Quarterly Report #14: October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018

The program, implemented by Mercy Corps, began on June 8, 2015, and is set to end on June 6, 2019. The program's geographic coverage includes Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Yobe states. The ECPN program focuses on three core theories of change: bringing people together to peacefully resolve shared challenges, building relationships and economic interdependence, and reducing violence. The program's objectives include expanding the work under the current project, addressing USAID's request to incorporate conflict mitigation across sectors, and selecting and building the capacity of influential CSOs in the Northeast. To achieve these objectives, Mercy Corps will work with local CSOs to build their capacity in peacebuilding and conflict management/mitigation. The program will also focus on building the capacity of USAID Mission staff, sector implementing partners, and associated Nigerian CSOs in conflict and peacebuilding. This will be achieved through training and capacity-building programs that will enable these actors to analyze conflict dynamics and apply Do No Harm approaches in their activities. The ECPN program has made significant progress in its quarterly reporting period, which spans from October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. The program has reported a 21% decrease in the number of conflicts reported from activity interventions supported by USG funds. Additionally, the program has achieved significant progress in its outcomes, including a 174.5% increase in the number of disputes resolved by trained participants and a 428.39% increase in the number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process. The program has also reported significant progress in its indicators, including a 300% increase in the number of new groups or initiatives created through USG funding, dedicated to resolving the conflict or the drivers of the conflict. Furthermore, the program has reported a 93.0% satisfaction rate among residents of USG-assisted communities with the response to local conflicts by community conflict mitigation structures. The ECPN program has also made significant progress in building the capacity of CSOs, with 17% of target CSOs having effective monitoring and evaluation systems as a result of USG-supported training or capacity-building events. Additionally, the program has reported a 42.0% increase in the number of civil society organizations receiving Mercy Corps assistance that improve internal institutional capacity, as demonstrated by an increased Organizational Capacity Index (OCI) score. Overall, the ECPN program has made significant progress in its quarterly reporting period, achieving its objectives and making a positive impact in the target communities in the Middle Belt. The program's focus on building the capacity of local CSOs and building the capacity of USAID Mission staff, sector implementing partners, and associated Nigerian CSOs in conflict and peacebuilding will continue to be a key aspect of the program's implementation. The program's geographic focus is on the Middle Belt states of Nigeria, including Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Yobe. The program's timeframes are from June 8, 2015, to June 6, 2019, with quarterly reporting periods. The program's recommendations include continued support for the program's objectives and continued capacity-building programs for local CSOs and USAID Mission staff, sector implementing partners, and associated Nigerian CSOs in conflict and peacebuilding. The program's implementation details include the expansion of the work under the current project, addressing USAID's request to incorporate conflict mitigation across sectors, and selecting and building the capacity of influential CSOs in the Northeast. The program will also focus on building the capacity of USAID Mission staff, sector implementing partners, and associated Nigerian CSOs in conflict and peacebuilding through training and capacity-building programs. The program's sustainability mechanisms include the building of a network of local partners with the capacity to apply for grants from international donors and implement high-quality peacebuilding programs. The program's planned activities for the next quarter include continued implementation of the program's objectives, continued capacity-building programs for local CSOs and USAID Mission staff, sector implementing partners, and associated Nigerian CSOs in conflict and peacebuilding, and continued monitoring and evaluation of the program's progress.