Resilience Evaluation, Analysis and Learning 2 (REAL 2) Associate Award Quarterly Report: Q1, YR 1 October 1 – December 31, 2020

The award is a follow-on to the REAL Associate Award and seeks to serve three primary purposes: demand-driven resilience evidence generation and research, evidence-based thought leadership, analysis, and technical guidance in frontier resilience issues, and co-creation and facilitation of the use of resilience knowledge to improve design and adaptive management of resilience investments. The implementation of the REAL 2 Associate Award started with a six-month refinement period, which began in September 2020 and will conclude in February 2021. During this period, consortium members worked with the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) to develop the initial work plan and refine the activity design. The refinement period will ensure an efficient transition from the REAL Associate Award and will focus on developing a coherent resilience learning agenda. As part of the refinement period, REAL 2 consortium members initiated and completed a number of consultations and activities with the USAID Center for Resilience (C4R), the RFS Analysis and Learning Division (ALD), and other stakeholders. These activities aim to support the efficient transition from the REAL Associate Award, refine the activity design and initial work plan, and further develop the REAL 2 theory of change and M&E plan. The REAL 2 Refinement Planning Session was held on September 30, where consortium partners discussed priorities, key milestones, and the timetable for the REAL 2 refinement period. The partners also discussed the utility of developing a High-level Theory of Change and Learning Agenda for REAL 2 as part of the refinement plan. The REAL October PMT Meeting was held on October 20, where SC provided an update on the REAL 2 refinement period planning to consortium members and RFS. The REAL Associate Award After Action Review (AAR) was conducted to extract lessons from the performance of REAL, with a focus on applying them toward continued success and improved Activity performance under REAL 2. The AAR process concluded with an Action Planning Session on December 3, 2020, where USAID and consortium member leadership shared their perspectives on AAR findings, solicited questions, proposed solutions, and identified immediate next steps. The REAL 2 consortium partners will consult directly with the RFS, USAID Mission counterparts, and other key stakeholders to formulate and facilitate Resilience Learning Journeys tailored to specific user groups and contexts. The ongoing collaboration with the Sahel Collaboration and Communication (SCC) Activity is an informative 'pilot' of the Resilience Learning Journey process. The lessons learned through this and similar collaborations will be used to continually improve REAL 2's approach to facilitating Resilience Learning Journeys in select Resilience Focus Countries. The REAL 2 Associate Award is a collaborative effort between Save the Children, Mercy Corps, TANGO International, and other stakeholders to generate high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of USAID resilience investments and provide critical thought leadership on frontier issues influencing the resilience of vulnerable individuals, households, communities, and systems. The award is expected to have a significant impact on the design and adaptive management of resilience investments in select Resilience Focus Countries.