USAID KENYA & EA TUPIME KAUNTI PROGRESS REPORT FOR Q2 FY 2019

The project works in eight counties of Kisumu, Migori, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga, Kisii, and Homa Bay, with a focus on strengthening capacity and strategic information at the county level in the program areas of Malaria, HIV, and RMNCAH. Sub-Purpose 1: Increase leadership and management capacity of County Governments for effective outcome measurements, learning, and accountability systems. Key achievements include: * Improved CHMT leadership and management capacity to develop and implement outcome measurements, learning, and accountability policies, strategies, frameworks, guidelines, and standard protocols. * Increased leadership, ownership, and improved capacities among the county and sub-county management teams in the development of key strategic policy documents. Seven out of the eight counties developed their respective M&E plans to track the implementation of the 2018-2023 strategic plans using county-led consultative processes. * Evidence of improved governance structures at the county level that steered implementation of the measurement, learning, and accountability action plans. For example, during the quarterly County Directors of Health (CDH) caucus forum, a standard partner's reporting template was adopted for use. * To enhance accountability, the caucus forum directed that all the implementing partners will share their quarterly reports to their respective County Departments of Health. * Increased collaboration and networking was noted in Kakamega, Migori, and Busia counties when health partners developed work plans for prioritized activities to be undertaken jointly. The synergy has promoted leveraging on each other's resources for the specific counties; adoption of best practices in implementation and has minimized duplication. Sub-Purpose 2: Increase the availability, analysis, and use of high-quality data for decision-making. Key achievements include: * The project, under the leadership of the Kenya School of Government (KSG), developed standard curricula for M&E and Data Demand and Use (DDU). Using the M&E curriculum, the project trained 19 M&E unit officers from nine counties, including Siaya County, as a means of improving their capacity to provide M&E leadership at their respective counties. * A DDU training for thirty-six (36) officers drawn from the Department of Children Services (DCS) in Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori, and Kakamega counties. The training offered skills building in analysis and use of child protection data for planning and management. The project has made significant progress in quarter 2 of FY19, with achievements in both sub-purposes. The report provides a summary of the progress made under each of the two sub-purposes, detailed key achievements, and constraints during implementation, opportunities, and lessons learned. The progress report also details milestones attained towards the COP18 benchmarks. In terms of constraints, the project faced challenges in implementing the measurement, learning, and accountability action plans, including limited resources and capacity at the county level. However, the project has identified opportunities for collaboration and networking among health partners, which has promoted leveraging on each other's resources and minimized duplication. The project has also made significant progress in developing standard curricula for M&E and DDU, which will provide other counties and DCS at large an opportunity to send their staff to train at KSG using the standardized M&E and DDU curricula. Overall, the Tupime Kaunti project has made significant progress in quarter 2 of FY19, with achievements in both sub-purposes. The project continues to work towards strengthening capacity and strategic information at the county level in the program areas of Malaria, HIV, and RMNCAH.