USAID Training for Pakistan Project Quarterly Progress Report October – December 2016

The project is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The report highlights the progress made during the quarter, including the approval of six new training requests and four training implementation plans, as well as the completion of seven training programs. The completed trainings for the quarter include the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) Strategic Tour to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the World Bank, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Legal Aspects Project Finance Documenting, Drafting, and Negotiation Techniques, Water Management and Climate Change, Exposure Visit: Compliance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Requirements, World Customs Organization (WCO) Data Model Project Team, and Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management. Additionally, two Education PhD scholars met their graduation requirements and returned home, while four PhD participants remain in training. The report also highlights the training conducted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels for five participants from the Customs and Federal Board of Revenue departments across Pakistan. The objective of the program was to utilize information technology to make international trade more cost-efficient by making the customs process more user-friendly, less time-consuming, and more effective, efficient, and predictable. The Let Girls Learn – Pathways to Success (LGL-PTS) program finished up the procurement phase for contracting the three regional implementing partners and completed the quarter with a coordination meeting that brought all of the partners together for a workshop on important programmatic themes, finance and compliance, M&E, and communications, among other topics. The USAID, Pakistan alumni association also accomplished two important activities during the reporting period, including a meeting of the newly-elected board of directors and a two-day workshop on the board of director's management and strategic planning for the association. The quarterly work plan meeting was held on January 10, 2017, and was chaired by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). The COR emphasized that the project should take the initiative on sending requests for monthly, quarterly, and yearly review meetings and double its efforts to ensure all the training are implemented as planned. The project was also requested to provide an update on the Let Girls Learn – Pathways to Success (LGL-PTS) implementation timelines. The report highlights the progress made by the project in implementing its training programs and achieving its objectives. The project has made significant progress in training participants from various departments across Pakistan, including the Customs and Federal Board of Revenue departments. The project has also made progress in implementing the Let Girls Learn – Pathways to Success (LGL-PTS) program and has accomplished two important activities by the USAID, Pakistan alumni association. The project's training programs have focused on various topics, including environmental and social impact assessment, legal aspects of project finance, water management and climate change, and investment strategies and portfolio management. The project has also conducted training programs on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and has utilized information technology to make international trade more cost-efficient. The project's progress has been monitored and evaluated through various indicators, including the number of training requests approved, the number of training programs completed, and the number of participants trained. The project has also conducted coordination meetings and has provided updates on its progress to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and other stakeholders. Overall, the USAID Training for Pakistan Project has made significant progress in implementing its training programs and achieving its objectives. The project has trained participants from various departments across Pakistan and has made progress in implementing the Let Girls Learn – Pathways to Success (LGL-PTS) program. The project's training programs have focused on various topics, including environmental and social impact assessment, legal aspects of project finance, water management and climate change, and investment strategies and portfolio management.