Quarterly Technical Report: Access to Justice Activity

by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Colombia. The contract, numbered AID-514-C-13-00001, was signed on February 1, 2013. The AJA's start-up phase began immediately after contract signature, with Chief of Party Mark Williams arriving in country on February 18, 2013. Key technical personnel were formally contracted and began working on February 25, 2013. The Checchi team initiated the recruitment process for non-key personnel, administrative, and technical staff. Initial and follow-up meetings were conducted with USAID authorities, key Government of Colombia (GOC) counterpart representatives, and all ten of the AJA's local Strategic Partners (SPs). The SPs, which include four national-level non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/alliances and six universities, will be awarded sub-contracts during the life of the project. A meeting with representatives from all of the AJA's SPs, several key counterparts, and regional office advisor candidates was held in Bogotá on March 13-14, 2013, as part of the planning process. During this reporting period, the company developed and presented to USAID for review and approval the following initial work products/deliverables: Annual Work Plan (AWP); Gender and Social Inclusion Assessment and Strategy; Communications and Social Outreach Strategy; Performance and Monitoring Plan (PMP); and the Grants Manual. Very little specific technical activity pertaining to the Project's Lower Level Results (LLRs) was undertaken during the start-up phase, which was effectively a month and a half of Project operations. The major part of AJA efforts were aimed at setting up the offices, hiring staff, planning, consulting with USAID, key counterparts, and SPs, and preparing the initial work documents. The AJA's start-up phase was marked by significant progress in establishing the project's infrastructure and personnel. The company's efforts were focused on setting up the offices, hiring staff, and preparing the initial work documents. The development of the Annual Work Plan, Gender and Social Inclusion Assessment and Strategy, Communications and Social Outreach Strategy, Performance and Monitoring Plan, and Grants Manual were key milestones achieved during this period. The AJA's Strategic Partners, which include four national-level NGOs/alliances and six universities, played a crucial role in the project's start-up phase. The company conducted initial and follow-up meetings with these partners to discuss the project's objectives, strategies, and work plans. The AJA's SPs will be awarded sub-contracts during the life of the project, which will enable them to contribute to the project's Lower Level Results. The AJA's start-up phase was also marked by significant progress in establishing the project's communication and outreach strategy. The company developed a Communications and Social Outreach Strategy, which outlines the project's approach to communicating with stakeholders, including the Government of Colombia, civil society organizations, and the general public. The strategy aims to promote the project's objectives and activities, as well as to build support for the project among key stakeholders.