1 Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia Strategies and Activities Are Coordinated with USAID-Funded Activities

Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia Cooperative Agreement No. AID-663-A-17-00005

A USAID-funded Activity, implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS/Ethiopia) and Ethiopian Catholic Church Social Development Coordination Office of Meki (MCS)

Fiscal Year (FY) 20 Quarter One Report Narrative Reporting period: October 01, 2019 – December 31, 2019

Contents 1. Executive Summary ...... 3 2. Description of Activity Achievements ...... 6 SO. 1: Vulnerable households have increased income and diversification through on-farm opportunities including crop and livestock market systems ...... 6 1.1 Women and youth have increased access to and control of household resources ...... 6 1.2 Smallholder men, women and youth have increased use of improved agricultural techniques and technologies ...... 9 1.3 Smallholder men, women and youth have increased use of financial services ...... 10 1.4. Smallholder men, women and youth have increased engagement with agricultural commodities in markets ...... 13 SO. 2: Vulnerable households have increased income and diversification through off-farm livelihood options ...... 14 2.1 Men, women and youth engage in off-farm livelihoods activities ...... 14 2.2 Men, women and youth have increased use of financial and business development services ...... 14 2.3 Men, women and youth have increased diversification of off-farm IGAs and non-farm enterprises ...... 15 SO. 3: Vulnerable households have increased their income through gainful employment .... 15 3.1 Jobseekers adopt increased use of employment knowledge, skills and information for job-seeking ...... 15 3.2 Jobseekers are linked with prospective employers ...... 16 SO.4: Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia and other USAID Ethiopia and GoE interventions have increased innovation, scaling and sustainability of livelihood pathways ...... 17 4.1 Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia, USAID Ethiopia and GoE have improved layering, sequencing and cost effectiveness of interventions ...... 17 4.2 Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia continuously identifies and addresses knowledge gaps, successes and failures important to the project ...... 18 4.3 Successful organizations effectively utilize innovation grant for sustained innovation, scaling and sustainability of livelihood pathways ...... 19 3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L) ...... 20 4. Reflections ...... 22 5. Prospects for FY20 Q2 Performance ...... 25 6. Financial Status ...... 27 7. Annexes...... 28 Annex A: List of Abbreviations ...... 28 Annex E: Cumulative List of Report/Studies/Documents sent to USAID’s DEC ...... 31

1. Executive Summary

Major Achievements • In quarter (Q)1 of FY20 female adult literacy classes have been conducted with an achievement of 142% of the quarter’s target. This achievement is due to staff being deployed in each woreda who have drawn lessons from the last FY’s implementation. The lessons learnt include proper targeting, development of participatory training programs, timely teachers' recruitment, availing easily reachable training centers and developing joint follow-up programs with education office experts. These measures have contributed to the participants’ regular attendance and reduced female dropout. • Gender messaging is another activity which has performed well. Even though it is new for the field staff, they have effectively carried it out and achieved 91% of the quarter’s target. This is because they properly selected livelihood groups, provided orientation training for their representatives and started the sessions on time. • In the reporting period effort was made to perform better on the nutrition activities that were reported as underachieved in the past FY. Thus, more attention was given to cooking demonstration sessions, which has led to an achievement that is high and exceeding the plan for the FY. The recruitment of nutrition experts at woreda level was instrumental for this achievement. • Moreover, a refresher training was given to the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) on dietary diversity and cooking demonstration. This has facilitated collaboration with the local government structure and the engagement of front-line government staff in the implementation of nutrition activities, particularly supporting cooking demonstration sessions. Primarily, pregnant and lactating mothers and members of households with children under the age of five years has been targeted. • In addition, integrated training of maternal, infant and young child feeding and homestead gardening, which involved practical sessions of cooking and establishing gardens was provided to the implementing partner’s new staff and agriculture and health government staff of all woredas using the governments’ Sustainable Undernutrition Reduction in Ethiopia (SURE) curriculum and CRS’ homestead gardening manual. • On the livelihoods’ activities front, in the reporting quarter, agro-dealers’ refresher training has also been provided for grant recipients and potential agro-dealers, as well as government and partner staff supporting the agro-dealers’ intervention. The training program provided the agro-dealers a platform to network and learn from their successes and challenges, as well as share market information and opportunities. • In the reporting quarter, a total of 19,664 livelihood group members have saved a total amount of 2,727,500 Ethiopian Birr (ETB), which corresponds to 212% of the quarter target. Out of this figure 668,906 ETB is social fund amount. In the reporting period,

reasons for over-achievement include the revision of livelihood groups’ by-laws to reconsider minimum saving amount and meeting frequency, as well as harvesting season. In addition to internal saving, clients who are linked to Financial Service Providers (FSPs) are depositing savings with their respective lenders to fulfill the requirements for external loan access. • Similarly, the Activity has organized woreda level multi-stakeholder workshops in six woredas with participation from heads of each of these woredas, key zonal GoE and FSPs’ stakeholders. The main themes of the discussions were on clients’ loan repayment and collaboration for improving information exchange between FSPs operating in the same area. The discussions were led by heads of zonal Agriculture and Cooperative Offices, which has helped the Activity to get better support from GoE stakeholders. As a result, clients are repaying their loans in a timely manner and accessing loans in the following cycles. • The Activity has also conducted a joint field visit and planning sessions with field-level and senior management staff from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). This has helped the Activity and FSPs to identify challenges, agree on action plans and improve performance, including speeding-up of loans disbursements. • Peacebuilding training focusing on conflict management and mitigation has been conducted with the aim of reaching 3,125 youths in all intervention areas of the Activity. The training was conducted in collaboration with MCS to ensure effective delivery of the training at grassroots level. Thus, it has been possible to reach more than 2,000 youths as well as traditional leaders, GoE representatives and MCS and CRS Training of Trainers (ToT) participants. To guide the training a tailored manual has been developed and translated in Afan Oromo language. • In the reporting quarter, it was possible to successfully enroll 274 new students to attend short-term technical trainings in Technical and Vocational Educational Training Centers (TVETs). Students have been enrolled in garment, construction, welding, furniture making, hotel operations, Information Communications and Technology (ICT), and finishing technical training departments. At the same time, several monitoring visits were conducted to follow up and rectify challenges that affect the technical trainings taking place in all TVETs. • With the intention of increasing the employability of prospective youth job seekers, the team from CRS and MCS has selected, adapted and developed employability skills training and transferable skills sessions from various manuals including the existing Youth Employability Skills (YES) curriculum. Additionally, sample Curriculum vitaes (CVs) and schedules to offer these technical trainings were developed with the intention of securing wage employment opportunities for those clients aspiring to pursue this kind of livelihood pathway.

• The other major achievement is the updating of suggested potential employers in the Activity’s operational areas. Based on the Labor Market Assessment (LMA), a team of CRS and MCS staff and respective woreda TVET enterprise leaders and TVET deans have checked the status of potential employers in each woreda. As a result, some new potential employers emerged in each woreda while some of those suggested in the LMA have been found to be no longer viable options. This exercise has presented the Activity with the opportunity to work with new potential employers in its effort to link these with potential job seekers. • Finally, the Mid-Term Evaluation reflection event is another major achievement because it has been an opportunity for the Activity team to digest findings and own the results, refine the report based on field experience in addition to primary data collected, identify learnings under each thematic area and come up with additional recommendations or refine recommendations proposed by the researchers.

Main Challenges • As part of the interventions related to livelihoods and value chains, crop and livestock Multi-stakeholder Platform (MSP) meetings had been planned but due to overlapping of different program activities it was challenging to bring important stakeholders together for these planned meetings. Moreover, with the unexpected onset of rainfalls, the farmers focused on their harvest and post-harvest activities instead of engaging in some livelihood activities. In Q2 the Activity will prioritize completing these underperforming interventions. • At times, lack of diversified foods, particularly, fruits and vegetables and animal source foods make the practice of preparation and consumption of diversified foods challenging for the households (HHs). The promotion of homestead production of nutritious foods and training on planning and budgeting for nutritious foods is believed to address some of these problems. • One of the major challenges within the interventions related to access to finance has been low interest and avoidance of Activity participants by FSPs in extending loan products. One of the main reasons is over-indebtedness of HHs which is leading to the rejection of clients referred as part of the project’s financial linkages initiative. The Activity is using a number of strategies to address these challenges: strengthening joint visits with close monitoring of the performance of FSPs’ portfolios, providing support to FSPs in terms of capacity building and facilitation of loan repayments as well as advising livelihood group members on responsible borrowing using the HH Debt Management training curriculum. • With respect to the wage employment intervention, obsolete findings in the LMA report have been a challenge in that they have delayed the consultative meetings with relevant prospective employers for TVET graduates. To overcome this challenge, a remapping of potential employers in the respective Activity areas has been conducted to update the

database with additional potential employers and validate the previous list of potential employers in the LMA report.

Activity Overview

The Activity is a five-year USAID-funded activity that aims to support the livelihood options of chronically food insecure households in Oromia region. The Activity’s goal is to improve the sustainable economic well-being of Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) HHs in Arsi Zone (Sire, Dodota and Zeway Dugda), West Arsi (Shala, Negele Arsi, Heben Arsi and Siraro), and East Shewa (Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha- ATJK and Boset). The Activity aims to assist 24,500 HHs with a goal of successfully graduating 18,375 HHs. The cooperative grant is from February 1, 2017, to January 31, 2022.

2. Description of Activity Achievements

SO. 1: Vulnerable households have increased income and diversification through on-farm opportunities including crop and livestock market systems

1.1 Women and youth have increased access to and control of household resources

1.1.1 Clients join Livelihood Groups The Activity has achieved its Life of Project (LoP) target for livelihood group formation in eight out of the nine Activity’s operational woredas. In the reporting quarter formation of 68 groups had been planned for Siraro woreda. However, the security situation in the area has been challenging to achieve the target. On the other hand, livelihood groups’ data update and functionality assessment have been conducted to help identify gaps and constraints and to design strategies to address these gaps and further refine the Activity’s interventions by guiding its implementation and decision-making processes.

1.1.2 Clients select livelihoods pathway Community Animators (CAs), Marketing Training Extension Workers (MTEWs) along with Lead Community Facilitators (LCFs) have provided detailed orientation on the Activity’s promoted livelihood pathway options (on-farm: crop and livestock, off-farm and employment) to help group members prioritize specific livelihood activities as primary and secondary value chain activities. In this quarter, the plan had been to complete livelihood pathway selection for 1,638 livelihood group members. However, only 551 (F=230) made the selection on two priority value chain activities they wanted to engage in.

1.1.3 Clients trained in business skills In the reporting quarter, the Activity didn’t have plans to deliver business skills trainings. However, in Q2 a refresher training on business skills will be provided for 1,960 livelihood group members with the objective to improve HHs’ ability to identify effective ways of managing livelihood activities and increasing profitability.

1.1.4 Clients have approved business plans The Household Resource Plan (HRP) is an important tool for HHs to organize critical business- related information, to understand the business requirements, to analyze available resources and understand the technical skills required to engage in a specific livelihood activity. In this quarter, more than two HRPs were prepared per HH based on two priority commodities selected. Among the targeted 2,215 HHs for the quarter, HRPs have thus been completed for 1,045 HHs (F= 390) using the revised HRP template.

1.1.5 Clients oriented to facilitate equitable decision-making The Faithful House/The Islamic House (TFH/IFH): The TFH/IFH training is being carried out to strengthen wife and husband relationships as well as enhance their joint decision-making capabilities. It’s a training that aims to also bring behavioral change for achieving positive outcomes across a wide range of interventions including agriculture, nutrition, household economics as well as transforming gender norms. In the reporting quarter, the training has been conducted for 1,381 couples (78% of the Q1 plan) from seven woredas (except Siraro and Dodota) by qualified couple facilitators living among the community. As a result, there is observed change between couples in livelihoods mutual decision-making, respect and communication. This training is helping the couples not only in their homes but is also enabling them to become a peacemaker in their villages/kebeles (see Annex D.1. Success Story for more information on the impact of these trainings).

Female adult literacy: The female adult literacy classes are extended to female HHs and some male livelihood group members to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. It is being implemented in collaboration with district and zonal level education departments, which assign supervisors for managing, textbook provision, preparation of training venues and follow-up. MCS has provided a four to five days refresher training for teachers and signed contract agreements with them to give kebele based adult literacy classes. After that, the training was launched in six woredas (except ATJK, Zeway Dugda and Siraro) and in 33 kebeles. The training is for two hours per day, three days per week, and will continue for the coming seven and half months. The reporting quarter’s achievement consists of 2,054 and 276 trained women and men respectively as total participants make up a total of 2,330 participants (142% of the Q1 plan). This overachievement is due to staff being deployed in each woreda who have drawn lessons from the last FY’s implementation. The lessons learnt include proper targeting, development of participatory training programs, timely teachers' recruitment, availing easily reachable training centers and developing joint follow-up programs with education office experts. 7

Gender messaging: Prior to the actual messaging sessions, a one-day orientation training for CAs, gender experts and livelihood group representatives has been organized. Meanwhile, the actual gender messaging sessions were given for 77 group members in Zeway Dugda, ATJK, Negele Arsi, Heben Arsi and Shala woredas (91% of the quarter’s plan).The activity lasts for eight sessions focusing on Gender-based Violence (GBV), Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs), daily calendar, food security, community mapping, social cultural context and gender stereotypes. In the coming quarter, the team will organize the same sessions for other group members as per the plan.

1.1.6. Clients have increased knowledge and skills relating to optimal health behavior The objective of this output is to provide nutrition training and messaging to livelihood group members through HEWs and Development Agents (DAs) with the support of CAs and LCFs, so that the food production and consumption practices of HHs is improved in a way that it improves their nutrition. Messages are delivered to group members with special focus on pregnant and breastfeeding women and HHs of children under the age of two years, particularly, with respect to practical trainings on production and preparation of nutritious foods. To realize this, an integrated SURE and homestead gardening ToT was given to MCS nutrition staff, woreda agriculture office staff and woreda health office staff. Refresher trainings were also provided to government staff and the Activity's implementing partner’s staff using the government’s SURE materials and CRS’ homestead gardening manual.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA): In the reporting quarter training on NSA has been provided to 1,442 (F=833) livelihood group members, which makes it an achievement of 49% of the quarter's target. The achievement is low because more attention has been given to other key activities, particularly practical cooking demonstrations, which were prioritized to make use of the opportunity of the harvest season where participants face less challenge to contribute the food items required for the practical sessions. It was also agreed to provide this training in the coming quarters along with the homestead garden establishment trainings.

Dietary diversity: In the reporting quarter, 1,530 livelihood group members have been trained on dietary diversity which represents 94% of the quarter’s planned target.

Cooking demonstration: Since in the coming quarters the team will focus on homestead gardening practical trainings and on the rolling out of the planning and budgeting for nutritious foods curriculum, the priority in the reporting quarter has been on the cooking demonstration activity, reaching a total of 2,414 (F=1594) participants, thereby exceeding not only the quarter’s but also the annual target for the FY.

Homestead gardening: Homestead gardening training has been provided to 590 (F=270) participants, which is 109% of what was planned for the quarter, out of which 24 (Female Headed 8

HHs-FHH = 12) HHs established different types of homestead gardens (perma-gardens, keyhole gardens and raised bed gardens). The figure for established gardens has been low because the sessions have focused on increasing awareness of the purpose and benefits of establishing homestead gardens and on gender roles and responsibilities of HH members in establishing and maintaining gardens, which are the first sections of the training manual. Thus, the coming quarters’ trainings will be focusing on establishing, planting and maintaining homestead gardens including watering and pest management. Moreover, as explained in the previous sections, more focus was given to practical cooking demonstration sessions using the availability of food items.

Cost-of-diet and Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) curriculum development: Based on the findings and recommendations of the Cost-of Diet assessment that was conducted in the past FY, development of a training curriculum is in progress to train HHs on planning and budgeting for nutritious meals with the lowest possible cost. Even though the roll-out of the training was planned in this quarter, the activity is pending awaiting the finalization of the cost of diet training curriculum. Finalizing the curriculum and rolling out the training will be among the priorities for the coming quarters.

1.2 Smallholder men, women and youth have increased use of improved agricultural techniques and technologies

1.2.1 Clients trained on improved agricultural practices

1.2.2 Agro-dealers supported Availability of agricultural inputs is critical for the success of smallholder farmers. In Ethiopia, agricultural inputs are majorly supplied by the public sector and the Activity through its Innovation Fund is trying to build the capacity of agro-dealers with the objective to improve HHs’ access to agricultural inputs through Private Service Providers (PSPs).

In the reporting quarter, agro-dealer’s refresher training has been provided for grant recipient and potential agro-dealers, as well as government and partner staff supporting the agro-dealers intervention. The training program provided a platform for agro-dealers to network and learn from their successes and challenges, as well as share market information and opportunities.

A joint agro-dealer performance monitoring field visit has also been made by CRS and MCS technical staff. The objectives of the field visit were to assess the progresses made by agro-dealers as well as provide technical advice on areas that need- improvement. Agro-dealer shop branding and renovation, product diversification, accessibility as well as progresses and challenges of agro- dealers in their journey towards improving access to quality and affordable agricultural inputs and technical information for target HHs supported by the Activity were areas of focus for the team.

The Activity has met its target of supporting 17 agro-dealers; however, an additional four more agro-dealers will be supported by the cost share. These remaining four agro-dealers will be selected and funded in Q2.

1.3 Smallholder men, women and youth have increased use of financial services 1.3.1 Clients trained on financial education In this quarter a total of 12 clients have been trained on financial education. This was in part because the Activity focused on the rollout of the household debt management trainings.

1.3.2. Clients access internal financial services In the reporting quarter, a total of 19,664 LG members (F=9,787) saved a total amount of 2,727,500 ETB (≈$ 85,128), which is 212% of the quarter’s target. Out of the total saving, 668,906 ETB (≈$ 20,877) has been saved through the social fund. The reason for this high performance consists of the facts that livelihood groups were advised to revise the minimum savings amount set on their by-laws and save more considering the season and cash availability at HHs level. This has been especially important as livelihood group members needed a means of saving income following the harvest season. On top of this total saving amount, group members who accessed loans from FSPs are also making deposits regularly in their respective FSPs.

In Q1 of FY20, a total of 2,647 livelihood group members (F=1,424) have borrowed a total of 1,211,004 ETB (≈$37,797) which is 139% of the quarter’s target from their Saving and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) groups. With an average of 458 ETB (≈$14) per borrower, livelihoods group members borrowed for petty trade, poultry, fattening of sheep and goats and to cover harvest related expenses. Increase in internal saving amount and improvement of group members’ understanding on borrowing through the training provided to groups on the HH Debt Management curriculum has resulted in increased borrowing levels in the reporting quarter.

1.3.3. Clients access external financial services Conditional capacity building support to FSPs: In Q1 of FY20, the Activity has provided conditional capacity building training support to branch and middle level staff of three MFIs (12 from Metamamen, three from Meklit and six from Vision Fund). A total of 21 trainees from the Activity’s operational woredas, have been trained on Delinquency Management and Customer Service by internal trainers selected by the MFIs. With this a total of 125,252 ETB (≈$3,909) support has been provided. The training’s main goal is to improve the service provision by branches to clients and repayment of loans.

Transfer of Loan Guarantee Fund (LGF) to FSPs: In addition to the conditional capacity building support, the Activity has provided LGF to FSPs based on their loan disbursement performance. In Q1 of FY20, a total of 786,925 ETB (≈$24,561 or 109% of the quarter’s target) has been transferred to FSPs (two MFIs and three Savings and Cooperative Unions-SACCOs) under the

LGF support scheme, after the Activity received the required documentation on loan disbursements. As it was reported on the FY19 Annual Results Report (ARR), allocation of access to finance woreda level staff has enabled the Activity to speed-up the LGF transfers.

Clients borrow from FSPs and livelihood transfer: In the reporting quarter, a total of 270 clients from Siraro, Shala, Negele Arsi, Zeway Dugda, Dodota and Sire woredas have borrowed a total of 1,467,505 ETB (≈$ 45,802), for first and repeat cycles. The main reason for low performance in terms of number of clients who have borrowed from FSPs and amount of money borrowed, is the presence of historical unrepaid loans. Out of this, 1,186,105 ETB (≈$37,020) was from the Activity partner FSPs and 281,400 ETB (≈$8,783) was from other MFIs (Oromia Credit and Saving Share Company - OCSSCO). Out of the total loan disbursed 46,000 ETB (≈$1,436) has been disbursed for clients engaged in off-farm activities. In addition to the loan accessed from FSPs, 724 clients (F=283) from four woredas (Shala, Zeway Dugda, Heben Arsi and Negele Arsi) have received livelihood transfers’ totaling 4,430,880 ETB (≈$138,292). Livelihood group members who have accessed loans mainly engage in fattening, petty trades, vegetables production through irrigation, poultry, cart, and other income generating activities.

Table 1: Loans accessed from FSPs in each woreda and livelihood transfers provided in Q1 of FY20 a. Amount FSPs/woredas Cycle Siraro Shala Negele Arsi Heben Zeway Dodota Sire Total Arsi Dugda Metamamen 1st 136,000 60,000 >2nd 64,000 80,000 138,500 78,000 Vision Fund 1st 516,000 >2nd 45,000 Keleta Union >2nd 68,605 Total From 516,000 200,000 140,000 138,500 45,000 146,605 1,186,105 partner FSPs From other 97,300 184,100 281,400 FSPs Total from 2,723,400 1,071,000 459,000 177,480 4,430,880 Livelihood Total amount 516,000 2,923,400 1,308,300 643,100 315,980 45,000 146,605 5,898,385 accessed

b. Number of clients FSPs/woredas Cycle Siraro Shala Negele Heben Zeway Dodota Sire Total Arsi Arsi Dugda Metamamen 1st 28 11 1 40 >2nd 8 12 19 10 49 Vision Fund 1st 119 119 >2nd 5 5 Keleta Union >2nd 14 14

Other FSPs 14 29 43 Livelihood 445 175 75 29 724 Transfer Total 119 481 212 104 49 5 24 993

Expansion of linkages with existing FSPs and agreements with new FSPs: In the reporting quarter Keleta SACCO Union has agreed to expand its services to additional two kebeles in Dodota woreda through its primary Rural Savings and Cooperatives (RuSACCOs) in the area where Vision Fund has not been performing well. This helps the clients in accessing external finance with better terms and conditions than MFIs: relatively lower interest rate, proximity of RuSACCOs to clients, benefits clients in joining RuSACCOs and sustainable relationship with their institution.

Conducting joint review, field visit and planning sessions with FSPs: In Q1 of FY20, the Activity has conducted a joint field visit and planning sessions with MFIs and discussions were held with field-level and senior management MFIs’ staff. These activities have helped the Activity and FSPs in identifying challenges, agreeing on action plans, improving performance and speeding -up of loan disbursements.

Organizing key multi-stakeholder platform discussions on access to finance: In Q1 of FY20, the Activity has organized woreda level multi-stakeholder workshops with the participation of zonal and woreda government and FSP stakeholders in six woredas. The main themes of the discussions have been on clients’ loan repayment and collaboration between different stakeholders for improving information exchange between FSPs operating in the same area. The discussions were led by heads of zonal Agriculture and Cooperative Offices, which has helped the Activity to get better support from GoE stakeholders. As a result, clients are repaying their loans in a timely manner and accessing following cycle loans.

HH Debt Management training: In the reporting quarter, a total of 2,018 (F=959) corresponding to 94% of the quarter’s target clients have been trained on HH Debt Management, with the aim of helping them to understand borrowers’ responsibility when they form groups and to ensure that members use their loans for the intended purposes. As observed from the field, participants developed joint family decision-making behavior and are exercising their skills in determining when it is the most appropriate time to borrow. There are also instances where the Activity clients are repaying defaults and accessing loans from FSPs. In addition to the curriculum, the Activity has developed and distributed to field staff a pocket guide on access to finance. This will strengthen the messaging (orientation) to livelihood groups on support in accessing financial resources.

Findings from the Assessment of challenges, barriers and opportunities for women and youth Access to finance from FSPs: Following the completion of prior activities in Q4 of FY19, the consultant has conducted and completed data collection and has submitted the first draft report in the reporting quarter. Report finalization which had been planned for the last quarter of FY19 has been delayed due to the disruption of field data collection, mainly due to security situation in eastern part of the country’s region where CRS Development Food Security Assistance (DFSA) is operational (see section 4.2.1).

1.4. Smallholder men, women and youth have increased engagement with agricultural commodities in markets

1.4.1. Clients trained in technical skills for specific on-farm enterprises In FY20 technical training for both livestock and crop value chains have been planned in all Activity woredas. In the reporting quarter, a total of 1,606 clients (73% of the quarter’s target) have received technical training on livestock (sheep and goat, poultry, ox fattening and honey). From those who have received the technical training, 819 (51%) were females. In Q2, there are plans to offset the backlog of the missed first quarter target. The crop value chain technical training is a refreshment technical training, which has been planned to take place in the second quarter and beyond, as clients are busy harvesting in the first quarter.

1.4.2. On-farm Marketing Groups established/strengthened In the reporting quarter, the plan had been to establish 30 marketing groups. However, 44 marketing groups have been formed out of which, 40 are focused on crops (haricot beans, red chili peppers, wheat and maize) and livestock (ox fattening, sheep and goat fattening and poultry). The remaining four marketing groups are focused on off-farm (animal-drawn cart) livelihood activities. The increasing interest of MFI linked farmers to join marketing groups and the onboarding of the MTEWs have contributed to the over-accomplishment of this activity. As part of the efforts made to build the capacity of marketing groups, 39 on-farm marketing group leaders (F=10) have been trained on marketing group leadership, even though this training was not scheduled for this quarter.

During the reporting quarter, a functionality assessment on marketing groups has been conducted for overlapping woredas. The objective of the assessment was: 1) to understand the strengths, weaknesses of established marketing groups and assess the-, support needed from the Activity; and 2) to share best practices and opportunities for growth. Assessment findings revealed that, marketing group members have received trainings and orientations about the purpose and objectives of the groups’ formation from DAs and CAs in their respective kebeles. The groups’ members have also better understanding of barriers to entry and opportunities for smallholders, including financial mechanisms to support selected commodities in view of the upcoming marketing season and plans for the next season. In the coming periods, the Activity will work to strengthen the working relationship with GoE relevant offices supporting the marketing groups and, in building their capacity through the provision of additional trainings and continuous monitoring.

1.4.3. On-farm Marketing Groups supported on market linkage No market linkages can be reported in this quarter. Crop and livestock MSP meetings had been planned for the reporting quarter, but due to overlapping of different program activities it was challenging to bring important stakeholders together for these planned meetings. However, in the next quarter, the Activity will work with government offices to facilitate market access. 13

SO. 2: Vulnerable households have increased income and diversification through off-farm livelihood options

2.1 Men, women and youth engage in off-farm livelihoods activities

2.1.1 Clients trained in technical skills for specific off-farm enterprises In the reporting quarter, a terms of reference has been developed for selecting a competent value chain actor lead who would offer relevant and quality technical trainings. The value actor lead is hoped to be a recognized value chain actor lead in baltina, agro-processing and food catering. Manual development, validation and standardization will be done in close collaboration with the potential service provider to be selected.

In Q2, an attempt will be made to capacitate potential service providers in the area of technical training provision (methodology and curriculum design) with the aim of ensuring clients receive quality technical training in their respective selected off-farm value chain commodities.

2.1.2 Off-farm Marketing Groups established In the design of the Activity, it was assumed that marketing groups would be required for off-farm businesses, in the same way as for the crop and livestock value chains. However, due to the nature of off-farm businesses, most livelihood group members tend to work independently. The Activity is working to review the appropriateness of such an approach in FY20. In the reporting quarter, a total of 93 livelihood group members (F=52) have formed four off-farm marketing groups in ATJK and Zeway Dugda woredas. All four marketing groups formed are engaged in animal‑drawn cart businesses. The onboarding of the MTEWs has contributed to the overaccomplishment of this activity. In Q2 the Activity will work to deliver marketing group leadership trainings to achieve both Q1 and Q2 targets.

2.2 Men, women and youth have increased use of financial and business development services

2.2.1 Clients access internal financial services for off-farm activities See section 1.3.2: Clients access internal financial services

2.2.2 Clients access external financial services for off-farm activities See section 1.3.3: Clients access external financial services

2.3 Men, women and youth have increased diversification of off-farm IGAs and non-farm enterprises

2.3.1 Off-Farm Marketing Groups supported on market linkage In the reporting quarter, no market linkage opportunities have been created for off-farm businesses. However, in the next quarter, the Activity will work with responsible government offices to facilitate market access.

SO. 3: Vulnerable households have increased their income through gainful employment

3.1 Jobseekers adopt increased use of employment knowledge, skills and information for job- seeking

3.1.1 Youth trained in life skills Positive Youth Development (PYD): The PYD training has been carried out for youth livelihood group members who require soft skill training to improve their behavior, skills and knowledge for getting self/wage employment options. The training is mainly focused on time management, goal setting, communication skills, customer handling, teamwork and leadership. Hence, 109 (F=44) participants have been trained in four woredas. In the coming quarters, the youth team will focus on this activity to address Q1 plans that remains behind the targets.

Peacebuilding and conflict management: The Activity has carried out a Youth Peace Ambassadors (YPA) training under the umbrella of peacebuilding and conflict management to maintain a healthy working environment in the intervention areas in the run-up to the national elections, by targeting youth clients of the Activity. CRS and MCS have prepared a concept note, a ToR, training need assessment and conducted ToT for five days in Adama targeting selected staff as well as government representatives. The Activity has also organized a two-days training for government representatives and traditional leaders.

The actual YPA raining has been conducted in six woredas for 2,184 (F=665) youths, which is an over-achievement against the reporting quarter’s target. With the aim of preparing the youth for the May national elections, the activity has been overachieved. During every training day, all facilitators have held reflection sessions to discuss on field-based uncertainties and have prepared quick action plans to meet the planned targets. Similarly, at the end of the two-days training, the trained YPAs have also developed their own specific action plans to serve in their respective community as catalysts for improving peace and security. Following the actual trainings, the Activity together with MCS and CRS Partnership and Peacebuilding unit will organize three certification events in each branch area to acknowledge the efforts of YPAs, trainers and GoE.

3.1.2 Clients trained in technical skills TVET students’ orientation: A total of 304 students (F=55) have attended TVET orientation1, whereby a one-day orientation session was organized in collaboration with the TVET dean, woreda TVET Enterprise lead and Women and Youth Office. The orientation comprises of rules and regulations of the TVETs, the courses these offer and the Activity’s scholarship support. In Dera area a total of 160 students have attended the orientation session; whereas in Shashemene and Meki areas a total of 43 and 101 students have attended the orientation sessions respectively. These series of orientations have helped clients make an informed decision on which kind of technical training they would like to attend.

Non-agricultural technical training: Among the 304 students who have attended the orientation sessions, the first 274 (F=49) that is 90% of the students, have joined TVETs in their respective woredas. The overachievement is due to fact that the actual demand on the ground was found to be higher than what had been planned. Furniture making, construction technology, ICT, welding, garment, hotel operations and finishing work are among the various technical trainings in which students have been enrolled within their respective TVETs. In Dera area a total of 124 students (F=23) are attending technical training in furniture making, construction technology, ICT, welding and garment (in Sire, Dodota and Boset TVETs). At the same time, 107 students are attending technical training in construction, metal work, finishing, and furniture making in Meki area. In Shashemene area 43 students are attending construction and hotel operations technical trainings. In the next quarter, it is planned to continue supporting those clients who are attending short-term technical training in the selected TVETs. Cooperative training is expected to be integrated in the short-term technical trainings and a regular follow-up is planned in the upcoming quarter.

3.2 Jobseekers are linked with prospective employers

3.2.1 Clients linked to potential employers Employability skills training: To improve the employability of those students who are currently attending short-term technical trainings in TVETs, in the reporting quarter manuals and training materials have been developed. These trainings will happen in the next quarter and are ideally thought to boost the confidence and technical capability of the Activity’s clients who aspire to pursue a wage employment livelihood.

Consultative meetings: In the reporting quarter, three consultative meetings had been planned with the objectives of facilitating the creation of job linkage opportunities for those Activity clients who have been attending technical trainings in TVETs. As the data in the LMA has become a bit outdated, updating this document and working with the most relevant and willing potential

1 Orientation was given in FY19 Q4 to clients who were preparing to join TVET. The number was not reported during FY19 ARR. 16

employers was a key undertaking in Q1 of FY20. It is expected that these newly identified potential employers will be made participants of the rescheduled consultative meetings. The consultative meetings will take place in the next quarter, two weeks before the students’ graduation. The primary purpose of the meetings will be linking clients to potential employers which will culminate with the organization of a job fair.

SO.4: Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia and other USAID Ethiopia and GoE interventions have increased innovation, scaling and sustainability of livelihood pathways

4.1 Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia, USAID Ethiopia and GoE have improved layering, sequencing and cost effectiveness of interventions

4.1.1 Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia strategies and activities are coordinated with USAID-funded activities

CARE Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience: • The joint CARE/CRS Livelihoods for Resilience Project Steering Committee (PSC) has been conducted during November 18 – 19, 2019 with the two Chief of Parties (CoPs), CARE’s Deputy CoP, country representatives/senior managers of CARE, CRS, Stichting Nederlandse Vrjwilligers (SNV), Agri-Serve, ORDA (Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara), and Relief Society of Tigray (REST), and USAID/Asset and Livelihoods Transition Office (ALT) (Juan Carlos). A field visit in Amhara region was conducted and the PSC meeting took place on November 19, 2019. • On November 6, 2019 CRS invited CARE to attend the presentation by the University of Notre Dame to USAID on the Mid-Term evaluation’s key findings. This mirrors the same courtesy that CARE extended in having CRS attend their mid-term evaluation presentation to USAID in June 2019. • CRS attended CARE’s poultry voucher review (November 25, 2019) and subsequently developed an internally-reviewed concept note for CRS’ approval.

Other United States Government (USG) supported Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): During an informal meeting with the CoPs, it was determined that the greatest point of collaboration and leverage was around the poultry value chain. Subsequently, FINTRAC, CARE and World Vision (WV/SPIR) supported CARE in hosting a poultry workshop on October 1, 2019 with private sector, research institutions and other NGOs.

WV/ SPIR: During the PSNP NGO/GoE Working Group visit, the Activity and WV/SPIR visited Siraro, where both Activities operate, and subsequently held its quarterly Overlapping Management Committee (OMC) meeting with woreda-based staff (November 13, 2019).

Growth through Nutrition (GTN): After GTN attended the Activity’s Cost of Diet Assessment dissemination meeting, GTN invited CRS to participate in the “Seasonal- and agro-ecology-based

complementary food recipes for Growth through Nutrition intervention areas of Ethiopia” on November 25 – 29, 2019.

PSNP NGO GoE Working Group: A group of NGOs that work on PSNP formed the “PSNP 4 NGO Working Group”. It is currently being chaired by WV. Most recent activities have been: • Hosting GoE officials in four regions around the themes of access to finance and gender equality (November 11 – 15, 2019). Afterwards, the group developed a joint paper, which was subsequently presented at the Federal PSNP Joint Review and Implementation Support (JRIS) Mission. • Reviewing the PSNP V Programme Implementation Manual (PIM) and provision of recommendations for revisions. • Meeting with Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) / World Bank on December 6, 2019 to discuss the livelihood effectiveness study design that is scheduled for January – March 2020 which will inform the livelihoods component of the PSNP V PIM.

4.2 Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia continuously identifies and addresses knowledge gaps, successes and failures important to the project

4.2.1 Learning agenda is developed and resourced As planned, in Q1 of FY20, the Activity has prioritized the learning reviews and operational research questions identified by the sector teams and has adopted its own working learning agenda. In the reporting quarter various learning agenda items have been finalized. For instance, a lessons- learned document on the first job fair organized on September 24, 2019 in Shashemene has been completed and disseminated to key stakeholders. Moreover, comments have been provided on the USAID-led Recurrent Monitoring Survey (RMS) and functionality assessments were conducted for marketing groups and livelihoods groups respectively. A report with the updates on the latest food, security, climatic and price shocks has been provided using the CRS Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) Activity’s Early Warning System (EWS) interactive dashboard data for the month of October. Further updates will continue to be provided in Q2 as well.

On the other hand, some learning activities planned to be finalized in Q1 of FY20 have not been completed due to various reasons. For instance, the study Assessment of Challenges, Barriers and Opportunities for Women and Youth in Accessing Finance from FSPs has not been finalized because security challenges led to delays in data collection (see section 1.3.3).

One of the learning products finalized last quarter entitled A Cost of the Diet Analysis in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia has been disseminated internally to CRS staff through a webinar on ‘Agriculture Income to Nutrition Pathway: Cost of Diet Assessment in Ethiopia and its Application to the Livelihoods for Resilience Oromia Activity’ in October 2019, and externally at the ‘Ethiopia National Nutrition Conference on Diets, Affordability and Policy in Ethiopia: From Evidence to Action’ organized by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and The International Food

Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in December 2019. Similarly, in March-April 2020 the report Barrier Analysis to Promote Financial Linkage to Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP IV) Beneficiaries is going to be presented at the International Social and Behavior Change Communication Summit in Marrakech, Morocco.

4.3 Successful organizations effectively utilize innovation grant for sustained innovation, scaling and sustainability of livelihood pathways

4.3.1 Innovation Funds funded relevant interventions In Q1 of FY20, the Activity was expected to sign two new agreements and make the corresponding first disbursements. In the reporting quarter, CRS and MCS have discussed if and how to transition the management of the Innovation Fund from CRS to MCS. CRS has submitted a clarifying question to USAID on transferring the management of the Innovation Fund (cost share) and is awaiting a response.

Meanwhile, a one-day workshop has been organized for soliciting potential applicants, with a briefing on the scope of Innovation Fund and major focus areas for FY20 and 16 proposals were received. The selection of Innovation Fund recipients will be finalized before end of January 2020.

The progress from the previously signed initiatives is indicated below per institutions: Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Centre: The center organized six field days, three of which have been on goat fattening and three on maize moisture conservation technology demonstration for communities and local government offices.

Arsi University College of Agriculture and Environmental Science: In Q4 of FY19 it was reported that for the demonstration of sheep and goat fattening and modern poultry house/poultry cage at PSNP HHs’ level, the University had identified clients at each selected implementation woreda, namely Dodota, Heben Arsi, Sire and Zeway Dugda. In the reporting quarter, construction of fattening and poultry houses has been finalized; procurement of all the required fattening equipment has also been finalized and transported to each demonstration site, and the communities have started bringing their goats/sheep to demonstration areas.

Bora Dembel Farmers’ Cooperative Union: The Union has been supported to establish a feed processing unit in ATJK woreda. In the reporting period, the construction of the feed processing house has been finalized and the processing machine is now ready to be installed. The Union has identified the supplier for the feed processing machine and currently it is in the process of following the procurement rules and regulations of the Union.

NASIBA Animal Nutrition: NASIBA has a patent right from the Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology to produce MIN Chick, a mineral supplement for poultry egg production, shell quality and egg productivity. With the support of the Innovation Fund, the company procured a packaging machine and has started the production. As a result, the production efficiency of the company has increased by 40%. The Activity has created linkages with the agro- dealers to be used as a channel of distribution and the company has provided training to agro- dealers on the use of mineral supplement, storage and market promotion strategies for which it has signed a formal agent agreement with the agro-dealers. In the reporting quarter the company has reported that three agro-dealers from Dera, Negele Arsi and Shala are actively receiving the product and selling them to their community.

Metemamen MFI Share Company: An agreement has been signed with the MFI to support the introduction of mobile and agent banking services using M-Birr. The institution has used the first tranche of the Innovation Fund to acquire resources necessary for providing the service, such as desktops. Even if Metemamen has submitted its application to the National Bank of Ethiopia some months ago for the license, the application is being withheld considering the Bank is working on regulations.

Menagesha Biotech Industry Private Limited Company (PLC): The PLC has supported the demonstration of inoculant technology at selected major haricot bean growing woredas (Siraro, Shala, Negele Arsi and Zeway Dugda) to provide the production of high-quality haricot beans for local consumption and export. In the reporting quarter all materials required for the demonstration have been prepared whereas the actual demonstration will begin after January 2020.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L)

Monitoring: In Q1 of FY20, MCS has conducted quarterly field visits with government stakeholders (Finance and Economic Cooperation Office, Women and Child Affairs Office, Agriculture and Natural Resource Office, Education Office and Cooperative Promotion Office respectively). Accordingly, the visit was conducted in seven woredas, except for Zeway Dugda and ATJK, which didn’t conduct the field visit because of government scheduling overlap. During the visits, MCS has shared implementation progress and organized field visits to communities. Participants discussed best practices and challenges based on MCS’ report and observations.

CRS has also conducted a joint field monitoring visit with MCS in December 2019. The main objectives of the visit were to allow staff to actively listen to the communities, take note of their reactions, identify any gaps in implementation and determine the degree of support necessary for addressing these gaps in the remainder of the FY and LoP, together with the implementing partner. For the visit, Innovation Fund, TVET and agro-dealers’ related interventions were selected. 20

Accordingly, one goat fattening activity of the Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, clients enrolled in the Negele Arsi TVET and one agro-dealer based in Negele Arsi woreda were visited. The visiting team interacted and discussed with participants of the interventions. Based on the discussions held and field observations, the visiting team came up with constructive feedback and debriefed the CRS and MCS management in the context of theFY20 Q1 report write-shop. The following are a few of the recommendations presented:

• Develop and implement a plan to link goat fattening participants of the Innovation Fund with markets; • Provide training on CV preparation as part of technical training for TVET students; • Give priority to female PSNP clients in enrollments within TVETs, especially in traditionally female-based trades; and • Undertake an assessment/tracking of progress of the performance of the agro-dealers supported.

Mid-Term Evaluation: The Activity has conducted its Mid-Term Evaluation in the last quarter of FY19. The evaluation report was prepared in Q1 of FY20 and shared with CRS and MCS Activity teams, CRS Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) East Africa Office regional advisor and USAID for their reviews and inputs. CRS has also organized a three-days reflection event from November 4-6, 2019. The main objective of the event was to enable staff and stakeholders have a face-to-face discussion with the lead consultant on the contents of the report, with the aim of digesting the findings, reflecting on them and refining the overall report’s contents. During the workshop research findings and recommendations were presented and discussed. Participants were provided comments and inputs in a set of open, participatory, constructive and reflective discussion sessions, through which key learnings and additional recommendations were identified by the workshop’s participants. The Activity has also documented the discussion points for future reference. The lead consultant has then used the results of the event to refine the final report’s contents which was shared with USAID for further inputs. The final report will be shared among stakeholders at the beginning of Q2 of FY20. The Activity will then use the final recommendations of the report to guide future interventions.

Accountability: The Activity established a Feedback and Response Mechanism (FRM) in FY19. In FY20, the plan is to expand the mechanism in additional kebeles and maintain functionality of established mechanisms. Given the absence of feedback through the mechanisms established so far, it was decided that an assessment of their functionality would need to inform future FRM activities, instead of creating additional mechanisms. The twin objectives of this assessment were to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the established mechanisms in receiving feedback and complaints

from targeted communities and to come up with recommendations on how address identified gaps and on how to scale up the selected mechanisms. The findings indicate that the strengths of the established mechanisms are that the kebele feedback handling committee has received orientation on the established mechanisms and on how to handle feedback and response; at least two mechanisms have been introduced to the communities; and clients have received information on the available mechanisms through the distribution of leaflets. The major implementation challenges identified are regular meetings that are supposed to be held to review performance of the FRM are not happening; suggestion boxes placed at kebeles have been removed because of fear of theft; and there is lack of documentation of feedback received and responses provided. The assessment team has come up with recommendations and an action plan to improve utilization of mechanisms and information that comes through the systems in the future. Some of these recommendations include: providing refresher training for Activity staff (CRS and MCS) and woreda and kebele level feedback and complaint committee members; strengthening proper documentation of feedback and complaints at all levels; conducting quarterly monitoring visit to Activity sites to check the functionality of the FRM at CRS level and on a monthly basis by MCS staff. Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) In Q1 of FY20 the Collaboration, Learning, Adaptation, Monitoring and Evaluation (CLAME) working group representatives were invited by USAID to attend a meeting for the identification of the learning products that each participating agency would present at the upcoming USAID learning event currently scheduled for the second half of February 2020. Following this meeting, the Activity and CRS DFSA have jointly shared to USAID their proposed learning products to be showcased during the event. Furthermore, upon the request of USAID, the Activity and CRS DFSA have provided an update on the USAID CLA by including all learning activities that have been completed and that are currently on pipeline.

4. Reflections

Main Challenges • In the reporting quarter, the livelihood and value chains sector had planned to conduct crop and livestock MSPs; however, due to overlapping of different program activities, it has been challenging to bring important stakeholders together for the planned meetings. Furthermore, with the unexpected onset of rainfalls, the farmers have focused on their harvest and post-harvest activities instead of being engaged on some livelihood activities. In Q2 the Activity will prioritize completing these underperforming interventions. • With respect to the nutrition sector, at times, lack of diversified foods, particularly, fruits and vegetables and animal source foods make the practice of preparation and consumption of diversified foods challenging for the HHs. The promotion of homestead production of nutritious foods and training on planning and budgeting for nutritious foods is believed to

address some of these problems. The Activity is also considering the introduction of the poultry voucher system to improve the production of eggs and their availability at the local markets, as eggs are identified among nutritious food at a low cost in the Cost of Diet assessment. • One of the major challenges within the interventions related to access to finance has been low interest and avoidance of Activity participants by FSPs in extending loan products. One of the main reasons is over-indebtedness of HHs which is leading to the rejection of clients referred as part of the project’s financial linkages initiative. The Activity is using a number of strategies to address these challenges: strengthening joint visits with close monitoring of the performance of FSPs’ portfolios, providing support to FSPs in terms of capacity building and facilitation of loan repayments as well as advising livelihood group members on responsible borrowing using the HH Debt Management training curriculum • With respect to the Activity’s intervention on wage employment, obsolete findings in the LMA have been a challenge in that they have delayed the consultative meetings with prospective employers. As a way to overcome this challenge, a remapping/updating of potential employers in the respective Activity areas has been conducted to include additional potential employers and to see if the list of potential employers in the LMA is still viable in terms of their potential to hire some of the TVET students once they graduate.

Key Lessons Learned • With consensus, field staff have managed to encourage livelihood groups to revise their by-laws so that they increase the minimum saving amount per meeting. This has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of internal saving mobilized in the quarter. • The stakeholders’ meetings conducted at the woreda level in relation to the activity of access to finance, have brought significant impact on the repayment of loans, whereby livelihood group members are paying and accessing following cycle loans. • Joint action planning on peacebuilding and conflict management has helped to bring the desired result. Planning, implementation and follow up has been undertaken by the Activity, the CRS Partnership and Peace Building unit and MCS Peace and Justice department. • In the reporting quarter, one of the key lessons learnt in the area of wage employment, is the importance of revising Activity documents that help inform decisions prior to rolling out planned interventions. For instance, the LMA had provided a list of the potential employers for hiring Activity clients. However, while the re-mapping of potential employers was being conducted, the dynamics have been found to have changed in many ways, i.e. some new employers have emerged, while some of those indicated in the LMA have now phased out and are not in a condition to offer employment opportunities for Activity clients.

• Furthermore, the Activity staff have learnt the significant contribution of working with several stakeholders with regard to identifying potential employers. Working with the woreda level TVET Enterprise lead, TVET deans and marketing experts is expected to improve the employability chances of the prospective job seekers. Likewise, in the reporting quarter the team was also able to learn that before a job fair is organized, a series of activities such as consultative meetings would need to take place to increase the chances of employment for the potential job seekers during and in the aftermath of the job fair. • The Activity will continue to use the CRS and MCS joint field visits as one of the ‘pause and reflect’ techniques because it has been learnt that participants have found it is an important opportunity to promote cross-learning among different sectors within the Activity on what is happening on the ground. It has likewise been found to provide a good occasion to field-test and use monitoring tools that have already been developed by the MEAL team.

5. Prospects for FY20 Q2 Performance

Livelihoods and Value Chains • Organize crop and livestock MSPs. • Complete HRP related interventions. • Pilot the poultry voucher intervention. • Conduct trainings for agro-dealers on business management along with Business 2 Business (B2B) meetings of input suppliers, relevant partners and stakeholders. • Facilitate market linkages between agro-dealers and larger input suppliers engaged in crop and livestock as well as between marketing groups and potential buyers. • Conduct marketing group leaders’ training on business management. Gender • Train Activity staff on protection and sexual harassment. Nutrition • Provide trainings on NSA, with practical demonstration on establishing and maintaining various types of homestead gardens. • Finalize and roll-out the curriculum on nutritious meal planning and budgeting for nutritious foods. This training will be integrated with the financial education curriculum and will also involve activities that support CBHI. • Proceed with the training on dietary diversity and cooking demonstration sessions as per the plan. Access to Finance • Facilitate loan disbursement for 2,338 clients from both partner and non-partner FSPs amounting to 7,933,819 ETB. • Facilitate and conduct close follow-up on loan repayment. • Conduct a learning review on key factors for RuSACCOs’ success. • Develop a strategy on if and how to support selected input suppliers to extend in-kind credit to Activity clients. Youth • Organize three certification events for youth clients and other stakeholders that have participated in the peacebuilding and conflict management training in different woredas. Technical Training and Wage Employment • Finalize recruitment of a livestock technical training provider and provide ToT to be cascaded for the Activity clients. In the same manner refresher technical training for crop value chain will be held. • Select a technical training provider (value chain actor) and conduct training directly for the Activity clients on off-farm agri-based modules.

• Finalize the re-mapping/updating of potential employers and hold consultative meetings by inviting all updated potential employers and stakeholders. • Upon the graduation of TVET students organize a job fair in Adama for three Activity woredas’ clients (Dodota, Sire, and Boset). • Cascade trainings on employability skills based on the manual selected from the YES curriculum. • Start apprenticeship programs. • Undertake second round enrollment of TVET students Innovation Fund • Sign at least seven agreements with potentials applicants and make corresponding disbursements. • Organize two field days on poultry production and goat fattening. • Conduct monitoring and follow up on already supported initiatives. • Undertake the above activities in collaboration with CRS DFSA as well as the Activity’s MEAL staff and others. MEAL • Conduct the bi-annual survey of agricultural indicators. • MCS will undertake joint participatory monitoring visits at woreda level • Establish FRM channels. • Update the Activity’s risk map. • Provide updates on potential shocks that may affect the Activity using JEOP’s EWS dashboard data. • Adapt the maturity spectrum tool for adaptive management. • Provide support for the implementation of the various learning agenda activities to technical teams.

6. Financial Status

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7. Annexes

Annex A: List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Description Activity Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia ALT Assets and Livelihoods Transition Office ATJK Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha ARR Annual Results Report B2B Business 2 Business CA Community Animator CBHI Community-Based Health Insurance CLA Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation CLAME Collaboration, Learning, Adaptation and Monitoring and Evaluation CoP Chief of Party CRS Catholic Relief Services CV Curriculum vitae DA Development Agent DEC Development Experience Clearinghouse DFSA Development Food Security Activity EPHI Ethiopian Public Health Institute ETB Ethiopian Birr EWS Early Warning System FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FHH Female Headed Household FRM Feedback and Response Mechanism FSP Financial Service Provider FY Fiscal Year GBV Gender-based violence GoE Government of Ethiopia GTN Growth through Nutrition HEW Health Extension Worker HH Household HRP Household Resource Plan HTP Harmful Traditional Practices ICT Information Communication Technology IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IGA Income Generating Activity JEOP Joint Emergency Operation

JRIS Joint Review and Implementation Support LCF Livelihood Community Facilitator LGF Loan Guarantee Fund LMA Labor Market Assessment LoP Life of Project MCS Ethiopian Catholic Church Social Development Coordination Office of Meki MEAL Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning ME&L Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MFI Microfinance Institution MIS Management Information Systems MSP Multi-Stakeholder Platform MTEW Marketing and Training Extension Worker NGO Non-Governmental Organization NSA Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture OCSSCO Oromo Credit and Saving Share Company OMC Overlap Management Committee ORDA Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara PIM Programme Implementation Manual PLC Private Limited Company PSC Project Steering Committee PSNP Productive Safety Net Programme PSP Private Service Provider PYD Positive Youth Development Q Quarter REST Relief Society of Tigray RMS Reoccurring Monitoring System RuSACCO Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperatives SILC Savings and Internal Lending Communities SNV Stichting Nederlandse Vrjwilligers SURE Sustainable Undernutrition Reduction in Ethiopia TFH/IFH The Faithful House/Islamic Faithful House ToT Training of trainers TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training USG United States Government WV/SPIR World Vision YES Youth Employability Skills YPA Youth Peace Ambassador

Annex B - LRO Progress Against Annual Workplan _Q1 Annex C - FY20 Q1 SF425 Annex D.1 – AID- 663-A-17-00005 LRO FY20 Q1 Success Story - Islamic Faithful House Annex D.2 – AID- 6630-A-17-00005 LRO FY20 Q1 Success Story – On Farm Annex E: Cumulative List of Reports/Studies/Documents Sent to USAID’s DEC

Annex E: Cumulative List of Report/Studies/Documents sent to USAID’s DEC

Catholic Relief Services, Development Food Security Activity and Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia. 2017. Gender and Youth Assessment. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00STN9.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience – Oromia. 2017. Multistakeholder Assessment of Youth Development. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TCRQ.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia. 2018. Barrier Analysis to Promote Financial Linkage to Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP IV) Beneficiaries. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TCR8.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia and Development Food Security Activity. 2018. Crop-Value/Market Systems Assessment Report. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00SX4G.pdf; Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia and Development Food Security Activity. 2018. Labor Market Assessment Report. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TH4H.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia. 2018. Livestock Value-Chain Assessment. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TQ9T.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia and Development Food Security Activity. 2018. Off-Farm Value Chain and Market Systems Analysis. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00T6FB.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia. 2019. Cost of Diet Analysis in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00W45D.pdf Catholic Relief Services, Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience - Oromia. 2019. Value Chains Financing Assessment and Primary Actors’ Mapping for Priority Value Chains. Accessible on DEC: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00W4G6.pdf