USAID RG RAPID MOBILIZATION PLAN

The activity aims to support the development of responsive governance in Colombia, with a focus on local governance and public financial management. DAI Global, LLC, the implementing partner, has prepared a Rapid Mobilization Plan (RMP) to ensure a rapid and efficient start-up of the activity from both an operational and technical perspective. The plan outlines the steps necessary to establish project offices, tailor existing management policies and procedures, set up financial systems, establish bank accounts, and hire and train RG staff. The operational start-up of the activity is complex and critically important to achieve USAID's targeted results. DAI has longstanding experience implementing USAID-funded local governance and public financial management programs in Latin America and strong partnerships with leading Colombian organizations. The company has mobilized operational and technical start-up teams within 10 days of award, which are supporting critical start-up tasks as RG's long-term technical assistance (LTTA) staff begin work. Personnel mobilization is a critical component of the start-up process. DAI is committed to mobilizing all staff as soon as possible, recognizing that most individuals will have to honor professional commitments to current employers. The company will strongly encourage staff to dedicate provisional support to RG during the critical start-up period. Due to health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, personnel will work remotely until DAI has the policies, procedures, and mitigation measures in place and local conditions permit in-person gatherings and the opening of office spaces. The staffing plan for RG includes the mobilization schedule for senior LTTA staff, including the TCN COP and two cooperating country national (CCN) Key Personnel, as well as select mid-level staff. Prior to their mobilization, acting key personnel from DAI's Start-Up teams will serve in an acting status until RG's approved key personnel are onboarded. The rationale for the timing of RG's key personnel is based on the need to transition Ms. Carla Aguilar from her current position as COP of USAID's Honduras Local Governance Activity (HLG) to the RG COP position within 30 days of award. The RMP is organized into two sections: Operational Start-up and Technical Start-up. The operational start-up section outlines the steps necessary to establish project offices, tailor existing management policies and procedures, set up financial systems, establish bank accounts, and hire and train RG staff. The technical start-up section outlines the steps necessary to initiate technical planning and partner and stakeholder engagement, using the work planning, monitoring and evaluation, site selection, and baseline assessment processes to engage stakeholders, build relationships, build programmatic ownership, and identify quick wins for RG to deliver support in the opening months of the Project. The RMP includes a comprehensive mobilization chart (Attachment A) and an anticipated personnel start dates summary (Attachment B). The plan is submitted in accordance with Section F.7.1 Reports and Plans of the RG contract, which states that the RMP must include a plan for a rapid start-up of activities covering the first 90 days of the contract.