FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IMMERSION AND PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT Closeout Report – April 25, 2014 to April 24, 2019 Cooperative Agreement Number: AID-167-A-14-00007 Activity Start Date and End Date: April 25, 2014 to April 24, 2019 Submitted by: American University in Kosovo Foundation Inc. Str. Shpëtim Robaj Tel: + 383 38 66 00 00 Authors: Ylberina Morina Mala – Chief of Party Email: [email protected] Artan Venhari – Deputy Chief of Party Email: [email protected] July 2019 1 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. This publication has been financed by the American People through the US Agency for International Development (USAID Kosovo) implemented by RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). Page 2 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES I. THE TEAM Visar Jasiqi, TLP IPSC Ylberina Morina Mala TLP IPSC Chief of Party (2014-2016) Deputy Chief of Party (2014-2016) Chief of Party (2016-2019) Peonare Caka, TLP IPSC Artan Venhari, TLP IPSC Deputy Chief of Party (2016-2017) Deputy Chief of Party (2017-2019) Blerta Avdiu, TLP IPSC Leonora Çerreti, TLP IPSC Project Assistant (2014-2017) Project Assistant (2017-2019) Page 3 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES II. ABOUT THE REPORT Over the five years of implementation, and as requested by USAID, the program team collected data and information about all activities and reported on quarterly and annual basis. This final performance report includes all data and activities aggregated from annual reports including the last activities. The main purpose of this report was to collect information about program achievements, outcmes and its legacy. Both components, AUPP & PPDL, form the link between the program and the citizens of Kosovo. The training curricula and programs produced over the project lifetime have and will continue having an effect on the people of Kosovo. You, as a reader of this report, will come across numerous activities implemented for the sole purpose: to train citizens of Kosovo in in-country College preparatory training and in-country public service training. This report includes detailed performance activities and its statistics. Its content is divided into two components/objectives: AUPP - Kosovo Citizens receive in-country training and PPDL - Kosovo Public Servants Receive in-country Public Service Training. Managing the process of monitoring, analyzing, evaluating, and reporting progress toward achieving the purpose of this program and contributing to the overall objective, the program has followed the MEL Plan (formerly known as Performance Management Plan). All data presented in this report are generated from the program database and alumni reports. Page 4 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES Page 5 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES III. ABOUT TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – IMMERSION AND PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES USAID TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM The purpose of the Transformational Leadership Program was to develop a cadre of leaders to drive significant change in Kosovo aimed at priority economic, political, and social development areas. This was to be accomplished through a five-year Cooperative Agreement that facilitated higher education scholarships, professional certifications, in-country training in immersion and public service, internships, exchanges and partnerships between Kosovo and American universities, with the aim of creating a lasting impact on Kosovo's socio-economic development. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Kosovo has awarded the American University in Kosovo Foundation Inc (hereinafter referred as RIT Kosovo A.U.K), a grant to implement the Transformational Leadership Program – Immersion and Public Service Courses. The TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (TLP) IMMERSION AND PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES was a five-year program, operating in all regions of Kosovo. The goal of this program was to enhance existing human capital and talent through implementation of its two strategic objectives. The two strategic objectives of this program were: Objective 1: to deliver in country University Preparatory Program to Kosovo citizens (AUPP); Objective 2: to deliver in-country Public Service course to Kosovo Public Servants (PPDL). Participants attending the Immersion Courses (hereinafter referred as AUPP), mostly those who did not have access to quality undergraduate programs, had the opportunity to meet their full potential and participate in educational opportunities. The Public Service Course (hereinafter referred as PPDL) aimed to assist the people and government of Kosovo in increasing the public policy development and leadership capacity primarily in central as well as municipal levels. The TLP Immersion and Public Service Courses were expected to deliver AUPP training to 1,150 participants; and PPDL training to 1,000 Kosovo Public Servants. Page 6 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES IV. PROGRAM FUNDING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FUNDING On April 24, 2014, the president of RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) signed a cooperative agreement with USAID, agreeing to manage the TLP IPSC program. The effective date of this Award was 4/25/2014. The estimated completion date of this Award was 04/24/2019. The total estimated amount of the Award for the period shown above was $2,799,999.59 USAID funds. The RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) as recipient of this award agreed to spend 18.2% in cost share. During the lifetime of the program, seven modification contracts were made. On January 2018, the budget of the program was reduced from $2,799,999.59 to $2,049,999.00. Given the financial implications from USAID, RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) as an education institution and as an implementing partner of this program, presented slight modifications in the scope and budget, whereas programmatically accomplished the objectives set initially in the inception of the program. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT The TLP IPSC Program was implemented by RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) College. Several private education providers were sub-contracted to assist the program in providing space and classrooms for the delivery of objective 1. The decision to work with private universities and colleges was based under the notion that most of them had policies in place that ensured an environment free of discrimination and harassment, thus safeguarding a diverse student body that AUPP aimed to serve. All classes fulfilled the infrastructure criteria that promoted a safe and positive learning environment. Whereas, regarding the program personnel, some changes involved internal and external employee turnover and involvement of new project assistants at the program. In the first two years, the program was lead (program director) and coordinated (training coordinator) by a team of two employees coming directly from Training and Development Institute1. During this period of time, the program director trained and mentored the training coordinator to take an enhanced role in the program. All key personnels assigned were prior approved by USAID. 1 A.U.K Training and Development Institute is a continuing education department within RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) College. Page 7 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES V. STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT The Ministry of Public Administration, Kosovo Institute for Public Administration and the National Qualifications Authority have been included as part of the working group to aid the accreditation process of PPDL by contributing in the development of a professional standard for the program. Additionally, the program team has been committed to include project stakeholders in the AUPP and PPDL outreach process. The stakeholders involved in this process pertain to: Alumni and eligible institutions to apply for the respective courses. Specifically, PPDL Alumni have played a very important role in aiding the information session planning process for their respective institutions. In most institutions, they have served as a point of contact for information dissemination. Furthermore, eligible entities have been involved in the outreach process by serving as information channels to potential PPDL candidates. In particular, the Ministry of Public Administration has played a key role on this process as it has committed to disperse an official email for the PPDL call for application to all public servants of the Government of Kosovo. A great stakeholder participation and involvement was also given by municipality mayors, municipal directors of administration, and/or chiefs of cabinets. Page 8 of 131 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IMMERSION & PUBLIC SERVICE COURSES VI. SUMMARY OF RESULTS Annual Annual On Perfomance Performance Target Achieved to the Achieved to the Standard Indicators Target End of End of Y/N Reporting Reporting Period Period (%) Indicators Kosovo Citizens receive in country University Preparatory Program (AUPP) # of persons receiving short-term, in- 1150 1150 100% Y1 country College preparatory training Kosovo Public Servants receive in-county public service training certificates (PPDL) # of persons receiving short- 1000 1044 104% Y term, in-country public service training 1. Total number of students enrolled in full pack of AUPP training program. Page