Quarterly Performance Report, Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) Project

through DNG, a joint venture of Development Alternatives Inc. and Nathan Associates Inc. The Task Order and original Scope of Work (SOW) called for a four-year program and seven program areas: Measuring Factors of Competitiveness, Setting the Competitiveness Policy Agenda, Streamlining Business and Licensing Processes, Improving Property Rights and Land Use Administration, Improving Tax Collections Efficiency, Improving Trade Facilitation and Customs Administration, and Improving the Availability of Infrastructure. Fifty percent of the Project's resources were earmarked to support initiatives in the island of Mindanao in Southern Philippines. Technical assistance was to be provided through discrete Technical Assistance Packages (TAPs). In a February 25, 2011 correspondence with Nathan Associates, USAID/Philippines requested that the Project be restructured to focus only on program areas with the most promise for achieving results over the remaining period of the Task Order. A memorandum and a revised SOW attached to that correspondence requested that components be limited to Program Areas 1, 2, and 3, and a new Program Area 4 be created to replace the original. All other areas, and the Project's office in Mindanao, were to be phased out or phased down. The new program area was designed to address the need to ensure that national financial resources are expended efficiently. Negotiations between USAID/Philippines and Nathan Associates Inc. were formally concluded on May 3, 2011, upon USAID/Philippines' transmission to Nathan Associates Inc. of an amended Task Order. It was agreed that the Project will end on September 30, 2011. During this reporting quarter (January to March 2011), some successful project outcomes resulting from key activities over the past few months were recorded. The Project's focus shifted to focus on Program Areas 1, 2, and 3, with a new Program Area 4 created to address the need for efficient national financial resource expenditure. Program Area 1: Measuring Factors of Competitiveness, achieved key accomplishments, including the development of a framework for measuring competitiveness. Activities planned for the next quarter include the implementation of the framework and the development of a competitiveness index. Program Area 2: Setting the Competitiveness Policy Agenda, Establishing and Addressing Implementation Gaps, achieved key accomplishments, including the development of a competitiveness policy agenda. Activities planned for the next quarter include the implementation of the policy agenda and the establishment of a competitiveness council. Program Area 3: Streamlining Business and Licensing Processes, achieved key accomplishments, including the development of a business and licensing system. Activities planned for the next quarter include the implementation of the system and the establishment of a business one-stop shop. Program Area 4: Fiscal Responsibility through National Budget Monitoring, achieved key accomplishments, including the development of a national budget monitoring system. Activities planned for the next quarter include the implementation of the system and the establishment of a fiscal responsibility council. Cross-cutting components, including Gender and Public-Private Alliances, achieved key accomplishments, including the development of a gender strategy and the establishment of a public-private partnership. Activities planned for the next quarter include the implementation of the gender strategy and the establishment of a public-private partnership council. The Project's performance monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system was established to track progress and identify areas for improvement. The system includes indicators for measuring project outcomes and impact. The Project's financial performance was monitored to ensure that resources were expended efficiently. The Project's expenditure pipeline was reviewed to ensure that resources were allocated effectively. The Project's time input was monitored to ensure that activities were completed on schedule. The Project's staff and consultants were engaged in various activities, including program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The Project's major administrative events included the administration of grants and special activities fund (SAF), and the performance monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of project activities. The Project's financial performance was reviewed to ensure that resources were expended efficiently. The Project's indicators, including indicators for measuring project outcomes and impact, were reviewed to ensure that progress was being made towards achieving project objectives. The Project's indicators included indicators for measuring competitiveness, fiscal responsibility, and gender equality. The Project's evaluation of city competitiveness for forum in Davao City was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Project's activities in improving city competitiveness. The evaluation included an assessment of the Project's impact on city competitiveness and an assessment of the Project's effectiveness in achieving its objectives. The Project's quarterly report was submitted to USAID/Philippines, providing an update on project activities, progress, and financial performance. The report included an assessment of the Project's impact on city competitiveness and an assessment of the Project's effectiveness in achieving its objectives.