Quarterly Progress Report: Burundians Responding Against Violence & Inequality (BRAVI) Year one, Quarter one

The project was awarded to EngenderHealth by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on September 21, 2014. BRAVI seeks to strengthen the health sector response for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, strengthen policies to prevent such violence and support survivors through advocacy, promote gender equitable norms in the community, promote awareness and use of services, and strengthen referral networks. In the first quarter of year one, BRAVI focused on developing and submitting the Year 1 workplan and budget, as well as the project's Performance Management Plan (PMP). The workplan development process involved partner and stakeholder meetings, including a consultation workshop held on October 24, 2014, in Bujumbura. The workshop brought together 26 participants from the Government of Burundi, international and national NGOs, and other stakeholders to inform the Year 1 work planning process and project as a whole. The BRAVI team incorporated ideas generated from the consultation workshop into an outline workplan, which was shared with and further developed by a smaller working group. The resulting outline was sent for review, and after further edits, BRAVI submitted the Year 1 workplan and budget, and PMP on November 21, 2014. However, USAID sent comments on the documents on December 23, 2014, and BRAVI will re-submit in response to comments in the first week of January 2015. Additionally, BRAVI executed key contractual agreements and procurement, including a Professional Services Agreement with International Medical Corps (IMC) and a consultancy agreement with BRAVI Senior Country Manager, Marie Christine Ntagwirumugara. BRAVI also initiated the registration process for EngenderHealth, which involves presenting documents to the Ambassador of Burundi to the US, Ernest Ndabashinze, in Washington DC. The Ambassador requested additional documentation, which has been prepared and will be presented in January. Furthermore, BRAVI advertised for six positions, including a Technical Advisor, ME&R Officer, and Program Officer Health Sector and SGBV Services, and selected Ms. Ida NTAWUNDORA for the position of Technical Advisor. The selection process involved two rounds of interviews, written samples, and reference checks. The BRAVI project aims to improve sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response efforts in Burundi, and the first quarter of year one has been characterized by start-up activities, including the development and submission of the Year 1 workplan and budget, and the execution of key contractual agreements and procurement. The project has established key operational foundations to facilitate implementation, including the registration process for EngenderHealth and the recruitment of personnel.