USAID Monitoring, Evaluating and Learning for Sustainability Quarterly Progress Report

The activity is a 5-year contract between USAID/Peru and EnCompass LLC, with the objective of enhancing the use of evidence and learning for decision-making in USAID/Peru's development outcomes. The MELS activity uses a multi-pronged approach to deliver services, including producing evaluations, assessments, and studies; building capacity for meaningful program monitoring and evaluation; and improving collaboration, learning, and knowledge management for sustainability. The activity is divided into four components: evaluations, assessments, and other studies; technical support and training in M&E; strengthening the GOP's M&E capacity; and collaboration, learning, and knowledge management for sustainability. Component 1: Evaluations, Assessments, and Other Studies, focuses on producing evaluations, assessments, and studies to generate timely and actionable evidence for specific contexts. The component is divided into several tasks, including the development of study designs, fieldwork, and report preparation, as well as interim performance evaluations and alternative gender assessments. In the second quarter of year 1, Component 1 activities included the development of the study design for the Interim Performance Evaluation: Human Trafficking in the Peruvian Amazon, and the organization of fieldwork. The team also prepared the report with initial findings, validated findings, and co-created recommendations with USAID and alternative IPs. Component 2: Technical Support and Training in M&E, focuses on building the capacity of USAID/Peru's MEL team and implementing partners (IPs) through capacity assessments and plans, M&E workshops, and coaching. The component also helps strengthen the capacity of the GOP through a systems approach to ensure context-driven capacity strengthening. Component 3: Strengthening the GOP's M&E Capacity, focuses on strengthening the capacity of the GOP to monitor, design, and use evaluations, and to continue learning, decision-making, and public accountability in government programs. The component is divided into several tasks, including the development of a systems approach to ensure context-driven capacity strengthening. Component 4: Collaboration, Learning, and Knowledge Management for Sustainability, focuses on improving collaboration, learning, and knowledge management for sustainability through the development of focused learning, improvements to knowledge management, and the collation and dissemination of evidence on learning themes. The context elements that have influenced implementation and results in this quarter include political uncertainty, which continued after the shutdown of the Peruvian Parliament on September 30, 2019, and the formal introduction of USAID MELS to the text teams of USAID/Peru on November 6, 2019. The activity implementation progress for the second quarter of year 1 is reported in the report. The report highlights the progress made in Component 1, including the development of the study design for the Interim Performance Evaluation: Human Trafficking in the Peruvian Amazon, and the organization of fieldwork. The report also highlights the progress made in Component 2, including the development of capacity assessments and plans, M&E workshops, and coaching. The report also highlights the challenges faced by the activity, including the political uncertainty and the formal introduction of USAID MELS to the text teams of USAID/Peru. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of continued learning, decision-making, and public accountability in government programs. The report is divided into several sections, including an introduction, context, activity implementation progress, and learning and reflections. The report also includes several annexes, including a summary status of activities and deliverables, materials produced, performance indicator summary table, and an event report and a bulletin. The report is written in a formal and objective tone, and it uses technical terminology related to monitoring, evaluation, and learning. The report is intended for a technical audience, including USAID/Peru staff, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.