TOPS Year 2 Annual Report

The mechanism allows USAID to tap into a range of technical assistance service providers and other supports needed for the design and implementation of these programs. The TOPS specialists help EEI to deliver lasting development results that protect the environment and strengthen the natural resource base upon which economic and social well-being depends. The TOPS team is led by EnCompass LLC and includes core subcontractor Environmental Incentives. The team is organized into a nimble TOPS core team and a network of TOPS specialists who are recruited via this mechanism. The TOPS team exercises a supervisory role over its employees providing services and technical assistance, including oversight of work performance, monitoring of working conditions, and support for the orientation and professional development provided by USAID for the staff. During the second year of implementation, the TOPS team continued to build on the solid systems that were developed and mobilized in year one. The team oversaw the work of existing TOPS Specialists and began recruitment for several new roles. A review of the technical work is presented below. The TOPS team developed the following reports and work planning documents during Year 2: TOPS Financial Updates, submitted via the USAID portal; Quarterly Work Plans; and Monthly Progress Reports. The TOPS team provided technical assistance to EEI and other USAID Operating Units (OUs) in support of environmental-, energy-, and infrastructure-related activities. The team helped EEI to advance sustainable and inclusive development through integrated client services, technical leadership, partnerships, and innovations that support environmental stewardship, energy systems, and infrastructure. The TOPS team also helped EEI to support and empower USAID Missions to deliver more effective programming by partnering with Missions to provide technical and programmatic support, evidence, training, and tools. The TOPS team worked closely with EEI and other USAID OUs to support the design and implementation of environment, energy, and infrastructure programs. The team helped EEI to provide technical leadership and support impact at national and global scales by engaging in international processes and institutions, partnering with external stakeholders, addressing emerging issues, and scaling up effective approaches. The TOPS team also helped EEI to support and promote integrated, holistic programming where appropriate, and collaborate across sectors and OUs to efficiently apply a broad range of expertise for system and economy-wide development impact. The TOPS team's work in Year 2 focused on several key areas, including sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, learning and evidence, field-orientation, integration and collaboration, and global leadership and impact. The team helped EEI to advance equitable and inclusive development that respects and engages people across societies by valuing differences, drawing strength from diversity, and continually seeking to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workforce, operations, and programming. The TOPS team's technical assistance services included long-term technical assistance (LTTA), short-term technical assistance (STTA), services, and deliverables in support of EEI and other USAID OUs designing and implementing environmental-, energy-, and infrastructure-related activities. The team's work in Year 2 helped EEI to deliver lasting development results that protect the environment and strengthen the natural resource base upon which economic and social well-being depends.