Vistas) Q3 Fy 2016 Quarterly Report April 1 - June 30, 2016
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VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q3 FY 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL 1 - JUNE 30, 2016 JUNE 2016 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by AECOM. VIABLE SUPPORT TO TRANSITION AND STABILITY (VISTAS) Q3 FY 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL 1, 2016 – JUNE 30, 2016 Contract No. AID-668-C-13-00004 Submitted to: USAID South Sudan Prepared by: AECOM International Development Prepared for: Office of Transition and Conflict Mitigation (OTCM) USAID South Sudan Mission American Embassy Juba, South Sudan DISCLAIMER: The authors’ views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 1 II. Political And Security Landscape ............................................................................................................................ 2 National Political, Security, And Operational Landscape .................................................................. 2 Political & Security Landscape In Vistas Regional Offices .................................................................. 4 III. Program Strategy ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Program Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 6 IV. Program Highlights ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 To Increase Space And Tools To Manage Conflict And Tensions .................................................. 7 To Promote A More Informed Community ......................................................................................... 8 To Build Cross-Line Interdepency To Promote Peaceful Coexistence........................................ 9 To Engage Communities Trauma Awareness To Lay The Foundation For Healing And Reconciliation ..................................................................................................................... 10 V. Impact .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 VI. Monitoring & Evaluation ......................................................................................................................................... 11 VII. Administration And Logistics ................................................................................................................................ 12 Offices And Staffing ................................................................................................................................... 12 Operations .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Annex A: Map Of Activities .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Annex B: Financial Information (For Internal Usaid Use Only) ............................................................................ 15 Annex C: Schedule Of Upcoming Events................................................................................................................... 16 Annex D: Region-Specific Information ....................................................................................................................... 18 Annex E: Progress On Indicator Targets ................................................................................................................... 19 Annex F: Success Stories ............................................................................................................................................... 20 Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) ii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overall, in Quarter 3, VISTAS cleared thirty four activities valued at $2,758,383 and disbursed a total of $2,591,831. This marks an 85.3% increase in the amount of program funds disbursed compared to the second quarter of FY2016. Much of this increase in spending is attributable to large scale construction projects. Infrastructure projects, thirteen in total, began moving rapidly during this quarter. These activities provided support to the traditional authorities, improved access to information, and enhanced livestock management, critical elements to maintaining peaceful relationships amongst communities in South Sudan. In addition, the process for liquidation of grant finances has improved and the approval process has been streamlined, increasing the efficiency of implementation. Against this background, the political situation in the country failed to improve in Q3 despite the fact that Riek Machar returned to Juba under the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) and was sworn in as First Vice President. Machar’s arrival and placement in the government was a brief moment of hope but failed to materialize into significant integration of the SPLA- IO in the Juba political scene. Q3 was marred by outbreaks of violence between the government and IO forces in areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal and Equatorian States which were previously unaffected by the conflict in 2013. During this quarter, VISTAS also expanded its programmatic reach into Western Equatoria, a decision long under consideration to improve responsiveness to emerging conflict dynamics. VISTAS developed two new, innovative activities in Yambio; support to local human rights documentation and peace dialogues to repair relationships between the local community and the local government. In addition, VISTAS conducted an assessment in Mundri in June. It was determined that there was a potential role for VISTAS because the conflict was short, the community is largely homogenous, and the capacity of local NGOs and institutions is high to address their own problems with some small inputs. VISTAS took advantage of Q3 to comprehensively improve systems, procedures, and policies. As a part of this effort, a senior HR advisor joined the team in June. He worked to improve the capacity of the HR staff in Juba, reviewed manuals, contract templates, employee files, and job descriptions in order to improve the efficiency and compliance of hiring and employment systems. In addition, the Director of Operations & Performance Management conducted an assessment of VISTAS in order to streamline policies and systems between the field and home offices. Further, a senior Operations support STTA worked on fleet and assets management and training for the new Logistics Director. Additionally, the Senior Technical Manager (Programs), conducted a number of program trainings focused on revising and updating the regional strategies, activity design and management, and theories of change. During the reporting period, an experienced M&E consultant conducted the first VISTAS cluster evaluation on peace dialogues across regions, an infrastructure case study, and training for the M&E team in evaluation techniques. In addition, the new M&E Manager with significant OTI experience joined the team in June, a position that was unfilled since February 2016, lending some much needed support to the M&E team. Some key challenges faced by the team during this quarter included: the plummeting exchange rate and shortage of goods; insecurity along the roads out of Juba; early rains in several field locations; and high staff turnover. This resulted in increased costs for activities as goods had to be chartered in on flights. Insecurity, weather, and staff turnover often delayed activities, and early rains meant that some activities planned for this quarter had to be postponed until next dry season. Q3 FY 2016 Quarterly Report/ Viable Support to Transition and Stability (VISTAS) 1 II. POLITICAL AND SECURITY LANDSCAPE NATIONAL POLITICAL, SECURITY, AND OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE During the reporting period, there was little meaningful progress towards the implementation of the ARCISS and a clear lack of political will to move forward on the terms of the agreement. There were a few positive signs, most importantly, the return of Riek Machar as First Vice President (FVP) to Juba and the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). However, President Salva Kiir publicly agreed to form a committee to review the number and borders of states and the establishment of IO cantonment sites in the Equatorias and Bhar el Ghazals, but he failed to agree on the establishment of either, leaving the way forward in limbo. In addition, the reconstitution of the National Assembly has not moved forward as President Kiir does not approve of the selection for the Speaker of the Houses, whose terms of reference are outlined in the ARCISS. In April, prior to Riek Machar’s return, the SPLA-IO (Opposition forces) began moving troops to two cantonment sites near Juba. However, as late as mid-May the cantonment sites identified for the SPLA 25km outside