SCALE Year 3 Workplan Narrative

Funded by the USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP), SCALE works to strengthen the impact, sustainability and scalability of FFP-funded agriculture, natural resource management, and off-farm/non-farm livelihood activities in both emergency and development contexts. Implemented by Mercy Corps in collaboration with Save the Children, SCALE partners with food security implementers and the broader research community to capture, generate, apply and share knowledge to foster more resilient agricultural systems and enhance income opportunities for the world's most vulnerable. The SCALE award's strategic approach incorporates activities under four knowledge mechanisms (knowledge capture, generation, application and sharing) that together provide a cohesive and integrated long-term approach. The approach is revised every year as part of the adaptive management approach to ensure it remains current with FFP implementer needs. The four knowledge mechanisms are designed to work together to improve the impact, sustainability and scalability of FFP's programming in agriculture, natural resource management, and livelihoods in emergency and development contexts. In Year 3, SCALE will build on the previous years' activities through all four knowledge mechanisms, with a focus on identifying and bolstering local networks and institutions, exploring more learning modalities and working with other local stakeholders to enhance longer-term learning. Key activities under knowledge capture include identifying and developing at least four case studies and lessons learned, including one case study focused on resilient agriculture in the DRC and one on alternative livelihoods. These case studies will inform additional activities under other knowledge mechanisms. Under knowledge generation, surveys, interviews and meetings conducted in Year 2 will inform tool development and knowledge sharing opportunities. Other tools under knowledge generation will include Training of Trainers materials and guides, which will support all other knowledge mechanisms implemented under SCALE. Capacity strengthening opportunities will be delivered to senior management and field and technical staff in several countries, including Uganda, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These will be supported by multiple modalities of learning and the incorporation of local stakeholders and institutions, including academic institutions, for longer-term learning. Knowledge sharing activities will include specific events during the year, such as IDEAL or PRO-WASH award events and a regional resilient agriculture event in eastern Africa facilitated by SCALE. Particular attention will be paid to the integration of youth and gender considerations into all activities. Specific targets for each mechanism are presented in the performance management plan in Annex 1, and a summary of workplan activities is presented in Annex 2. The SCALE award started on January 30, 2018, and the Year 3 workplan extends from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The performance management plan in Annex 1 presents specific targets for each mechanism, including knowledge capture, generation, application and sharing. The plan outlines the activities and indicators that will be used to measure progress towards these targets. The summary of workplan activities in Annex 2 provides a detailed overview of the activities that will be implemented under each knowledge mechanism. The plan is designed to ensure that the SCALE award achieves its goals and objectives, and that the knowledge generated and shared through the award is used to improve the impact, sustainability and scalability of FFP's programming in agriculture, natural resource management, and livelihoods in emergency and development contexts.