Quarterly Report: Monitoring and Evaluation Support Activity (MEASURE-BiH) January 1, 2015 – March 31, 2015

The report highlights the accomplishments and progress made by the MEASURE-BiH team during this quarter. The MEASURE-BiH team worked closely with the USAID/BiH Mission to realign project logical frameworks, including review and revision of project-level indicators and Performance Indicator Reports (PIRs). The team also met with Implementing Partners (IPs) to help them finalize their Monitoring and Evaluation Plans. In Component 2, the FARMA impact evaluation was completed and submitted, and the FIRMA impact evaluation was initiated. The Anti-Corruption Assessment and assessment of the ACCOUNT Activity were also completed during this quarter. The team continued to work on the development of the Performance Information Management System (PIMS) under Component 1 and the Geographic Information System (GIS) under Component 3. Training Needs Assessments (TNAs) were launched for USAID and IP staff, and the results were analyzed to pursue Component 4 objectives. The expanded SWOT analysis was completed for the Center of Excellence (CoE) under Component 5, and a proposed approach to the formation of the CoE was submitted to USAID, along with a name, logo, and draft statues. The MEASURE-BiH team also made progress in building social science research and program evaluation capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The team provided technical, analytic, advisory, training, and monitoring and evaluation services to support the Mission's performance measurement, planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and activity mapping and performance information management and dissemination activities. The MEASURE-BiH activity is organized within five components, which are: 1. Component 1: Provide technical assistance for the Mission's Performance Management Plan (PMP), Project M&E Plans, and Activity M&E Plans. 2. Component 2: Design and conduct evaluations, surveys, studies, and sector assessments. 3. Component 3: Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. 4. Component 4: Provide M&E training and technical assistance. 5. Component 5: Strengthen local M&E capacity and develop a 'Center of Excellence (CoE)'. The MEASURE-BiH activity supports the USAID Forward reform agenda by enhancing the capacity of local institutions, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to serve as engines of growth and opportunity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Building independent, non-partisan, social science research and public policy analysis capacity through Centers of Excellence (CoE) in BiH will foster a culture of data-driven, results-oriented, evidence-based decision-making. The MEASURE-BiH team spent a total of $466,211.96 for FY2015 Q2. The team also made significant progress in implementing the activity's objectives, including providing technical assistance to the Mission and IPs, conducting evaluations and surveys, and developing the PIMS and GIS systems. The team also launched the one-day Orientation Training for the CoE five-year training program, which will be launched during the next quarter in May 2015.