SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT FOR USG FY 2011

The program, implemented by Mercy Corps, focuses on strengthening agricultural production, protecting animal assets, and restoring livelihoods while building longer-term economic resilience. The objectives of the Irtoun program are to help vulnerable households in the Ansongo circle recover productive agro-pastoral livelihoods and to allow vulnerable households to restore income-generating activities and withstand economic shocks. To achieve these objectives, the program provides a package of integrated activities, including monitoring and training on agricultural practices, business coaching, and support for village savings and loan associations (VSLAs). During the second quarter of FY15, the program achieved significant progress, exceeding its objectives per its implementation plan. The program reached 36,036 beneficiaries, including 19,649 vulnerable households in Ansongo circle, who recovered productive agricultural livelihoods. The program also supported 16,387 young entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs, who benefited from business-skills training and small cash grants. The Irtoun program has made significant progress in improving agricultural production, with 2,000 animals benefiting from livestock activities and 797 people benefiting from livestock activities, disaggregated by sex. The program has also increased the number of months of food self-sufficiency due to distributed seed systems/agricultural inputs for beneficiary households, with a projected increase of 8.1 months. In addition to its progress in improving agricultural production, the Irtoun program has also made significant progress in restoring livelihoods and withstanding economic shocks. The program has supported 16,387 beneficiaries, including 2,341 households, who have benefited from livelihoods restoration activities. The program has also increased the number of people benefiting from seed systems/agricultural input activities, by sex, with 315 males and 885 females benefiting from these activities. The Irtoun program has also been affected by the resurgence of insecurity in the Gao region, largely due to backlash against the stalled peace process. The program has revised its security management protocols and retrained staff on basic security precautions to ensure the safety of its staff and beneficiaries. Overall, the Irtoun program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives and has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing food security and economic recovery in Ansongo, Northern Mali. The program's focus on strengthening agricultural production, protecting animal assets, and restoring livelihoods has had a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable households in the region. The geographic area of focus for the Irtoun program is the Gao Region of Northern Mali, specifically the Ansongo circle, Bourra, Ouattagouna, Ansongo, and Bara communes. The program's budget for the second quarter of FY15 was $1,375,056 for Sector #1 and $354,819 for Sector #2. The Irtoun program's performance summary for the second quarter of FY15 shows that the program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The program has reached 36,036 beneficiaries, including 19,649 vulnerable households in Ansongo circle, who recovered productive agricultural livelihoods. The program has also supported 16,387 young entrepreneurs and micro-entrepreneurs, who benefited from business-skills training and small cash grants. The Irtoun program's indicators for the second quarter of FY15 show that the program has made significant progress in improving agricultural production and restoring livelihoods. The program has increased the number of months of food self-sufficiency due to distributed seed systems/agricultural inputs for beneficiary households, with a projected increase of 8.1 months. The program has also increased the number of people benefiting from seed systems/agricultural input activities, by sex, with 315 males and 885 females benefiting from these activities. Overall, the Irtoun program's performance summary for the second quarter of FY15 demonstrates its commitment to enhancing food security and economic recovery in Ansongo, Northern Mali. The program's focus on strengthening agricultural production, protecting animal assets, and restoring livelihoods has had a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable households in the region.