USAID Gender Integration Technical Assistance II Task Order Year 4 - Quarter 4 Report

This Task Order applies expertise in gender research and practice to the process of designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating USAID strategies, projects, and activities to reduce the gender and women's empowerment gaps that impede development outcomes. The Task Order is implemented by Banyan Global under a contract with the USAID Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GenDev) Hub. During the quarter of June 15, 2023, to September 15, 2023, Banyan Global undertook various operational and technical work under the GITA II Task Order. The work included tasks under Mission-specific work orders, such as the USAID/Niger Country-level Gender Analysis to inform the Mission's 2022-2027 Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS), and the USAID/Nigeria Gender Integration Technical Assistance. Banyan Global also performed tasks with GenDev under the work orders of Gender Integration and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Portfolio Technical Assistance. Under the Gender Integration work order, Banyan Global tested a gender marker with select USAID staff to gather feedback on its usability and effectiveness in assessing gender integration in activities. The organization also drafted a gender analysis toolkit for USAID staff to use in developing activity-level gender analyses. Banyan Global continued to provide technical support to GenDev's MEL team, including providing technical input on the Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund MEL Plan, Annual Report, and Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plans (AMELPs). Banyan Global also continued convening events and facilitating communications for the USAID Women's Economic Empowerment Community of Practice (USAID WEE CoP), including holding a learning event and a coffee chat, distributing two monthly communications, and expanding the USAID WEE CoP membership base and LinkedIn group. The organization finalized several GITA II technical deliverables under the work orders listed in Table 1 this quarter, including a gender marker, a user guide, and an introductory PowerPoint utilized for testing the marker with users. The USAID/Niger Country-Level Gender Analysis Report was also finalized, and a French executive summary was prepared. Additionally, Banyan Global conducted a session for USAID/Nigeria peace and democratic governance implementing partner (IP) gender focal points on August 7, 2023, on addressing GBV through democracy, human rights, and governance programs. The GITA II Task Order has a period of performance from September 17, 2019, to September 16, 2024, and a ceiling price of $12,295,733. The current obligated amount is $11,149,418. The Task Order is managed by Shannon White-Benson, the USAID Contracting Officer, and Catherine Bollinger, the Contracting Officer's Representative.