Quarterly Performance Report: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Project, January – March 2016

The project's purpose is to support the achievement of USAID/Nepal's Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objectives by assisting the Mission in planning, designing, conducting, disseminating, and learning from more rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of development activities. The MEL project met all of its deliverables due during the quarter of January to March 2016, with the exception of the knowledge management (KM) assessment and subsequent KM activities that depended on the findings of the assessment. Major deliverables completed during the quarter included an assessment of implementing partner (IP) M&E processes and capacity, M&E training syllabus, course modules, and training on Data Reporting Analysis and Use (DRAU) for Mission and IP staff. The project also conducted a mid-term performance evaluation of USAID/Nepal's Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition (KISAN) activity and uploaded the report on USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC). Additionally, the team conducted a mid-term performance evaluation of the Health for Life (H4L) Core activity and submitted a draft report to the Mission for review. Unrest in the Terai region and the fuel crisis that it has entailed since the beginning of the last quarter impeded the mobility of Mission as well as MEL project staff. However, the MEL project was able to adhere to its first annual work plan during the reporting quarter and meet most of the deliverables listed above. The MEL project staff continued performing ongoing tasks and subtasks, such as reviews of IPs' activity M&E plans and support to IPs in developing an M&E plan. The team submitted the following three deliverables to the Mission during the reporting period, all of which have been approved: Assessment of Monitoring and Evaluation Processes and Capacity of Implementing Partners (IPs) of USAID/Nepal, M&E Training Syllabus and Course Modules, and Assessment of the Use of GIS by USAID/Nepal and Its Partners. The MEL project also organized a DRAU training to Mission and IP staff as well as provided data quality assessment (DQA) support to one of the IPs as requested by the Mission. The project received a draft scope of work (SOW) to conduct an impact evaluation of USAID/Nepal's Community Resilience Program (CRP) and provided its feedback on the SOW and began recruiting for an evaluation team. The MEL project technical team was also involved in the quality assurance task of baseline data collection for the Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP) through its involvement in different phases, from the peer review of draft tools to training and data collection in the field. The project completed and delivered a report titled, "Knowledge Management Assessment: Organizational Learning and Information Technologies" for review to the Mission. The MEL project supports the achievement of USAID/Nepal's Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objectives by assisting the Mission in planning, designing, conducting, disseminating, and learning from more rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of development activities. This includes designing and implementing both quantitative and qualitative evaluations and assessments as well as providing expert analysis and technical assistance to USAID/Nepal's programs. The project is also responsible for providing M&E capacity building support to both USAID and implementing partner (IP) staff, and for support to the Mission in measuring the effectiveness of its efforts to promote gender equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals; and hi. The MEL project team finalized the mid-term performance evaluation report of USAID/Nepal's KISAN activity and uploaded the report on USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC). The team also conducted a mid-term performance evaluation of the H4L core activity and submitted a draft report to the Mission for review. The MEL project received a draft scope of work (SOW) to conduct an impact evaluation of USAID/Nepal's Community Resilience Program (CRP) and provided its feedback on the SOW and began recruiting for an evaluation team. The project is also responsible for