embedding change specialists within MAIL and DAILs to provide on-the-job training to civil service personnel. The program also focuses on key directorates within MAIL, 20 DAILs, and 50 district offices in Afghanistan's agricultural region. The program was awarded on July 10, and VEGA facilitated an implementer startup meeting to review the agreement and next steps, including consistent use of templates, policies, and practices that ensure a one program-one team approach. The meeting reviewed initial fielding deadlines and put in place communication protocols. Key personnel and the start-up team were mobilized, including Chief of Party Herschel Weeks, Deputy Chief of Party/PFEM No. Seddiq, and IESC CEO Tom Miller. Home-office Program Director Chad Ford and Startup Specialist John Troup arrived on August 2, and DCOP/Institutional Building Expert Anant Singh joined the team by August 15. The onboarding of program office staff members was also initiated, with Senior Finance and Administration Manager Omid Faheem mobilizing immediately, followed by procurement team members, human resource manager, and an IT officer. A recruitment effort for open positions commenced, led by Startup Specialist John Troup. The program has established a strong start, with key personnel and the start-up team mobilized, and onboarding of program office staff members initiated. The program has also made progress in establishing communication protocols and reviewing initial fielding deadlines. However, the program faced challenges with security-related issues, which delayed the mobilization of the proposed M&E and Communications Directors.