Sustainable Water Supply for Agriculture Development Roll-Out, Q3 Report, FY15

The project is funded by USAID through a Cooperative Agreement signed on January 22, 2015. The project's objectives are to increase irrigated high-value crop production and yields by providing access to community-owned improved infrastructure and to mobilize and establish rural community commitment and engagement in water resource management. During the second quarter of FY 15 (January 22, 2015 to March 31, 2015), AMDI accomplished several tasks, including developing and reviewing project communications, branding, and monitoring and evaluation plans. The project team also started to develop an AMDI capacity building plan and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Kherson Oblast State Administration. In the third quarter of FY 15 (April 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015), AMDI selected pilot projects, prepared implementation and cost-sharing matrices, and environmental review checklists and mitigation plans for the pilot projects. The project team also obtained approval from the Mission Environmental Officer and Bureau Environmental Officer for the environmental review checklists and mitigation plans. Memoranda of Cooperation were signed with pilot communities and partners, and the project team participated in several outreach events, including the 7th Verkhovna Rada "Information Fair - 2015" and the USAID University Day in the Kherson Agrarian University. The project's key milestones and major deliverables include the development of evaluation criteria for bids selection, establishment of a selection commission, and the start of a competition for selection of pilot projects. The project team also prepared implementation results reports on completed sites and participated in the Donor Forum "Engaging and Realization of Investment Projects of International Technical Assistance for the Development of the Agricultural Sector in Kherson Region in Order to Enter the European Market and Developments in the Implementation of the GlobalGAP and HACCP Certification Systems for Agricultural Produce." The project's geographic focus is on the Kherson Oblast in Ukraine, and the project aims to improve water supply and management in the region. The project's timeframes are from January 22, 2015, to June 30, 2016, with a focus on the third quarter of FY 15 (April 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015). The project's recommendations include the establishment of a selection commission, the start of a competition for selection of pilot projects, and the preparation of implementation and cost-sharing matrices and environmental review checklists and mitigation plans for the pilot projects. The project's implementation details include the selection of pilot projects, preparation of implementation and cost-sharing matrices, and environmental review checklists and mitigation plans. The project team also obtained approval from the Mission Environmental Officer and Bureau Environmental Officer for the environmental review checklists and mitigation plans. Memoranda of Cooperation were signed with pilot communities and partners, and the project team participated in several outreach events.