USAID/Malawi MELS FY2021 Q1 Activity Report

(IBTCI) under contract AID-612-TO-17-00001, supports the USAID/Malawi Sustainable Economic Growth (SEG) Office in managing Feed the Future (FTF) and Environment activities. The project's primary objectives include performance evaluations of FTF and Environment activities, assessments of the Feed the Future Malawi Agricultural Diversification activity, studies and analyses on selected topical issues, and strengthening local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments. During Fiscal Year 2021 Quarter 1, October 2020 – December 2020, the MELS team submitted the Annual Performance Report Y4, which included the FY20 Q4 Financial Report and the FY20 Q4 Activity Report. The report was revised and resubmitted to USAID after receiving comments on December 15, 2020. The team also submitted a rate approval for a TCN consultant on November 16, 2020, and a request for more obligated funds on December 15, 2020, which are still pending approval. The MELS team conducted the verification activity in Q1, which included verification of 13 output and nonfarm outcome indicator results reported by the Malawi Agricultural Diversification (AgDiv) project for FY20. The team applied a two-stage approach in its data quality verification activity, finding sufficient evidence to accept 12 indicators and one indicator that could not be accepted due to insufficient evidence. The indicator that could not be accepted was related to the number of agro-processors, cooperatives, care groups, and farmers' associations that practice safe food processing for the targeted value chains. The MELS team also completed the annual survey in Q1, which was conducted among participants of the Feed the Future Malawi Agricultural Diversification activity. The team developed COVID-19 related mitigation strategies for the annual survey and discussed these with AgDiv and USAID, which were approved by USAID. The team submitted indicator data to USAID and AgDiv on October 14, 2020, and submitted the annual Survey Report to USAID on November 18, 2020. The MELS project has made significant progress in improving data quality in Malawi, with AgDiv substantially improving data quality in FY19 compared to previous reporting years. The quality of data remained high in FY20, and the MELS team did not have any major difficulties with the verification process. Partner record keeping has improved, and almost all data were digitized and available in an electronic database. The MELS project has also strengthened local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments, with the team providing training and support to local partners and stakeholders. The project has also conducted studies and analyses on selected topical issues, including the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural activities in Malawi. Overall, the MELS project has made significant progress in supporting the USAID/Malawi SEG Office in managing FTF and Environment activities, and has improved data quality and strengthened local capacity to undertake evaluations and assessments in Malawi.