USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons Program Quarterly Progress Report: Fiscal Year 2021, Quarter 1

The program aims to strengthen learning around TIP, improve coordination and cooperation between source, transit, and destination countries, and reduce incentives for trafficking in persons through private sector engagement (PSE). The program is implemented by Winrock International, with a cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA). The program's theory of change is centered around the idea that by strengthening learning, improving coordination, and reducing incentives for trafficking, the program can ultimately reduce the incidence of TIP. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, the program achieved several significant results. The Evidence to Action Research Summit was successfully organized, increasing the capacity of regional researchers to conduct CTIP research and identifying barriers and opportunities to work together to turn evidence into action. The program also increased the evidence base through important research projects on reintegration, referral mechanisms, and victim identification, answering priority questions on challenges, best practices, and ways forward. In addition, the program advanced the online Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Toolkit by starting to populate it with tools and guidelines. This website will allow for further standardization of measurement in CTIP. The program also supported the development of learning products, including publications and a webinar, which were disseminated 664 times. The program continued to support associate and bilateral projects, organizing one capacity building session, one technical exchange, and monthly coordination meetings. The program also provided ongoing support on MEL and PSE. The program's efforts to strengthen learning around TIP interventions were focused on conducting and disseminating research, supporting strengthened data collection in the region through monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening in-country research capacity through training and designing tools. The program's research projects on reintegration, referral mechanisms, and victim identification provided important insights into the challenges and best practices in addressing TIP. The program's online MEL Toolkit is a key component of its efforts to strengthen learning around TIP interventions. The toolkit will provide a standardized framework for measuring and evaluating CTIP programs, allowing for more effective comparison and learning across different contexts. The program's engagement with the private sector is also an important aspect of its efforts to reduce incentives for trafficking in persons. The program launched a pitch challenge during the Evidence to Action Research Summit, which received 14 proposals from organizations seeking funding for their innovative ideas. The program will provide small grants to up to three of these organizations to conduct their research in the next quarter. Overall, the USAID Asia CTIP program made significant progress in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, advancing its efforts to strengthen learning around TIP interventions, improve coordination and cooperation between source, transit, and destination countries, and reduce incentives for trafficking in persons through private sector engagement.