Quarterly Report: PREPARE-BURKINA (USAID PREPARE-BURKINA) October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020

The project was implemented by Pathfinder International under Cooperative Agreement No. 72068520CA00006. Key achievements during the reporting period from October to December 2020 included the opening of offices in Kaya, Dori, and Bogandé, as well as participation in training workshops and meetings with various stakeholders. Implementation of the PREPARE-BURKINA project focused on several key activities, including the development of an action plan for year I/Part II and a contingency plan. The project team also participated in meetings organized by Sahel Collaboration and Communication (SCC) and Breakthrough Action (BA). Additionally, the project had working sessions with the ViMPlus and Yidigiri projects, as well as the General Directorate of Care Provision of the Ministry of Health. The project's objectives and sub-results were presented, with a focus on increasing the availability and accessibility of health services, improving the quality of health services, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations. However, as this quarter fell into the refinement period, no progress was reported against these results. Future Quarterly Reports will present programmatic activities and achievements according to the Objective and Sub-Result they address. The project also evaluated the institutional, administrative, financial, and technical capacities of two local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), ATAD and APIL, in Ouagadougou and Ziniaré, respectively. Furthermore, the project team participated in online meetings on USAID branding and marking, USAID's success stories, and Resilience Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (RCLA) Fellowship recontextualization committee. In terms of implementation challenges, the project faced several obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the project's activities and progress. The project team also encountered challenges related to the recruitment and installation of staff, as well as the equipping of offices. However, the project team worked to address these challenges and ensure the project's continued progress. The project's geographic focus was on Burkina Faso, with a specific emphasis on the three intervention regions. The project's timeframes were from October 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, with a focus on the refinement period. The project's recommendations included the need for continued support and resources to ensure the project's success, as well as the importance of collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders to achieve the project's objectives.