USAID/ICMA Planning for Climate Adaptation Program – Quarterly Report 2 (June 2015)

The program focused on institutional strengthening, institutional capacity building, and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure. During the second quarter of 2015, the program staff successfully implemented institutional strengthening activities, including the establishment of relationships among partners and subnational personnel. The team also drafted memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with municipalities and began the implementation of institutional capacity-building activities. The program's initiatives to incorporate climate change adaptation considerations into urban planning were carried out with municipalities and the Dominican Government's Department of Urban Planning (DGOD). Research was conducted to identify available information in each municipality, and conversations were held with the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) to identify the focus of the program's vulnerability assessment, ensure collaboration, and agree on common activities related to this product. Community-based and neighborhood organizations were contacted in each municipality, and meetings were held to inventory these organizations in Santiago and San Pedro de Macorís. Collaboration and coordination among USAID/DR Climate Change Programs were initiated, and areas of interest were identified. The program's work planning integration with the USAID/INTEC Improved Climate Information Program was finalized, and sub-agreements were signed with partners. A site visit was conducted to the Economic Diversification Dominican Foundation (Fundación REDDOM) to learn from their experience in performance management. Partners' introduction meetings and work planning workshops were held with FEDOMU and INTEC. The program's first-year work plan was presented and approved, and empowerment workshops were conducted for the municipalities of San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, and Las Terrenas. The program's municipal coordinators were selected, and the development of the Climate Change Adaptation Course by INTEC was initiated. The program's start-up continued, with the in-country registration documentation for ICMA being submitted to the Dominican authorities. The office space was secured in Santo Domingo, and the ICMA team actively worked to accomplish initial administrative and technical tasks. The team developed the program's first-year work plan and the Performance Monitoring Plan, which were submitted to USAID/DR on May 15th. The ICMA team established regular meetings and open communications, which allowed for effective implementation of activities. The team finalized the process to establish sub-agreements with partners, including INTEC, ICF, and FEDOMU. An induction workshop was held with FEDOMU and INTEC to standardize concepts related to climate change adaptation and urban planning. The program's municipal planning specialist, Erick Dorre, began the standardization of concepts with an introduction to urban planning, providing examples from other countries and the history and legal framework of the Dominican Republic. The climate change specialist, Alejandro Herrera- Moreno, gave a presentation on the importance of climate change considerations in urban planning and the scope of the vulnerability assessment to be conducted in each municipality. The monitoring, evaluation, and communications specialist, Wendy S, gave a presentation on USAID branding and guidelines. The ICMA team participated in a workshop organized by INTEC to finalize the coordination of work plans between the Improved Climate Information and Planning for Climate Adaptation Programs. The two programs identified common areas of effort and where efforts can be combined for the successful implementation of climate change initiatives in the Dominican Republic. The COPs of both programs have established face-to-face coordination meetings on a monthly basis.