USAID YouthPower Activity Quarterly Report

The activity aims to strengthen, establish, and increase access to local systems and programs that serve youth, in support of USAID/Jordan's Sub IR 3.2.3. The target for success is to develop engagement and dialogue for youth in their communities, increasing awareness of existing opportunities, identifying gaps in opportunities, and creating opportunities to engage local communities. The USAID YouthPower team hypothesizes that learning and engaging at-risk youth in mapping community services will increase youth participation. To achieve this, the program design includes three components: Youth Engagement and Training, Community Asset Mapping, and Youth Innovation Fund. The activity will be implemented in 60 communities throughout Jordan's 12 governorates, selected based on criteria such as high school dropout rates, extreme poverty, and high concentrations of Syrian refugees. During the reporting quarter, which spanned from April 1 to June 30, 2018, the activity underwent a period of transition with the arrival of a new Chief of Party. An exhaustive review was undertaken of the project implementation strategies, piloted activities, and lessons learned. The review aimed to assess the effectiveness of the current approach and identify areas for improvement. Key achievements during the reporting quarter include the completion of a comprehensive review of the project's implementation strategies. The review highlighted the need for adjustments to the project's approach, including a greater focus on community engagement and dialogue. The activity also made progress in developing a new project design, which incorporates lessons learned from the review and incorporates a more community-centered approach. The USAID YouthPower activity has established partnerships with local organizations, including the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), Kaizen, and Partners for Good. These partnerships have enabled the activity to leverage local expertise and resources, enhancing its ability to achieve its objectives. The activity has also made progress in developing a Youth Network and Community of Practice (CoP), which aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders. The activity's geographic coverage spans 60 communities across Jordan's 12 governorates, with a focus on areas with high school dropout rates, extreme poverty, and high concentrations of Syrian refugees. The activity's reporting period is from April 1 to June 30, 2018, with a total award amount of $23,577,013. The activity's prime implementing partner is Global Communities, with subcontractors/sub-awardees including JOHUD, Kaizen, and Partners for Good.