USAID Mission Organizational Development Support (MODS) Monthly Operational Status Report

The project aims to foster ownership, locally led development, and implementation of sustainable development outcomes at the national, county, sub-county, and community levels. In August 2021, USAID MODS staff and consultants provided support to the USAID County Liaison Teams (CLTs) of Kisumu, Kakamega, Kiambu, Samburu, and Turkana in the process of local development organization (LDO) co-creation and formation. The Kisumu County Development Trust (KCDT) was registered after the documents were lodged with the Ministry of Lands in Kenya. A post-induction consultative meeting was held to discuss the next steps, and a 'Next Steps Framework' was developed to guide after-registration processes. In Kiambu, a successful meeting was held with governance experts to discuss the way forward in designing the Board Charter and other relevant instruments for the Board. A detailed scope of work for Kiambu Tujenge Trust was designed and is at the approval stage. A 'meet and greet' was held for the USAID CLT and Kiambu Board of Trustees (BoT) to familiarize them with the way forward after LDO registration. In Kakamega, the Kakamega Development Trust (KAKDET) was fully registered and stamped registration documents were issued on August 5, 2021. The BoT has been formed with six members, and members have been informed of their roles. The next steps include agreeing with the BoT on the next steps, including the date for a virtual meeting to share the next steps activities, and holding a BoT orientation meeting in September 2021. In Turkana, a successful meeting was held to review the Trust Deed based on the comments made by the BoT during the signing off workshop. The final review of the Trust Deed is in progress. The next steps include lodging the Trust registration documents with the Ministry of Lands in Kenya and holding a meeting to agree on the next steps. The USAID MODS project is comprised of four business areas, including support of the Annual Program Statement (APS) process, institutional strengthening support to APS recipients, support to the Mission in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USAID/KEA and Prosper/Nawiri county governments for Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR), and technical assistance to existing local Kenyan entities that partner with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC). The project's capacity building approach applies learning cycle components, using methods such as needs assessments, the development of Institutional Strengthening (IS) plans, the implementation of IS plans, knowledge management, and reviews to inform interventions. By improving transparency, accountability, and performance of local organizations, and support to the USAID/County collaborative framework development and implementation, USAID MODS will contribute to the goals of USAID's Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR). The project's activities in August 2021 focused on supporting the APS process, providing technical assistance, and capacity building to local development organizations. The next steps for the project include holding BoT orientation meetings, replacing BoT members, and implementing the provisions of the MOUs between USAID/KEA and Prosper/Nawiri county governments for J2SR.