USAID Kenya (Yes Youth Can Rift Valley) (Thirteenth Quarterly Report, April– June 2014) As of June 31st, 2014 This publication was prepared for review by the United States Agency for International Development by Mercy Corps i Mercy Corps Award Number AID-623-A-11-00019 Thirteenth Quarterly Report April – June 2014 Yes Youth Can Rift Valley FY 2014 Q2 PROGRESS REPORT 01 APRIL – 31 JUNE 2014 Award No: AID-623-A-11-00019 Prepared for Pamela Wesonga United States Agency for International Development/Kenya C/O American Embassy United Nations Avenue, Gigiri P.O. Box 629, Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya Prepared by Mercy Corps Headquarters address: Mercy Corps 45 SW Ankeny St. Portland, OR 97204 Nathan Oetting Senior Program Officer, East and Southern Africa 503.896.5043 noetting@mercycorps The authors’ views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. ii Mercy Corps Award Number AID-623-A-11-00019 Thirteenth Quarterly Report April – June 2014 Table of Contents ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...........................................................................................................IV I. YYC-RV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ V II. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (QUALITATIVE IMPACT) .................................................................................... 1 III. PROGRAM PROGRESS (QUANTITATIVE IMPACT) ........................................................................... 10 IV. PERFORMANCE MONITORING ............................................................................................................. 31 V. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER USAID PROGRAMS ................................................................... 31 VI. PROGRESS ON LINKS WITH GOK AGENCIES .................................................................................. 31 VII. PROGRESS ON USAID FORWARD ...................................................................................................... 31 VIII. SUSTAINABILITY AND EXIT STRATEGY ........................................................................................... 31 IX. SUBSQUENT QUARTER’S WOR PLAN................................................................................................ 32 X. FINANCIAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 33 XI. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................. 38 SUB-AWARDS ................................................................................................................................................... 37 ANNEXES I: SUCCESS STORIES ........................................................................................................... 40 ANNEX II: LIST OF DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS ..................................................................................... 44 iii Mercy Corps Award Number AID-623-A-11-00019 Thirteenth Quarterly Report April – June 2014 Acronyms and Abbreviations ADM Annual Delegates Meeting AID Agency for International Development AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative CBF County Bunge Forum CDF Constituency Development Forum CIC Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution CMC Central Management Committee DUNS Data Universal Numbering System DCO District Cooperative Officer FM Frequency Modulation FOG Fixed Obligation Grant IRI International Republican Institute IEC Information Education and Communication KARI Kenya Agricultural Research Institute KAVES Kenya Agriculture Value Chain Enterprises M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MOU Memorandum of Understanding NACADA National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse NHIF National Hospital Insurance Fund NYBA National Youth Bunge Association PMP Performance Monitoring Plan RV Rift Valley SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperatives Society TOT Trainer of Trainees YAGPO Youth Access to Government Procurement Opportunities YYC-C Yes Youth Can – Central YYC-RV Yes Youth Can – Rift Valley iv Mercy Corps Award Number AID-623-A-11-00019 Thirteenth Quarterly Report April – June 2014 I. YYC-RV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background In its fourth year of implementation, YYC-RV continues to strengthen the capabilities of youth and youth bunges to be agents of positive change in their communities. Mercy Corps in partnership with its partners (CBFs and SACCOs) are supporting this goal by pursuing four related objectives: 0) Mobilize youth and form youth representation structures at the village and county level 1) Support youth to exercise a greater voice in local and national affairs; 2) Increase youth productivity, employment opportunities, and income; and 3) Increase young women’s access to social, political, and economic opportunities. During this reporting period, Mercy Corps supported youth activities aimed at achieving the four program objectives. The youth implemented activities unique to their counties and managed to spread the information about the YYC program far and wide. Ultimately, interested youth joined village bunges becoming positive change agents. Program activities that had the most impact were radio talk shows which reached over 60,000 people in the broadcasting counties and beyond. The CBFs and County SACCOs had their first quarter of direct program implementation after signing sub grant agreements. The learning has been different for all of them but Mercy Corps is confident that they are all on the right track .They were able to demonstrate financial accounting and Management, Procurement processes and procedures as well as proper documentation. Consultations with technical officers in generating activities for the SACCO were done while CBFs worked closely with their respective County Governments Officials. However there were a few cases of youth leaders who were dishonest with finances like Uasin Gishu but appropriate remedy has been undertaken by the youth. For the first time, the CBFs were audited and the financial statements shared with all the youth leaders from village bunges as well as a progress report for the whole year. This demonstrates that the program has fully transitioned to the youth and fulfilled its principle of Youth led, owned and managed. Qualitative Impact This reporting quarter was characterized by fund disbursements, activity implementation and reporting. Since the SACCOs and CBFs already had QuickBooks installed into their systems, reporting was made easier and they were able to generate timely quality reports. More youth were recruited into the program and the popularity of the YYC program increased. Youth bunge and SACCO memberships continued to soar. County government representatives and other officials continued to grace youth managed events showing their support and solidarity to the youth organizations. Youth in youth bunges participated in the 30% government allocation for government tenders with Uasin Gishu youth winning 2/3 of the allocated tenders. 10 youth owned companies were registered in West Pokot two of which are competing for government tenders. Youth employability and apprenticeship also increased during this reporting period. Youth in youth bunges from Nandi, Kericho, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru were trained on various skills such as driving, beauty therapy and computer training. Cross border peace-building events organized by West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet youth bunge forums took place in May in Pokot Central where the youth from two warring v Mercy Corps Award Number AID-623-A-11-00019 Thirteenth Quarterly Report April – June 2014 communities participated in sports activities and trophies awarded to the winners. The Pokot County Bunge Forum in collaboration with the County Commissioners for Pokot and Turkana organized a meeting at the border. Reformed warriors from Pokot under the YYC program spoke to the warriors from Pokot on the need to drop the guns and work for peace. At the end of the forum fifty warriors gave their firearms to the county commissioner. As the implementing partner, we trained twenty one youth in success story writing and photography across the seven counties in the Rift Valley. This was mainly aimed at enabling the CBFs and SACCOs learn the art of documenting success stories for the purpose of documenting milestones and marketing their respective organizations. As the YYC program progresses, CBFs continue to cultivate a healthy and fruitful partnership with the county government and other stakeholders in their communities to implement joint projects. For example, in Banita location, Soin Ward, Rongai Constituency Nakuru County, the MY ID, MY life campaign was attended by religious leaders, village elders, an NCIC officer, an area chief and local leaders. Approximately 420 people participated amongst them elders, women leaders, bunge leaders and other youth .114 youth were registered to have ID cards enabling them to become future voters. Mentorship sessions were conducted in all the seven counties where women were encouraged to join SACCOs in their respective counties and benefit from the Coke 5 by 20 loan products. Besides the aforementioned mentorship sessions, county youth bunge SACCO’s held SACCO elections to elect delegates who represent members in their respective constituencies. They also held ADMs during which crucial decisions were made on propelling the