Quarterly Report 5: Regional Workforce Development Program

The program, led by FHI 360, aimed to improve workforce development in the region through a combination of technical assistance, institutional strengthening, and private sector engagement. Key advancements were made in establishing the office and team in Jamaica, with the recruitment and hiring of a Technical Education Specialist in Honduras and an Administrative Associate in Jamaica. The team in Honduras also developed a consultant database to support upcoming program activities. Cross-cutting assessments were conducted in each country, including the Labor Market Assessment (LMA) in Guatemala and Jamaica, and the Institutional Landscaping Analysis (ILA) in Honduras and Guatemala. These assessments aimed to identify key challenges and opportunities in the region's workforce development landscape. The program also made progress in preparing to work with international partners, including Juárez & Associates and Georgetown University. The team submitted a draft of the program's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan and continued meeting with key stakeholders in all three countries. In Guatemala, Eduardo Munar, RWDP Regional Director of Finance and Administration, traveled to the country office in December to review and reinforce administrative and financial processes with the Guatemala team. This ensured compliance with USAID and FHI 360 standards and procedures. The program's next steps and follow-on activities for Quarter 2 of Year 2 were outlined in the report. These included finalizing the work plans, M&E Plans, and communications plans, as well as conducting institutional capacity assessments and developing a scholarship recruitment and selection strategy. The Regional Workforce Development Program's activities and achievements in Quarter 1 of Year 2 were focused on establishing the office and team, conducting cross-cutting assessments, and preparing to work with international partners. The program's progress was in line with the activities outlined in the Initial Annual Work Plan, and the report highlighted the next steps and follow-on activities for the upcoming quarter. The program's geographic focus was on three countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Guatemala, Honduras, and Jamaica. The timeframes for the program's activities and achievements were from October 1 to December 31, 2016, with a focus on implementing the program's work plan and making progress towards its goals. The program's recommendations for the upcoming quarter included finalizing the work plans, M&E Plans, and communications plans, as well as conducting institutional capacity assessments and developing a scholarship recruitment and selection strategy. These recommendations aimed to build on the program's progress and ensure continued implementation of its work plan.