USAID Peru MELS Y3 Q3 Report

The activity is implemented by EnCompass LLC, with a budget of $9,499,917.87 and a duration of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2024. During the third quarter of Year 3 (January-March 2022), the MELS team focused on supporting USAID in the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) mid-course stocktaking. This involved revising the period priorities and postponing some planned activities under Component 2. The team also reorganized their internal plans to assume the different activities under Component 3, while the recruitment of the new Capacity Building and Learning Specialist continued. Under Component 1, MELS accomplished the accessibility requirements for the communication products of the Civil Society Involvement and Youth Participation assessments and uploaded a summary and policy brief to the USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC). The team also completed analysis reports of the performance evaluation of two alternative development activities supporting the Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo y Vida sin Drogas (DEVIDA) and presented preliminary results to USAID and main partners. The quarter ended with the launch of the performance evaluation of the Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) activity and the team started drafting the methodology and data collection tools. Under the multipurpose task order of Contract line-item number (CLIN) 2, MELS completed a desk review and in-depth interviews in support of the Alternative Development (AD) office revision during the CDCS Mid-course stocktaking. The team also elaborated the concept note for a study on Communal Lands Rights/Titling in response to USAID front office. Under Component 2, MELS focused on providing support to USAID/Peru on the CDCS mid-course stocktaking under the Performance Management Plan (PMP) implementation. The team completed the MEL team capacities' diagnosis, prepared USG activities' maps, and facilitated the measurement of the institutional performance in MEL of six selected implementing partners. In the implementation of Component 3, MELS advanced substantial work with key governmental institutions targeted by the activity's Capacity Building Plan for GOP partners. Specifically, the team worked with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), the Planning Ministry (CEPLAN), and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Office (APCI). Work included the completion of deliverables stated in their workplans toward institutional performance improvement in MEL. MELS also made progress in organizing the Learning Corner or online platform designed for accessing training activities, technical assistance, and community of practice. Under Component 4, MELS completed the Knowledge Management Assessment report and submitted it for approval. The team conducted the second meeting with Monitoring and Evaluation Strategic Actors for Sustainability (MESA) members and started organizing a second Partners Meeting in Pucallpa, Ucayali, and a first in San Martin.