Quarterly Report: November 21 - December 31, 2016, High Value Agriculture Activity in Moldova

The project aims to increase market linkages, improve productivity, and enhance the capacity of member-based groups in the Moldovan high value agricultural sector. The project's first quarter was dedicated to start-up activities, including the deployment of the project's Chief of Party and start-up team, rapid on-boarding of expatriate and local staff, and initial meetings with key USAID counterparts. The team conducted a two-day workshop with local staff to inform the Year 1 Work Plan and held a Grants 101 Training for all HVAA staff. The team also drafted and submitted initial contractual deliverables, including the Year One Work Plan, Branding and Marking Plan, and the November Monthly Report. During the reporting period, the Value Chain Partnerships Team focused on contributing to the project's Year 1 Work Plan, meeting with local partners and stakeholders, conducting an initial review of the current state of Moldova's High Value Agriculture Sector, and beginning to assess selected value chains. The team developed the value chain assessment and selection methodology, which was concurred by the USAID Contracting Officer's Representative on December 21. Four value chains (nuts, medicinal and aromatic plants, open field vegetables, and honey) will be assessed by HVAA staff, while the assessment of the berry value chain will be carried out by HVAA subcontractor AGROinform. The Institutional Capacity Building Team contributed to the Year 1 Work Plan development and began assessing the capacity of relevant organizations to support HVAA's value chain assessment. Meetings were held with experts from the Horticulture Institute and Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, industry associations, leading producers, processors, and exporters, and representatives of the Sustainable Development Account Moldova. The Administrative and Operations Team onboarded the Chief of Party and local staff, developed a rapid start-up mobilization plan, and initiated discussions with subcontractors. The team also established compliant administrative procedures and processes, initiated critical procurements, identified permanent office space, and registered the project. The project's deliverables include the Year 1 Work Plan, submitted on December 21, 2016, the Branding and Marking Plan, submitted on December 20, 2016, and the November Monthly Report, submitted on December 14, 2016. There are no schedule issues or critical problems identified at this time. For Quarter 2 of FY 2017, HVAA will carry out activities according to the approved Year One Work Plan, including finalizing value chain assessments, conducting end-market studies and sector analysis, and developing plans for upgrades in the selected value chains. The team will also launch an Agricultural Innovation and Technology Transfer Fund (AITTF) solicitation for "Capacity building grants to industry associations" and develop/update training materials for apple, table grape, plum, and sweet cherry value chains.