Quarterly Report: FY 2020 Quarter 1 (Q1)

The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement AID-72060318-LA-00001. Key achievements during the first quarter of FY 2020 include the completion of rapid capacity assessment reports for eight local partners and a combined report for 12 partner associations. A total of 125 participants, including 39% women, attended three two-day workshops on strategic planning, which were attended by representatives of government ministries, members of the education multi-sectoral working groups, and Technical and Financial Partners (TPFs). Ten PRECAD partner associations have drafted their five-year strategic plans, benefiting from technical assistance, including the workshops. Eight health-sector stakeholders participated in a Whole System in the Room (WSR) focused on health, identifying four health-sector priorities and assigning working groups to develop action plans. PRECAD and UNICEF agreed to a partnership that will allow PRECAD to work closely with community-based organizations (CBOs) and elected local authorities in the five regions of the country. A WSR gender and social inclusion (GESI) workshop, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Women and Family (MWF), was attended by 70 people, including 49% women. Participants identified four priorities and organized themselves into working groups to draft concrete action plans. Forty-seven members of Djiboutian associations and MENFOP representatives completed 24 hours of training in GESI, demonstrating a better understanding of fundamental GESI concepts. The four multisectoral technical groups stemming from the education WSR held a workshop to plan four activities related to their respective themes. Each group designated a PRECAD association as its leader, and the meetings were chaired by the Secretary General of MENFOP, the Deputy Representative of USAID Djibouti, and the Country Representative of FHI 360 Djibouti. PRECAD successfully completed USAID's data quality assessment (DQA) in November. The project has established a well-established partnership with key government ministries and has earned the trust of civil society. The rapid capacity evaluations, facilitation training, and strategic-planning support provided to civil society groups have deepened the working dynamic with Djiboutian civil society. The project aims to strengthen robust community-based structures, such as Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Health Committees, to better meet the demand of Djiboutian citizens for improved government services. The project's objective is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively advocate for gender equality, equitable service delivery, and the protection of vulnerable populations. The project's activities are focused on strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations, improving the enabling environment for associations in Djibouti, and promoting accountable governance in the education and health sectors. The project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including the completion of rapid capacity assessment reports, the drafting of five-year strategic plans by PRECAD partner associations, and the completion of USAID's data quality assessment. The project's partnership with key government ministries and civil society organizations has been strengthened, and the project's activities have been well-received by stakeholders.