USAID KENYA Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nairobi and Coast Counties of Kenya (Nilinde) FY 2015 Q3 Progress Report

The project was fully signed and executed on August 24th, 2015, with a funding ceiling of $41,005,731. Nilinde is a collaborative effort between Plan International and four partner organizations: Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), Childline Kenya, Danya International, and mothers2mothers (m2m). During the first quarter of the project, key achievements were made in mobilizing the project team and establishing a rapid mobilization plan. A four-day workshop was held to develop the Year 1 Workplan and M&E Plan, attended by all Nilinde core partners and USAID. The workshop provided a venue for partner staff to refresh their knowledge of the project design and objectives, analyze emerging needs, and refine proposed activities. The project also made significant progress in staffing, with the onboarding of key staff members, including the OVC Manager and the Interim M&E Specialist. A new Chief of Party, Ms. Kate Vorley, was identified and approved, bringing extensive technical leadership in OVC programming and solid country-based and regional management experience. In addition, the project made progress in logistics and systems, with office set-up plans in place for Nairobi and initiated for Mombasa. Plan USA and Plan Kenya finance staff met to review requirements for accounting, reporting, and compliance, with additional training to come once Nilinde finance staff is on board. The project also experienced some constraints, including the loss of two key staff members who chose not to join the project. However, the CoP position was fully resolved, and an interim solution was put in place for the M&E position to ensure no gap in coverage during the project start-up. During the next quarter, the project will continue with start-up activities, including recruitment and onboarding of staff, verification of OVC and households from the APHIAplus Project, and provision of selected services to ensure continuity between projects. The Nilinde project aims to support orphans and vulnerable children in Nairobi and Coast counties of Kenya, with a focus on household economic strengthening, education, and health. The project will work with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives and improve the lives of vulnerable children in the region. The project's implementation will be guided by a comprehensive workplan and monitoring and evaluation plan, which will be reviewed and refined regularly to ensure that the project is on track to meet its objectives. The project will also engage in regular communication and collaboration with USAID, partner organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the project is aligned with the needs and priorities of the local community. The Nilinde project has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Nairobi and Coast counties of Kenya. With its strong partnership, comprehensive workplan, and commitment to household economic strengthening, education, and health, the project is well-positioned to achieve its objectives and improve the lives of vulnerable children in the region.