DISCLAIMER
The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States
Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT
QUARTERLY REPORT
YEAR 1, QUARTER 3, FY 2015
APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2015
July 30, 2015
This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by USAID Agro Horizon Project, implemented by ACDI/VOCA.
DISCLAIMER
The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for
International Development or the United States Government.
QUARTERLY REPORT
APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2015
JULY 30, 2015
CONTRACT NUMBER: AID-176-C-14-00002
COR USAID: CHARLES SPECHT
CHIEF OF PARTY: MARTIN WEST
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT I
CONTENTS ACRONYM LIST ......................................................................................................................................................... II
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 2
ARO HORIZON OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Project Start-up .................................................................................................................................................................... 3
II. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Project Description .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geographic Zones of Influence ........................................................................................................................................... 3
III. IMPLEMENTATION.................................................................................................................................... 4
TASK 1: INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND LINK THEM TO MARKETS ........................ 4 Objective .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Achievements and Progress to Date ......................................................................................................................... 4
TASK 2: INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND MARKETS FOR AGRIBUSINESSES ................................................................ 9 Objective .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Achievements and Progress to Date ......................................................................................................................... 9
TASK 3: IMPROVE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR AGRICULTURE SECTOR GROWTH ........................................... 15 1. Objective........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 2. Achievements and Progress to Date .............................................................................................................................. 15 TASK 4: IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE ZONE OF INFLUENCE ............... 20 Objective ................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Achievements and Progress to Date ....................................................................................................................... 20
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ................................................................................................................ 24 PROJECT GRANT FUND ................................................................................................................................... 24 ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT, CROSS CUTTING, AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES ................... 24
Baseline survey................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Gender Activities ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 Administrative/Operations ................................................................................................................................................ 26
IV. MONITORING, DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING ................................................................. 27
ANNEX I: APPROVALS SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 31
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT II
ACRONYM LIST AAK Association of Agribusinessmen of Kyrgyzstan AFVE Association of Fruits and Vegetable Enterprises AIRD Associates for International Research and Development AMEP Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan ASP Agricultural Service Providers AO Aiyl Okrug BDS Business Development Services BGI Business Growth Initiative BLS Baseline Study CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy DCA Development Credit Authority EEU Eurasian Economic Union EMMP Environmental Management and Mitigation Plan FI Financial Institutions GOKR Government of the Kyrgyz Republic KR Kyrgyz Republic KREG Kyrgyz Republic Economic Growth [projects] M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MCA Micro Credit Agencies MFI Micro Finance Institutions MOAM Ministry of Agriculture & Melioration PMP Performance Management Plan RAS Rural Advisory Service SI Social Impact SME Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) SP Service Provider SPRING Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and Innovations in Nutrition Globally project TA Technical Assistance TOT Training of Trainers USAID United States Agency for International Development VC Value Chain (s) WLSME Women’s Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises WUA Water Users Association ZOI Zone of Influence
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 2
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACDI/VOCA is pleased to present this third quarter Quarterly Report to USAID Kyrgyz Republic. During this quarter, the majority of project activities and personnel focused on approving and implementing catalyzing grants for the agricultural season 2014 to 2015. Project management is now evaluating the assessment stages and approval processes of these grants to determine how the exercise of providing grants to stakeholders can be improved. This learning exercise will inform year two work planning. This quarter saw a change in both ACDI/VOCA headquarters project manger and Chief of Party (COP). Ms. Elizabeth Adams became the Agro Horizon HQ project manager early in the quarter. Futhermore, a new COP, Mr. Martin West, was recruited in May and approved in early June.
Six short term consultant assignments were completed this quarter. Mr. Geoffrey Chalmers conducted a financial services gap assessment. Mr. William Sparks and Ms. Tamara Ljubinkovic provided post harvest han-dling capacity building training and grants management and grants train-ing, respectively. Mr. Paul Schoen and Mr. Nico van Wageningen con-ducted complimentary technical assessments of the winter milk produc-tion and financial model, and Ms. Maria Bina Palmisano worked with M-Vector and the Agro Horizon M&E team to finalize the Baseline Survey and revised AMEP for submission to USAID.
At the end of this third quarter, Agro Horizon had the following deliverables and key project documents in process or waiting approval/comments from the USAID mission. The list below are pending approval.
1. Agro Horizon Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (AMEP) 2. Agro Horizon Project Fund Manual 3. Kyrygzstan PERSUAP Evaluation 4. Agro Horizon 2nd Quarterly Report 5. Agro Horizon Baseline Survey 6. Agro Horizon Gender Analysis 7. Agro Horizon Gender Assessment
In the fourth quarter, the project will focus on finalizing these documents so that planning for the year two work plan can commence with clear management tools such as the AMEP in place.
In addition, the project will continue to implement the active grants and assess the potential for scaling them up in Year Two.
ARO HORIZON OVERVIEW Agro Horizon is a key component of Feed the Future and USAID Kyrgyz Republic’s overall economic development program designed to accelerate diversified and equitable economic growth in the Kyrgyz Republic. The goal of the project is for the agricultural value chain(s) (fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, and eggs) to increase productivity and output, increase nutritious foods available to agricultural producers, increase employment in the agricultural sector,
SNAPSHOT OF AGRO HORIZON EARLY INITIATIVE GRANT ACTIVITIES
Stakeholders submitted 163 ideas and the grants committee considered all applications
12 grants were eventually approved and 3 grant applications transformed into service contracts
The USD value of individual grants var-ied in value from $3,433 to $37,609
Average USD Agro Horizon grant con-tribution was $11,984
Totaled USD value of the Agro Horizon contribution was $143,805
Average USD grantee contribution was $3,973
Total grantee USD contribution was $47,675
The geographic coverage of grants in-cluded all Oblasts (regions) in the pro-ject’s zone of influence
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 3
especially for women and youth, and increase the market share of crops in the value chains(s) in both domestic and foreign markets. Agro Horizon’s geographic focus areas comprise the oblasts of Osh, Batken, and Jalalabad in southern Kyrgyzstan, and the Naryn region in the north. With a focus on these four regions, the project engages actors in other locations that have market links to production in the target regions or the potential to strengthen competitiveness of the entire value chain for domestic or regional markets. To sustainably reduce poverty and promote agricultural economic growth, Agro Horizon will:
1. Increase productivity of agricultural producers and link them to markets 2. Increase productivity and markets for agribusiness 3. Improve the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth 4. Improve the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence
PROJECT START-UP Project startup activities were completed this quarter, with only one project position “Market Linkages Expert” remaining unfilled. This position has been advertised without success. Management will continue to recruit for the position.
II. INTRODUCTION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Kyrgyz Republic is part of the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative. Though not a focus country, USAID’s work in the Kyrgyz Republic contributes to the initiative’s high-level goals of reducing poverty and stunting, and the agency’s work is guided by Feed the Future operational principles. To further this initiative, the Agro Horizon project will enable the most vulnerable groups in the population, especially women and youth, and position the country to develop more effective public services while helping private companies gain the necessary skills to compete in contemporary markets that provide the bulk of the nation’s income. The project goal is to sustainably reduce poverty and promote agricultural economic growth. As such, the project is divided into four major task areas, which include:
1. Increase productivity of agricultural producers and link them to markets 2. Increase productivity and markets for agribusiness 3. Improve the enabling environment for agricultural sector growth 4. Improve the nutritional status of women and children in the zone of influence
While the project is divided as such for operational efficiency, these task areas and associated activities are tightly integrated. Task teams work internally and across tasks to achieve common goals and ensure project success. This may lead to some overlap or repetition when discussing activities and achievements in this report.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Detailed goals, targets, and objectives will be clarified in the AMEP project document once approved.
GEOGRAPHIC ZONES OF INFLUENCE The zone of influence for this project, and thus the area of geographic focus, is defined as the entirety of Batken, Jalalabad, Osh, and Naryn oblasts.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 4
III. IMPLEMENTATION TASK 1: INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS
AND LINK THEM TO MARKETS
OBJECTIVE The objective of Task 1 is to enhance the economic success of smallholders through target value chains and the development of a pluralistic advisory services market to improve the sustainability of benefits beyond the life of the project. The project will strengthen the capacity of farmers through existing group structures to link with buyers and improve on-farm management to increase productivity.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO DATE
ACTIVITY AREA 1.1: IDENTIFY PRODUCER GROUPS FOR PROJECT PARTICIPATION AND ELABORATE VC/BUSINESS UPGRADING PLANS
ACTIVITY 1.1.1 INTERIM LIST OF LOCATIONS AND PRODUCER GROUPS FOR Y1 INTERVENTIONS
Topic
Area
No. of
farmers
Grantee
1 Strawberry cultivation and marketing for fresh
market and processing companies
Jalalabad 150 RAS Jalalabad
2 Seed potato multiplication Chong Alai
(Osh)
10 TES Centre
3 Apricot tree care and improvement of primary
drying for delivery to processing companies
Batken 280 Hi Tech
4 Improved quality vegetables, fruits, and berries
for delivery to processing companies
Osh, Batken 900 TAIC (Training
Advisory and
Innovation Center)
5 Improvement and certification of fruit tree
nurseries
Kadamjay
(Batken)
60 TES Centre
6 Market access for vegetable self-
help groups
All 4 target oblasts 1,100 ADI (Agency for
Development
Initiatives) with
TAIC, ABCC, and
RAS Jalalabad
Vegetables for nutrition and
income in mountainous areas
Jalalabad
7 Vegetables, apricot, and apple productivity Batken 550 RAS Batken
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 5
and marketing
8 Vegetables for nutrition and income in
mountainous areas
Kara Kulja, Alai
(Osh)
465 RAS Osh
9 Potato productivity and marketing Naryn, Toguz
Toro (JA)
330 RAS Naryn (with
ADI input)
10 Vegetables for nutrition and income in
mountainous areas
Naryn, Toguz
Toro (JA)
350 RAS Naryn
11 Organic raspberry production in home gardens Jalalabad 200 Bio Service
12 Cherry marketing and nursery establishment Nooken (JA) 100 RAS Jalalabad
TOTAL 4,495
ACTIVITY 1.1.2 FACILITATE ORGANIZATIONAL, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT, AND VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PLANS
ROUNDTABLE ACTIVITY
The USAID Agro Horizon Project will facilitate increased income of small farmers and collaborate with agro enterprises through an extension of markets and increasing competitiveness in fruits, vegetables, and the dairy product value chain. The project will contribute to raising employment in the agricultural sector, in particular for women and young people together with food accessibility and increased target crop share in domestic and international markets. To introduce the project’s specific activities, a roundtable discussion was organized in Naryn at the end of June in the Khan-Tengri restaurant. Individuals and firms engaged in agriculture (production, processing, and marketing) and partnership organizations working in Naryn oblast were invited to the roundtable. Approximately 70 people attended the discussion. The objectives of the roundtable were:
Value chain participants and stakeholders will become familiar with the USAID Agro Horizon Project objectives and activities.
Participants discussed different interventions that are likely to raise farmer and SME productivity in the selected value chains.
Participants will discuss strategies for project implementation in Aiyl Aimaks in order to develop VC during the first year of activities.
The main topic of the roundtable in Naryn was Farmers’ Economic Success Improvement in the Value Chain . Participants included: farm leaders, farm groups and cooperatives, public foundations, associations, representatives from rural advisory services, international donors, oblast and rayon national administrations, and Naryn Oblast Aiyl Okrug heads. Please see table X below for the breakdown of the types of participants.
Table. Particpation in Naryn Roundtable by Participant Type
Type of participant # people
Representatives from the government and state structures 16
Representatives from NGO, PU, PF 11
Farmers, producers, processors 33
Journalists 4
AHOP specialists 8
Total (pers.) 72
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 6
Men 48
Women 24
Participants presented and discussed a variety of priorities for raising productivity of agricultural production by
smallholder farmers in order to improve the value chain for the following products: eggs, milk, potato, vegetables, fruits
and meat. Oblast government representatives also participated. Intense and fruitful discussions gave participants the
opportunity to share their opinions on the top priorities for each of these value chains:
Eggs:
1. Fodder-preparation houses for producing poultry fodder
2. Shops for chicken processing
3. Training/cooperation
4. Branding/quality certification
Milk: 1. Artificial insemination points (AIP) for breeding livestock
2. Fodder-preparation houses
3. Open collection points with cooler unit
Livestock: 1. Organize mobile slaughterhouses
2. Set up cooperatives, associations
3. Organize logistic center
4. AIP for pedigree livestock.
Potatoes: 1. Set up seed fund
2. Support with mini-equipment
3. Establish a logistic center
4. Work with laboratories to certify product quality
Fruits and vegetables: 1. Set up seed fund
2. Organize nurseries in each rayon
3. Organize demonstration plots for drip irrigation and disseminate among farmers
4. Set up associations and cooperatives
5. Organize training points
6. Training through specific technologists
The roundtable also discussed the various regions (villages) where the project would carry out target value chain interventions in the first year. During the roundtable, the project received three village councils from each rayon. The selection process of village councils was very active; and in some rayons Deputy Akims (leaders) dominated the discussion, making decisions without listening to other participants. For this reason, the present process should not be considered final. Instead, the village council selection should be discussed at a later date in the project and at the Oblast level in government. All the priorities proposed by participants at the roundtable discussion shall be transferred to the oblast state structures where they are revised and jointly with the Project staff’s participation one village council is selected from each rayon.
ACTIVITY AREA 1.2 INCREASE SMALLHOLDER PRODUCTIVITY IN SELECTED VALUE CHAINS
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 7
ACTIVITY 1.2.1 UPGRADE PRODUCTION PRACTICES
Naryn RAS CVs and TORs have been updated for project proposals on growing vegetables in an open ground (tomato, cucumber, cabbage, garlic, “Bordo” beet) to be reviewed for implementation as part of the Year 2 work plan. Naryn RAS CVs and TORs have been updated for project proposals on growing, harvesting, storing, and promoting potato to be reviewed for implementation. ACTIVITY 1.2.2 IMPROVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The project will work to improve management practices early in year two.
ACTIVITY 1.2.3 REALIZE INVESTMENT PLANS
The project will start investment plans in year two.
ACTIVITY AREA 1.3 FACILITATE MARKET LINKAGES ACTIVITY 1.3.1 ENHANCE MARKET LINKAGES THROUGH FACILITATION IN VALUE CHAINS
Project staff organized meetings with the representatives of the dairy product producers and processors, including the following individuals:
1. Gulmira Mambetalieva, Dairy Product producing PE, Kochkor rayon, Kochkor village
2. Temirbek Shabdanaliev, Temir-Too LLC, Kochkor village—logistic center issues
3. Mukambetkalyi Dootaliev, Alybek Kara-Kungei Cooperative, Kochkor rayon, Kara-Kungei village—kurut
(yogurt salt ball) production;
4. Nurbek Musaliev, Nur Cooperative, Naryn rayon, Uchkun village—kurut production;
5. Berdibek Jeenaliev, Naryn-Bereke LLC, Naryn City—production of milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt,
and kefir
6. Nurbek, Naryn-Et LLC—slaughter house
7. PE Elmira Turganbaeva, Naryn rayon, Dobolu village—milk collection and processing
SURVEY OF DAIRY ENTERPRISES AND PRODUCERS
Agro Horizon staff held a meeting at the end of June to survey the current situation of milk production and dairy
product processing in all five rayons of the Naryn oblast.
Staff completed survey questionnaires. Survey goal: assessment of the current status and potential of milk processing
enterprises; preliminary selection for collaboration under the “Winter Milk” model. A work group surveyed the enterprises,
consisting of two specialists and a regional manager, all with different agricultural and economic specialties: Elaman
Duishenbiev, Eldiar Abdykerimov, and Otkulbek Sheraliev.
The profiles of milk processing enterprises and milk producing and collecting entrepreneurs have been designed.
The team prepared a report of survey outcomes to assess the current status and future potential of milk processing
enterprises and sent the project management appropriate components.
ACTIVITY 1.3.2 STRENGTHEN MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) AND ACCESS
The project will start MIS and market access interventions in year two.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 8
ACTIVITY AREA 1.4 IMPROVE ACCESS TO FARM INPUTS AND SERVICE
ACTIVITY 1.4.1 IMPROVE ACCESS TO INPUTS AND SERVICES
Project staff visited drip irrigation plots in Baizak village Jumgal rayon.
They visited an installed drip irrigation line on the plot of of
Kurmanbek Niazov, a farmer. The system is working well so far, but
the vegetables are not fully irrigated yet as the plants are small, and fruit
trees are irrigated.
Under this sub-actiity, Kaplya Plus provided 15 ‘sotok’ of land for
vegetables and fruits. The project provided drip irrigation lines for this
land. As part of this grant, farmers contributed a 3000 liter tank and
1500 liter pump. The 15 sotok was comprised of apple trees (40
saplings on 5 sotok); carrot, red beet, cabbage, tomato, cucumber (on 5
sotok) and potato (on 5 sotok). Additionally two ‘sotok’ were provided
as a comparison or control.
Additionally, a grant was given to the Contracting Center to provide agricultural advice and hold meetings.
ACTIVITY 1.4.2 IMPROVE ACCESS TO FINANCE
The projects finance activities are discussed under Task 3
ACTIVITY AREA 1.5 BUILD CAPACITY OF ABSPS
ACTIVITY 1.5.1 UPDATE INFORMATION AND LEARNING MATERIALS
The project will update information and learning materials early in year two.
ACTIVITY 1.5.2 BUILD CAPACITY OF ABSPS
The project will directly address ABSP capacity early in year two.
ACTIVITY AREA 1.6 STRENGTHEN THE ADVISORY SERVICE MARKET
ACTIVITY 1.6.1 COORDINATION MECHANISMS FOR ADVISORY SERVICES
The project prepared the final version of the roundtable concept, program, and presentations for identifying agricultural service provider (ASP) gaps. The project held the roundtable and prepared and submitted a detailed report for discussion. A meeting was held with Naryn RAS Manager, ЦК Director, “Agro Platform” Leader; and we discussed future collaboration when providing advisory services.
The project staff also participated in a field day organized by the Public Union “AgroLead” under the project “Farmers’ Access Improvement to Good Quality Seeds and Plant Protection Means” with support of the “Local Market Development Project” Helvetas/ИККО; and conducted a field demonstration day on arranging experimental plots with vegetables for Chui oblast farmers.
The project collected and updated a database of the agricultural advisory service providers in the Kyrgyz Republic (including private companies and individual consultants). This work is ongoing. A working version of the database is enclosed.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 9
The project is creating an inventory of training materials on agriculture issued by RASP. To complete this inventory, the project created a table for data collection, which approved by management. The project is currently collecting training materials, and several RASPs sent their training materials. Experts will assess all training materials received. After the assessment, required materials will be improved and reissued.
The project collaborated with specialists from the south to analyze and collect materials on breeding farms. Based on the materials collected, the project prepared a list of breeding farms for the northern and southern regions. This list will be used when carrying out winter milk activities.
The project collected and analyzed proposed ideas for the winter milk model. The proposals and accompanying stages were reported to project management.
The project conducted interviews with organizations that practice milk production during the winter. The interviews revealed that these organizations do not increase milk production during the winter. Project staff compiled a list of all interviewed organizations and provided it to project management.
The project prepared a questionnaire on the winter milk model to identify potential farmers and present preliminary data to the international expert. The project will organize visits to farmers to carry out the survey. Survey results will be compiled in a report to inform the winter milk model.
A work plan has been designed on advisory service providers in the agricultural system and agribusiness. Currently, the project is developing a questionnaire and a list of potential beneficiaries, as per the schedule in the work plan.
ACTIVITY 1.6.2 GOVERNMENT STRATEGY AND CAPACITY FOR ABSP MANAGEMENT
The project will address government strategy and capacity building for ABSP managemet early in year two.
ACTIVITY 1.6.3 PROMOTING DIVERSIFICATION OF ABS MODELS
The project will promote diversification of ABS models early in year two.
TASK 2: INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND MARKETS FOR
AGRIBUSINESSES
OBJECTIVE The objective of Task 2 is to increase the competiveness of agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in target value chains, improve market access, and facilitate trade. Agro Horizon is working with actors in selected value chains to strengthen professional associations and encourage and support linkages to farmers.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO DATE During the reporting period, the Task 2 team accomplished tasks related to the following:
Winter milk model
Catalyzing grants
Development of grant documents on new initiatives
Other tasks
ACTIVITY AREA 2.1: INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS OF AGRIBUSINESSES
ACTIVITY 2.1.1 START UP ACTIONS – PREPARE APPROACHES/METHODOLOGY OF INTERVENTIONS
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 10
Start up has been completed
ACTIVITY 2.1.2 INTERIM LIST OF Y1 INTERVENTIONS
Recipient Purpose of the grant
Agro Trade
Platform – Osh
To promote closer links between value chains actors, facilitates sales of agricultural products and
achievement of pull effect for generating market and employment opportunities along the whole value
chain. Fifty-one participants attended, representing agricultural producers, processing, trading companies,
business development service providers, local governments, input suppliers and transportation companies.
As a result of Agro Trade Platform, producers and potential buyers signed 13 cooperation agreements and 8
agricultural products supply contracts.
Agro Trade
Platform –
Naryn
A similar Agro Trade Platform to the one described above for Osh is scheduled to take place in Naryn in
April.
Agro Expo To promote closer links between value chain actors and facilitate sales of agricultural products. Agro
Horizon supported the Association of Agribusiness men of Kyrgyzstan to conduct the 11th Agro Expo
2015. 146 participants visited the exhibition, of which at least 30% were women.
Eurasian
Economic
Community’s
Manual
To develop a manual on the Eurasian Economic Community’s technical regulations and sanitary,
phytosanitary and quarantine requirements for importers of agricultural products (fruits, berries, vegetables,
milk and dairy products, meat).
Kaplya Plus To promote effective use of water and land resources, prevent soil erosion, and facilitate closer links
between input suppliers and farmers, the project will support deployment of drip irrigation demonstration
plots and conduct trainings for farmers on drip irrigation systems at these demo plots. The activity will
increase farmers’ awareness about threats related to soil erosion and water scarcity, increase farmers’
knowledge of and desire to implement new and efficient approaches for agricultural production, namely drip
irrigation, which will lead to reclamation of additional land and eventually increase agricultural output and
productivity. We expect that 125 farmers will be trained on efficient water use and 200 farmers,
representative of local communities, organizations and government will participate in demonstration days.
Batken Jemishi
cooperative
To support Batken Jemishi cooperative in improving quality and marketing of dried apricots. Specifically,
this support assumes provision of trainings for cooperative members on international quality and food
safety standards, technical regulations, and certification procedures of the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU). This support will also assist to improve packaging and labeling, as well as obtaining EEU’s
certificate of conformity. This activity will help to promote dried apricots in domestic and export markets,
increase sales, increase purchase of locally sourced raw materials and, through that, increase incomes of
smallholder farmers and contribute to the development of the apricot value chain.
Alysh Dan
cooperative
To support the Alysh Dan cooperative to explore new methods of drying organic apricots, increase
productivity of organic dried apricots and promote food safety standards in the dried apricot value chain.
This grant will provide trainings for farmers on food safety and quality requirements.
GRANT PROGRESS TO DATE
A. BIS005 - Kaplya Plus, Support in deployment of drip irrigation demonstration plots
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 11
The project installed drip irrigation systems in eight demo plots in all four target oblasts. Two more demonstration plots were installed in Naryn and Batken oblasts in addition to six initially planned plots but within the initial budget. Locations, types and sizes of demo plots:
1. Batken region, Batken district, Bozadyr village—1 ha of apricot. The demo plot owners contributed 10 tons water reservoir and a 15 kW water pump
2. Batken, Kadamzhai district, Caravan village—0.5 ha of apricot, apple, cherry, peach garden. The farmer did not yet contribute a water reservoir and water pump
3. Osh region, Kara-Suu district, Zhylkeldi village—0.12 ha in greenhouses (tomatoes, cucumbers). The plot owner contributed 1t water reservoir and 1 kW water pump
4. Osh region, Kara-Suu district, Ak-Tash village—0.12 ha of greenhouses (tomatoes, cucumbers). The farmer contributed 0.2t reservoir and 1kW water pump
5. Jalalabad region, Aksy district, Kyzyl-Kapchygai village—0.85 ha of plum garden. The farmer contributed 10t reservoir and a water carrier
6. Naryn region, Jumgal district, Baizak village—0.05 ha apple garden, 0.15 vegetables filed (tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes). The farmer contributed 3t reservoir and 2kW water pump
7. Naryn, Kochkor district, Cholpon village—0.2 ha apple garden. The farmer contributed 3t reservoir and 1.5 kW water pump
The grant coordinator monitored the installation of drip irrigation systems at all plots. The documents for three milestones out of six were submitted without delays and approved by project management. In July, a series of workshops and field days on drip irrigation will take place on each demo plot. Currently project grantee organization Kaplya Plus is preparing to train and mobilize potential participants. The currently scheduled seminars on drip irrigation include:
1. Baizak village, Naryn region: July 9, 30 participants 2. Cholpon village, Naryn region: July 10, 30 participants 3. Bozadyr village, Batken region: July 20, 30 participants 4. Caravan village, Batken region: July 21, 30 participants 5. Zhylkeldi village, Osh region: July 24, 30 participants 6. Ak-Tash, Osh oblast: July 25, 30 participants 7. Kyzyl-Kapchygai, Jalalabad oblast: July 26-27, 60 invitees.
B. GRANT BIS007 ALYSH DAN, INCREASE PRODUCTION AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF ORGANIC DRIED APRICOTS
The project approved and this grant and signed the grant agreement in June. This grant envisages the purchase and installation of two types of apricot drying equipment—a solar-powered dryer and chimney driers—that can made from easily available material. By the end of June, the grantee, Alsyh Dan cooperative, prepared the production site and selected and ordered the main drying equipment. Task 2 has developed a SOW for the development of a technical description, drawings and instructions, and realization of trainings and demonstrations on building, assembling, and using chimney solar driers. Currently, the main drying equipment is being installed. Seminars and demonstrations for cooperative members on drying techniques and chimney driers will take place in July 2015.
C. GRANT BIS007 CONTRACTING CENTRE, AGRO TRADE PLATFORM IN NARYN
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 12
The USAID Agro Horizon Project initiated the Agro Trade Platform in Naryn in order to identify viable and promising value chains in the region, establish cooperation between value chain actors, and link them to markets. Farmers, processors, cooperatives, experts, representatives of financial institutions, and local governments participated in the event. The grantee, Contracting Centre, prepared a preliminary analysis of promising value chains and identified the sub-
sectors with the most potential—dairy, meat, and potato. The one-day Agro Trade Platform in Naryn took place on June 25, 2015 . Over 60 people participated in the event. Participants discussed existing issues in the dairy, meat, and potato sub-sectors, ways to overcome the issues, and possibilities for cooperation. They also expressed a wish for Agro Horizon Project to organize similar events at least once a quarter and organize trainings on value chain planning and management. As a result of the Agro Trade Platform in Naryn, a trading company from Kazakhstan, Basis Group, and local entrepreneur Bolot Tolonov agreed to cooperate on sales of soft smoked cheese in the Kazakh market. Basis Group is also planning to set up French fry production in Naryn and is holding talks with local farmers on supply of special kinds of potatos. Agrolead, a public fund specialized in agriculture development, found potential buyers of seed potato from Holland and suppliers of two thousand tons of potatos to sell in Russia this year.
D. GRANT BIS013 BATKEN JEMISHI, PACKAGING IMPLEMENTATION, CERTIFICATION OF DRIED APRICOTS, AND TRAINING ON QUALITY STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
The project signed this grant agreement in mid-June. The grantee will improve products’ packaging design to increase sales by the organization. By the end of June, the grantee organized a three-day training on technical regulations and food safety standards in Batken for 12 members of Batken Jemishi cooperative. The grantee has already identified a designer to develop a new design for packages of dried apricots, the packaging producers, and has obtained barcodes.
DEVELOPMENT OF GRANT DOCUMENTS FOR NEW INITIATIVES According to previous work plans, the Task 2 team developed grant documents for new initiatives aimed at rapid development of target value chains.
SOW on market analysis for target value chains and identification of market opportunities
SOW on training farmers to prepare chimney solar dryers
ACTIVITY 2.1.3 IDENTIFY AGRICULTURE SMES AND ACTIVITY 2.1.4 IMPLEMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Task 2 team has identified all active dairies and feed-mills in the zone of influence (ZOI) and developed a methodology of pre-assessment, company profile form, data collection tools, criteria, and forms for assessment. The team conducted a pre- assessment of needs, and production and organizational capacities of 16 short-listed SMEs in Osh, Batken, and Naryn oblasts, and developed a report on the assessment with ratings of SMEs and recommendation on potential partners in the Winter Milk model. The team entered profiles of the studied SMEs in the SME database. The Task 2 team also met with feed mills in Osh to identify possibilities of cooperation under the Winter Milk model.
PRE-ASSESSMENT OF SMES IN WINTER MILK MODEL Goal of study: to assess the current state and capacities of milk processing enterprises and to make a preliminary selection of suitable partners for collaboration in the Winter Milk model.
Tasks:
Define the set of evaluation criteria, develop data collection tools
Pre-select processing enterprises
Collect data about enterprises
Assess the enterprises’ capacities and motivation
Develop short list of potential partners
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 13
The project conducted the study from May 28 to June 5, 2015 in Naryn oblast and from May 25 to June 4, 2015 in Osh and Batken oblasts.
LIST OF THE ENTERPRISES SURVEYED IN NARYN OBLAST
# Enterprise Address Phone Numbers
1 Agricultural Cooperative “Shamshy–Ata” Naryn – Bereke
Naryn City 0773 09 11 79 Berdibek Jeenaliev
2 IE “Ak-Dan” Ak-Tala village, Naryn rayon
0779 42 8 763 0773 07 57 54 0705 07 57 54
Nurzat Omurkulova
3 Cooperative “NOOR” Uchkun village, Naryn rayon 0772 (552) 67 36 73 Nurbek Musaliev
4 Agricultural Cooperative “May-Bulak”
Tash-Bashat village, Naryn rayon
0707 67 25 76 0770 50 08 54
Mirbubu Abdyjaparbaeva
5 IE “Mol-Bulak” Turganbaeva Dobolu village, Naryn rayon 0702 23 83 10 Elnura Turganbaeva
6 CBO “Adysh-Bay” Min-Bulak village, Naryn rayon
0550 00 08 40 0703 60 03 83
Akylbubu Esenkanova
7 PE “Akhmatova Jenishkul” Kyrman plot, Bolshevik village, Kochkor rayon
0773 81 29 73 0557 04 69 04
Bolot Tolonov
8 PE “Gulmira Mambektalieva” 63, Isakeev Str. Kochkor village, Kochkor rayon
0709 92 74 11 Gulmira Mambektalieva
9 PE “Dotaliev Mukash” 3, Madaniyat Str., Kara-Kungei village, Kochkor rayon
0772 87 68 31 0555 36 69 16 0555 36 69 58
Mukash Dotaliev
10 IE “Jumgal-Ata Kurutu” 46a, Nazarbekov Str., Baizak village, Jumgal rayon
0707 49 29 42 Mairambek Ryskulov
11 “At-Bashi-Sut” Ltd. 32, Abykeev Str., At-Bashi village
0772 41 62 37 0708 00 03 13
Bakibay Omurakunov
LIST OF THE ENTERPRISES SURVEYED IN SOUTHERN OBLAST (OSH, BATKEN, JALALABAD)
№ Enterprise Address Phone Nos Leader
1 Osh Sut joint stock company 712, Lenin str., Osh Tel.: 03222 3 85 72, mob.: 559 20 24 27
Jakubali Atakulov
2 Shamsi Karakulov, PE 1, Kurmanjan Datka str., Batken
Mob.: 779 502 772 Shamsi Karakulov
3 Makhmudov, PE 918, Lenin str., Kyzyl-Kyshtak, Kara-Suu, Osh oblast
Mob.: 554 48 48 30 Mukhamadyusuf Makhmudov
4 Bai Sut LLC Jeerenchi, Uzgen Mob.: 777 11 22 49 Kubanych Osmonov
5 Tilen uulu Talas, PE 136а, Monuev str., Osh Mob.: 772 47 99 04, 555 90 33 91
Tilen uulu Talas
The study showed that in Jalalabad oblast and Ak-Tala rayon of Naryn oblast there are no milk processing companies. In these regions, as in Batken, local entrepreneurs are not interested in the dairy business. In Ak-Tala rayon, infrastructure is weakly developed and the rayon’s population does not buy milk because each household has its livestock and milk for consumption. Farmers were very interested in participating in the Winter Milk model. In Osh oblast and in Naryn oblast (two regions: Kochkor and Naryn), the project found that dairy processors were ready and had potential to be involved in a pilot winter milk model. The project pre-selected six dairy processors that were recommended to STTA for a visit and assessment.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 14
Following the pre-assessment, the Task 2 team developed a SOW for international consultants to conduct a feasibility analysis of winter milk in Kyrgyzstan.
ACTIVITY 2.1.5 IDENTIFY ‘BUSINESS CONSULTING’ ABSPS
The project staff identified dairy SMEs, as previously addressed in other sections.
ACTIVITY 2.1.6 OBSERVE DONOR ACTIVITIES IN ZOI
The project staff made regular visits to the ZOI to map donor activity and attended coordination meetings.
ACTIVITY 2.1.7 CAPACITY BUILDING OF SMES
The project will address capacity building of SMEs early in year two.
ACTIVITY 2.1.91 FACILITATE AG SME INVESTMENT IN SUPPLY CHAINS.
The project will address the facilitation of agricultural SME investement in supply chains early in year two.
ACTIVITY 2.1.10 SUPPORT WOMEN AND YOUTH SMALL BUSINESSES IN TARGET VALUE CHAINS
As this is a cross-cutting sub-activity, it is discussed throughout the other sections.
ACTIVITY AREA 2.2 IMPROVE MARKET ACCESS AND TRADE FACILITATION
ACTIVITY 2.2.1 STRENGTHEN TRADE INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The project will work to strengthen trade information systems early in year two.
ACTIVITY 2.2.2 DEVELOP AGRO HORIZON TRADE PROMOTION STRATEGY
The Task 2 team assisted Jalalabad oblast administration to hold the Jalalabad-2015 First International Business
Forum. The forum hosted over 200 guests from more than 10 countries, mainly from the business world. The forum
itself took place on July 9–10, 2015, but the Task 2 team was involved in extensive preparation activities. The USAID
Agro Horizon Project was one of the leading sponsors of this event, providing comprehensive financial and
organizational support.
ACTIVITY 2.2.3 SUPPORT WOMEN AND YOUTH SMALL BUSINESSES IN TARGET VALUE CHAINS
As this is a cross-cutting sub-activity, it is discussed throughout the other sections.
ACTIVITY 2.2.4 FACILITATE SME ADOPTION OF FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY STANDARDS
The project will work on food safety and quality standards early in year two.
ACTIVITY 2.2.5 EVALUATE SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION CAPACITY BUILDING
The project will focus on national certifiation capacity building early in year two.
ACTIVITY 2.2.6 DEVELOP ABSP DELIVERY OF STANDARDS ASSISTANCE
No action taken this quarter.
1 Please note that “2.1.8” was missing from the revised work plan that was submitted on February 6, 2015. We have maintained the structure in this document so that the reader can follow along with the sections of the work plan.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 15
ACTIVITY 2.2.7 ASSIST EXPORT READY SMES
No action taken this quarter.
TASK 3: IMPROVE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR AGRICULTURE
SECTOR GROWTH
1. OBJECTIVE The objective of Task 3 is to improve communication between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (GOKR) and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector to advance the policy and regulatory environment so that it is favorable to local
production, private investment, and international trade. In Q2, Agro Horizon focused on planning and laid a significant foundation for work in this area, working in close coordination with various GOKR departments, private sector
stakeholders, financial institutions, other USAID-funded projects, and other foreign development partners.
2. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO DATE
ACTIVITY AREA 3.1 SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL REPFORM AND HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
The Expert Group on the Optimization of the Structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Amelioration (MOA), (Expert Group), which was established according to a request from the GOKR, started its work on May 12, 2015 and provided its final report on July 13, 2015.
The Expert Group's deliverables were the following:
Recommendations on MOA’s structure based on brief functional review
Technical and strategic Capacity Building Plan for the MOA
A draft Standing Order of MOA
A draft Structure of the Central Apparatus of MOA;
A draft Structure of MOA
Expert Group’s final report
During the month of July, after review, presentation, and approval of the final report, an official letter will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office with the results of Expert Group’s work.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 16
On May 26, 2015, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Agro Horizon held a National Field Day on advanced technologies for cultivation of early fruits and vegetables in the Aravan rayon of the Osh oblast. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Taalaibek Aidaraliev, Governor of Osh oblast, Mr. Sooronbai Jeenbekov, and Director of the Economic Development Office of USAID Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Charles Specht attended this event. About 200 participants participated in this event, including farmers, members of agricultural cooperatives, staff of rayon agricultural departments, and agricultural service providers from across the country. The USAID Agro Horizon Project supported and prepared video materials about the event.
On June 9, 2015 members of the Expert Group Mr. Tynaev Saparbek, Mr. Hasanov Rafkat, Mr. Tashbolotov Maksatbek, and the Agro Horizon Project Enabling Environment Director, Mr. Tuleev Tamchybek met with Mr. Almaz Zheenaliev, Head of the Department of Agroindustry Complex (DAIC) of the Prime Minister's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss a partnership with the USAID Agro Horizon Project. The members of the Expert Group have informed Mr. Zheenaliev about their work and further plans.
Results, Conclusions and Recommendations:
Continue the work of the Expert Group and finalize the work according to the agreed dates.
The Expert Group will conduct consultations with the Minister of Agriculture regarding the optimization of structure of MOA.
Prepare to establish an Inter-Agency Agro Policy Working Group and recommendations on capacity building of the Policy Unit of the MOA.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 17
On June 18, 2015, the Agro Horizon Task 3 team and the members of the Expert Group conducted a formal presentation on the interim results of the Expert Group’s work for USAID representatives.
On July 23, 2015, the Experts Group presented the new optimized Structure of MOA to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Adaraliev, and the Head of Department of Agro-industrial Complex of the Prime Minister's Office, Mr. Jeenaliev. USAID, World Bank, and FAO representatives also participated in the meeting.
ACTIVITY AREA 3.2 SIMPLIFY ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
Agro Horizon collaboration with USAID Good Governance and Public Administration Strengthening (GGPAS) on human and institutional capacity development (HICD) of the MOA's Central Apparatus.
In Quarter 3, a series of meetings took place to discuss the potential collaboration of Agro Horizon and GGPAS. On June 18, 2015, another meeting of the Agro Horizon and GGPAS teams involved representatives of the USAID Mission to the Kyrgyz Republic. Two potential joint projects were discussed during the meetings: a) Conducting a functional analysis of the MOA: The GGPAS project could potentially help to conduct an inclusive
functional analysis of the MOA's Central Apparatus to help optimize efficiency within the new structure. Agro Horizon would implement solutions identified by the functional anaysis.
b) Establishing an Inter-Agency Agricultural Policy Working Group (APWG): GGPAS could potentially engage international human and institutional capacity development STTA to help an APWG develop a clear TOR, policies, procedures, and processes to maximize effectiveness. This is a very interesting potential model for cross-agency coordination that could be modeled for other sectors. GGPAS's assistance would relate to management and operational aspects of the APWG, not policy and technical aspects.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 18
The Agro Horizon's Task 3 team provided an updated presentation on the MOA's optimization process, which was recently finalized by the Expert Group. Agro Horizon circulated the final report on optimization of the MOA's structure among interested organizations, including USAID, World Bank, FAO, and GGPAS to solicit comments and feedback.
Further steps on the MOA’s functional analysis with GGPAS include:
Conducting the Performance Gap Assessment of the MOA's Central Apparatus by GGPAS
Developing and implementing the Performance Improvement Solution Package by Agro Horizon after the Performance Gap Assessment
Developing Standardized Approaches and Tools to Support Performance Improvement and Capacity Development Activities on the USAID Forward / HICD
In Quarter 3, the Agro Horizon Project researched/studied and developed a set of standardized approaches and tools to support its performance improvement activities with different local partner organizations that will include local civil society organizations/NGOs, private sector organizations, and the GOKR through the Ministry of Agriculture and Amelioration. In particular, Agro Horizon will work in close collaboration with the USAID GGPAS program to learn more about its HICD approach, methodologies, and tools, as well as to research other USAID projects/programs, methodologies, tools, and approaches.
Results: 1. Studied/researched USAID projects and/or developed own Agro Horizon HICD processes.
Studied/researched the USAID Human and Institutional Capacity Development Handbook (USAID HICD)—a USAID Model for Sustainable Performance Improvement
Good Governance and Public Administration Strengthening (GGPAS) Program's HICD Overview
Studied/researched the USAID Collaborative Good Governance (CGP) Program's tools for organizational diagnostics
2. Studied/researched the USAID Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool (USAID OCA) for partner organizations funded by USAID.
Prepared the simplified Agro Horizon Organizational Capacity Assessment Tool for USAID Forward / HICD
Organizational/Institutional Areas/Scope of Diagnostics 1. Defined selection criteria for identification and selection of partner organizations for the USAID Forward / HICD.
Agro Horizon Organization Selection Criteria
ACTIVITY AREA 3.4 INCREASE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS In Quarter 3, the finance team organized and conducted meetings with processors in Bishkek, Chui, Osh, and Jalalabad regions with ACDI/VOCA Technical Managing Director Douglas L. Leavens and ACDI/VOCA’s Senior Technical Director of Investments from HQ.
The finance team conducted a survey of the financial and economic activities of following processors:
Bishkek and Chui oblast: Tokmok Fruit and Vegetable, Trading Company ‘Vestra Food”, LLC Bishkek Expo, Ecoproduct Asia, LLC Galenpharm, Agrolead, LLC Ptitsefabrika, LLC Janart Agro, LLC ALabel.
Osh oblast: PE “Bayogliev”; LCC “Lesnoy Product”; LCC “Alaiku Organics”; PE “Azizov”, JSC “Kelechek”, LCC “Bai-Sut”, PE “Dosbaeva”, PE Tynybekov Bektur (Borsok). During the meeting, project staff discussed the type of investments needed to grow processing companies and increase
those impacts, the issues about the history and financial situation of the organizations, and necessary investments and their conditions.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 19
Results:
• Interviewed all processors that were shortlisted by Task 2
• Prepared financial reports of processors for STTA
Provided preliminary financial data of potential processors to Task 2/STTA.
The following activities began:
Analyze training requests for smallholder engagement
Study agreement and find requirements according to DCA contracts
Define requirements that should correspond to Demir Bank's operations
Study Demir Bank’s internal lending policy
Define gaps on requirements
Upon completion of these activities, the project will determine the assistance that can be provided to Demir Bank.
ACTIVITY 3.4.1 CONDUCT FINANCIAL SERVICE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
In May, the project began an Access to Finance Assessment, designed to inform the project strategy and planning process and launch new activities. The analysis identified interested institutions with which to further develop and expand appropriate financial products and services for agriculture production, processing, trading and related support services. The Access to Finance analysis and the resulting recommendations integrated within the broader vision and strategy of the Agro Horizon Project. The project conducted key stakeholder interviews focusing on the demand side of access to finance (particularly buyer-side SMEs and producer organizations), while identifying and overseeing a local financial sector expert to conduct a full supply-side financial landscape.
ACTIVITY 3.4.2 EXPAND FINANCIAL PRODUCTS THROUGH THE PROJECT FUND The project will use the results of the Access to finance Assessment to expand financial products in Q4 and in year two.
ACTIVITY 3.4.3 EXPAND MOBILE MONEY SERVICES
The Access to Finance team also started working to study/research:
Mobile money services provided by KICB El Som and Commercial Bank Kyrgyzstan
Regulatory frameworks
Licensing permitting activities
Pricing for this service
Mobile banking business models
Range of available mobile banking services
Rural mobile wallets agents
The objective of this research is to expand the provision of mobile services and electronic payment systems to rural areas. This will increase access to finance as a tool for the payment system. By using mobile money systems, payments for goods and services (including loans) will be simplified and less expensive for farmers. In this context, the project plans to cooperate with the “Elsom” OJSK “KICB” and OJSK “Kyrgyzstan Bank” to expand the coverage of mobile banking. In addition, the team studied the business model of KICB bank's Elsom, studied practical use of applications, opportunities for local farmers, and looked for the existence of client distance services by using financial agents. Also, the team completed market research on the mobile wallet and mobile banking (MB).
Results:
Collected information on MB
Collected information about the concept of agents on the basis of Elsom
The introduction of the MB in the framework of Agro Horizon Project
Model of promoting mobile banking
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 20
Collected information about the notion of agents* on the basis of Elsom. Information about agents was prepared at a meeting with representatives of the KICB
Also, the Access to Finance team attended the conference "E-commerce 2015", which took place on May 29, 2015 at the JANNAT Regency Hotel. This was the first large conference on electronic and mobile commerce, Internet marketing, and multi-channel commerce in Kyrgyzstan, which attracted a large number of participants in online business.
Results:
Learned about the National Bank's regulatory framework on mobile money
Met with leading mobile money firms
ACTIVITY 3.4.4 SUPPORT FI ACCESS TO DCA
During Q3, Agro Horizon has begun working with Demir Bank under the USAID-funded, agriculture-focused DCA contract. This work will continue into the next quarter.
TASK 4: IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
IN THE ZONE OF INFLUENCE
OBJECTIVE ACDI/VOCA developed the Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Toolkit (Nutri-SAT) for use in the creation and integration of nutrition sensitive agriculture programs. The toolkit has five main components that are used to determine the best entry points for nutrition improvement within the program. When used together, they give a more comprehensive picture of the food purchasing and consumption practices of our target beneficiaries and their families. This information allows the project to tailor interventions for specific needs to get the most impact from the program. These integrated activities will be targeted to work within those specific program objectives since the project’s goal is to make livelihoods and agricultural activities nutrition-sensitive.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROGRESS TO DATE Activities this quarter:
1. Nutrition assessment for Osh and Batken 2. Integration with other tasks 3. Participation in SUN Alliance’s activities 4. Collaboration with Republican Centre of Health Promotion on WASH and Nutrition 5. Collaboration with the Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations, in Nutrition Globally project
(SPRING) 6. TOT on WASH for AHOP partners
7. Development of module, poster on home economics, and Scalable Tracker for Imparting Certified Knowledge
and Skills (STICKS) for trainings
ACTIVITY AREA 4.1: INTEGRATE APPROPRIATE NUTRITION MESSAGING INTO AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 21
ACTIVITY 4.1.1 ADAPT AND IMPLEMENT FARMER-FOCUSED NUTRITION MODE
During March–April 2015, Agro Horizon conducted seven focus group discussions (FGD) in Batken and Osh oblasts, with another session in Jalalabad city to provide an urban comparison. Because SPRING had already conducted formative research in Naryn and throughout Jalalabad Oblast, Argo Horizon decided to concentrate on the two remaining target areas. The Agro Horizon nutrition manager, nutrition coordinator, and gender specialist worked with the monitoring and evaluation team to choose municipalities and villages that reflect the diverse make-up of these regions. Characteristics included multi-ethnicity, mono-ethnicity, mountainous location, plains location, remote border town, and distance to a central market. The group demographics were seven to 11 women varying in ages from 18 to 60. The staff asked each group a similar list of questions around typical winter and summer diets, preservation and storage habits, and how long stores last, food purchasing gender dynamics, prevalence of multi-generational homes, and around desire and barriers to growing home fruits and vegetables. These questions helped determine and inform interventions and messaging around diet diversity and home gardening.
TARGET AREAS
# of districts District
name
FGD delivery
date
Municipality
name
Village name Criteria for selection of target
areas
1. Aravan 03/16/2015 Usupova Aravan Village close to the central market
Mangyt Jany-Aryk
2 Uzgen 03/18/2015 Kurshab Kurshab Multi-ethnic village
3 Kara-Kulja 03/19/2015 Kara-Kulja Kara-Kulja Village in mountainous area
4 Batken 03/27/2015 Kara-Bak Kara-Bak Village far from central market
5 Kadam-Jai 03/28/2015 Uch-Korgon Palman Remote and bordering village
6. Kara-Suu 04/01/2015 Nariman Nariman Multi-ethnic village
Target areas for FGD were selected on the basis of a database maintained by the M&E team. Criteria for selection of
target places to conduct FGD were:
1. Dense populated municipality
2. Dense populated village in (1)
3. Village close to the central market
4. Village far from central market
5. Village in mountainous area
6. Remote and bordering village
7. Mono ethnic village
8. Multi ethnic village
The aim of the FGDs was to investigate the general dietary diversity of people in different areas (mountainous and plain)
and analyze existed gaps between the possibilities and availabilities at the market in order to improve the nutritional
status of woman and children. The project adapted the FGD tool from Save the Children, customizing questions and
product lists. The FGD consisted of 25 questions with skips.
Key findings:
The diet of populations throughout Batken and Osh do not differ greatly, even with diverse geography and ethnic cultures. There is some variation in availability and thus nutrient dense foods may be less readily available in some areas, such as remote Palman in Kadamzhai, than in others, such as Karabak in Batken where the market receives a variety of fruits and vegetables from Tajikistan.
There is a need for continued messaging about nutritious food sources and budgeting. During the focus group discussions, no one was able to identify foods that contained key vitamins and minerals. In addition, it became apparent that the family member in charge of purchasing food varies by context. It could be the oldest woman
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 22
of the household, particularly in multi-generational households, or depending on women’s mobility, it could be a male relative who goes to the market.
Food allocation within the household varies by location. It is not uncommon for daughter-in-laws to cook and serve the meal and have to eat last, or even not consume meat. Husbands and mother-in-laws were identified as the main household decision-makers.
While families have at least .02 ha of land, most in the FGD said that they did not have interest or did not have the capacity to use it for home food production. They cited lack of information on technologies, lack of irrigation, and preference for being hired to work others’ land for a stable income as reasons for not growing any or more food for themselves.
Families preserve food for the winter, but either the nutrition value is low or they run out before spring supplies make it to market. They end up eating mostly bread and other grains. Pickling, freezing, and drying are not widely-used techniques for preservation and storage of fruits and vegetables.
ACTIVITY 4.1.2 INTEGRATE SPRING’S NUTRITION AND WASH CAMPAIGN MESSAGING IN AGRO HORIZON NUTRITION TRAINING MODULE
From the beginning, the SPRING project was responsible for supplying AHOP with their behavior change communication (BCC) materials. As the project received materials on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) from SPRING later than expected, the nutrition team took inventory of already-existing materials on WASH. The inventory showed that Republican Centre for Health Promotion, UNICEF, the Aga Khan Foundation, and local NGOs developed and piloted their materials. The project asked donor to agree to using other organizations’ BCC materials without USAID logo until SPRING could supply AHOP with their posters, leaflets, and brochures. The Republican Centre for Health Promotion kindly shared four types of WASH materials, totaling 4,550 pieces, and four types of promotional materials on zoonotic diseases, totaling 100,000 pieces. The project collaborated with the SPRING project to develop a module on WASH, incorporated with gender and M&E sessions. The project held a one-day training of trainers (TOT) on WASH messages for representatives from each ABSP in four districts: Jalalabad, Osh, Batken, and Naryn. The TOT reached 66 participants (29 men and 37 women), and will reach 3,672 beneficiaries. The module contains the following themes. 1) Five critical moments of hand washing 2) Low cost / no cost material to make a hand washing station appropriate for adults and kids 3) Water sanitation, of how keep and store drinking water 4) Role of personal hygiene to prevent illnesses 5) Latrines maintaining 6) Waste management, composting 7) S&H in cattle and livestock breeding The Task 4 staff, the gender manager, and the M&E coordinator facilitated the trainings. Facilitators conducted the training session according to a planned program, applying interactive methods. The ToT program consisted of theoretical and practical components, with practical sessions following theoretical presentations. The practical sessions involved group work and the “assigned trainer” conducted the session to the audience. Two participants—one trainer and one group leader—with different backgrounds were deliberately selected to make a 30 minute presentation on WASH. The trainer received feedback from the facilitator and their peers after the training and they have discussed the recommendations as a larger group. This was very useful exercise for trainees. Participants were sensitized to a gender perspective and introduced to AHOP‘s M&E indicators and procedures. USAID published pictures from WASH training on their Facebook page. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1034279866597277.1073741920.210187905673148&type=3 Additionally, representatives from each ASP got handouts approved by MOH (Ministry of Health) and developed by Republican Health Promotion Center. They received 4,000 leaflets on sanitation and hygiene and 500 posters on
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 23
“Summer to Fall: the time to burning out inflectional diseases”. Certificates of participation were distributed for the participants of the WASH TOT.
Place
conducted TOT
Date Grantee # of trainees
Gender # of farmers
expected to be trained by ABSPs
# of Trainers
Group leaders
Farmers m F
Osh 12.06.2015
TES Center
13
10 3
12 3 2
Kaplya Plus 250 1
TAIC 900 2
RAS Osh 446 5
Jalal Abad 16.06.2015 Ras Jalalabad
20 4 16
150 5 6
Bioservice 200 5 4
Batken 19.06.2015
TAIC
17
10 7
2
TES Center 200 1
Hi Tech 280 1 1
Ras Batken 550 6
Alysh Dan 84 1 4
Batken Jemishi 120 1
Naryn 26.06.2015 Ras Naryn 16 5 11 480 7 9
66 3,672
ACTIVITY 4.1.3 FACILITATE HOME ECONOMIC TRAINING THROUGH ASPS
The project will hold home economic trainings through ASPs during year two.
ACTIVITY AREA 4.2 PROMOTE GOOD PRACTICES Project staff held a number of meetings with SPRING regarding cooperation and development of training modules.
Those meetings gave a chance to set a timeframe for developing various types of informative materials and modules.
Agro Horizon representatives shared their own plans and views on potential interventions. A Memorandum of
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 24
Understanding (MOU) between AHOP and SPRING finally was signed. It was agreed that Agro Horizon will help
SPRING to organize FGDs to test the newly developed materials and a cookbook in SPRING’s zone of influence. A
two day workshop was initiated and organized by SPRING for 13 staff members of Agro Horizon (specifically staff
from tasks 1, 2, and 4, gender mainstreaming manager, and M&E team). It was conducted by technical advisors of
SPRING: Ashley Aakesson, SBCC Advisor; Kristina Beall, SBCC Manager; and Victor Pinga, Agriculture Advisor. The
content of the workshop was developed with the aim to introduce the agriculture-to-nutrition pathways framework for
improving nutritional outcomes through agriculture to align agriculture and health program interventions. The workshop
consisted of two parts: theoretical and practical.
The SUN movement is a community of knowledge, expertise and skills that can be harnessed to support the capacity of
individuals to work effectively together to scale up nutrition. The SUN movement has four main indicators and the third
overlaps with the objectives of Agro Horizon’s Task 4. This indicator says “This process describes the progressive
changes needed to create a legal and policy environment where nutrition action is prioritized and enabled. Such a legal
environment is created by the existence of legislation related to nutrition. In addition, the enabling environment for
nutrition is created through the existence of nutrition-specific policies, strategies and plans, as well as updated nutrition-
sensitive policies in areas such as agriculture”. As such, Agro Horizon Task 4 staff participated in two of the SUN
movement’s activities this quarter. 1. A workshop entitled “Business engagement in nutrition” which covered the
assessment of progress the SUN interventions, held on May 7, 2015, and 2. A teleconference on Strengthening a culture
of effective partnering in the SUN Movement, on May 26, 2015.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
In January 2015, an environmental compliance expert, Ms. Susan Anderson reviewed the programmatic PERSUAP, approved in May 2011, for the USAID Kyrgyz Republic mission and develop the Environmental Manual and Framework Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EM/FEMMP) for Agro Horizon. The revision of this document has taken place this quarter and the project awaits USAID for final approval
PROJECT GRANT FUND
This document has been with USAID contracts office for this quarter. The project awaits comment.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT, CROSS CUTTING, AND LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
BASELINE SURVEY Agro Horizon’s key partner and subcontractor M-Vector guided a baseline survey in the four targeted project oblasts. This quarter the baseline was finalized and presented to the project and USAID representation.
GENDER ACTIVITIES Two project documents, Gender Analysis and Gender Strategy & Action Plan, were finalized and submitted to USAID Bishkek office in June 2015. The gender analysis was resubmitted after it had incorporated the comments of USAID dated from April 2015. The Gender Strategy & Action Plan is complementary to the analysis and describes how we interpreted findings and recommendations given in the analysis. The strategy also has plan of activities for the first year, designed on the basis of priority planning of the four project tasks. The two documents have already been presented and discussed with USAID Gender Advisers Patty Alleman, Mahabbat Alymkulova, Charles Specht and Zeinep Isakova on 16 June 2015 following USAID’s gender training. On April 28, 2015, the Gender Team presented Gender Audit to the roundtable of ASPs initiated by Task 1. It was discussed that the project will hire a consultant(s), who will develop the methodology and execute the auditing. Upon the
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 25
findings, the service providers will receive support from the project to draw a plan of development and/or improvement of their agency and performance. One of the options is to facilitate a self-audit with each of the advisory service providers. USAID Forward agencies will also receive support from the project to do gender audit in their organizations. A gender audit will be integrated into the agency’s general assessment procedure and be carried out by the HICD international consultant. Six local agencies and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture may develop gender corporate commitment, based on findings and recommendations of gender-integrated assessment. Gender TOT training was provided within WASH series of trainings in Osh (June 12), Batken (June 19) and Naryn (June 26). Presentation was developed for extension service providers who got contracted by the project and have already started their interventions. One-hour presentation, including active discussion, was organized in every oblast center for trainers and consultants. The training is a part of holistic and long-term support to ASPs which implement Agro Horizon contracts. The Gender Mainstreaming Manager attended the Trade Platform organized in Naryn on June 25 and met with a number of women entrepreneurs and farmers in dairy production and processing. Thirty-one percent of platform participants were women and were engaged in production and/or processing of cow milk. Dairy businesses in Naryn both managed by women and men employ many women workers in processing technology. Apart from this, the dairy sector supports the increase in income of rural women farmers who supply processing businesses with milk every day. Some of the businesses have women in management. The Platform women leaders have recommended that the project deliver trainings on hygiene and sanitation in Naryn, with a focus on women who are in direct contact with milk. It was also advised to conduct trainings on home economics and budgeting and involve as many as possible male members of households to increase their commitment in the family business. Trainings for households on joint decision making will be more effective to reduce gender inequality, family violence and improve production management and investments into family business/income than trainings solely women. The gender team provided inputs to a SOW on conducting a market analysis. They advised that the analysis should carry out activities from a gender and age perspectives and look at constraints in market opportunities and marketing capacities separately for women, men and youth. The analysis will help us to identify where women and young farmers and entrepreneurs should focus most to reach sustainable, year-round, feasible and profitable agribusiness opportunities. Although, the gender analysis found that women and men are engaged in all target value chains to different extents and levels, not all of them fit equally the needs and expectations of households and businesses. As in the case of Batken, for example, women are engaged in sheep fattening, organic egg production and dairy goats as the more year-round income generating activity which may increase their family income, the level of woman’s control of income, and nutrition status of the family. Additionally, gender inputs were made in the development of SOW on water management, soil fertility and winter milk. The selection of winter milk model farmers and processing companies have gender as one of the criteria for selection. As the WEAI indicator is not implemented by Agro Horizon, and is population-based and measured only every 2-3 years, it is challenging to work with this indicator. The gender team discussed that it needs indicators that are measured by the Agro Horizon M&E team annually and recommended to include the following two indicators:
Proportion of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic
resources (assets, credit, income or employment)
Proportion of females who report increased self-efficacy at the conclusion of USG supported
training/programming, measured yearly.
Especially the self-efficacy indicator is a valid alternative for measuring the effects on empowerment. Furthermore, as outlined in the last chapter of the strategy, Agro Horizon will gender-disaggregate most of the “new” indicators (total 23)
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 26
such as gross margin, farm sales, employment, households benefitting, individuals and organizations trained and applying, policy, value of loans, loan products, household diet diversity. This will help the project to see how Agro Horizon is performing with regards to gender. The Agro Horizon Gender Specialist assisted the Nutrition Team in developing the home economics module for the mass trainings on water management and soil fertility. The nutrition team is to working to develop and incorporate home economics training, including household budgeting to support better nutrition and more consistent consumption of micronutrients over the year, as well as techniques for safe and proper storing and preserving of foods, especially fruits and vegetables for winter months.
ADMINISTRATIVE/OPERATIONS FIELD OPERATIONS In Q3 both the Bishkek and Osh offices continue to be fully equipped and operational. Both offices have ample operating space for different teams and departments including conference rooms for internal staff meetings, and partners, beneficiaries, and stakeholders. Modes of communication among the offices and staff are fully operational as well including internet connection, local area connection and USB modems, and mobile phones with internet connections. The ACDI/VOCA internal Operational Policy and Procedures Manual has been adopted and implemented. Currently further intergration of the Sub contractor Helvetas is being implemented to create a standard system for Agro Horizon staff. To that end, the ACDI/VOCA Human Resource specialist arrived at the end of this quarter to assess the current HR situation and provide recommenadtions lon salary structures, employee liability insurance and the instution of staff health insurance. HQ OPERATIONS In Q3 ACDI/VOCA Headquarters (HQ) office saw change in management of the Agro Horizon project both at HQ and in in the field and mobilized 7 short term consultant assignements. The HQ Agro Horizon project manager left ACDI/VOCA and Elizabeth Adams took over responsibilities. Her labor approval was submitted on May 20 and was approved on May 27. The current Agro Horizon Chief of Party (COP), Ken Smith, resigned as of May 12, 2015. ACDI/VOCA submitted a key persoonel, salary and TCN waiver request for Mr. Martin West on May 12 which was subsequently approved on June 3. The following short term consultant assignments were conducted during this quarter and produced the following deliverables:
№ Name Purpose of Trip Dates Deliverables
1 Mr. Geoffrey Chalmers Finance assessment and work plan implementation inputs
April 6 – April 11 Trip report and finance assessment report
2 Mr. William Sparks Post harvest handling capacity building training
May 2 – May 18 Trip report and udated components of Sell More For More
3 Ms. Tamara Ljubinkovic Grants management and grants training support
May 2 – May 19 Trip report and grant monitoring and reporting tools
4 Mr. Paul Schoen Winter milk production financial model assessment
July 1 – July 21 Trip report and winter milk production financial model report
5 Mr. Nico van Wageningen Winter milk production assessment
July 1 – July 21 Trip report and winter milk production report
6 Ms. Maria Bina Palmisano M&E support June 25-26, and 29 Trip Report and revised AMEP
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 27
IV. MONITORING, DATA
COLLECTION AND REPORTING
USAID - AGRO HORIZON PROJECT PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TABLE:
TARGETS FOR QUARTER 3 APRIL - JUNE 30TH , 2015
Ind. #
Indicators' Name Unit of Measure Achieved by Q-3
Expected by the end of PY-1
Q-4: Pro-jected
Comments
P Project Level
1 Expenditures of rural households (proxy for income) of USG targeted beneficiaries
Expenditures in local currency converted to US dollars/ House-hold/Month
n/a
2 Average Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS)
Number/ Score n/a
3 Women‘s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI)
Number/ Score n/a
4 Number of Rural Households benefit-ing directly from USG assistance
Number/HH 500
4,000
2,500
5 Number of Target Value Chain (TVC) private enterprises assisted
Number/ Organiza-tions
101
120
n/a
6 Number of individuals trained Number 900
5,000
2,500
I Farmers & Market
7 Gross margin per hectare, animal or cage of selected product
Dollars/hectare(crops, aquaculture in ponds); dollars/animal (milk, eggs, live animals, meat); or dollars/cage (open-water aquacul-ture)
TBD
8 Value of incremental sales (collected at farm-level)
USD TBD
9 Number of farmers and others who have applied improved technologies or man-agement practices as a result of USG as-sistance
Number/ Individual TBD
10 Number of Linkages Established with Buyers or Partners as a Result of USG assistance
Number/ Individual TBD
II Ag. SMEs & Market
11 Value of incremental sales (collected at USD TBD
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 28
enterprise-level)
12 Number of jobs attributed to implementa-tion
Number/ Jobs TBD
13 Score, in percent, of combined key areas of organization capacity
Number TBD
14 Number of private enterprises (for profit), producer organizations, water/pasture users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and CBOs that applied new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance
Number/ Organiza-tion
n/a
15 Number of New/Improved Products and Services developed by beneficiaries assist-ed
Number/ Products TBD
III Enabling Environment
16 Value of Agricultural and Rural Loans USD
17 Percentage of beneficiaries who used fi-nancial services (savings, agricultural credit) in the past 12 months
Percent TBD
18 Number of New Financial Products and Services Adapted and Tailored to the needs of selected VC actors
Number n/a
19 Numbers of Policies/ Regulations/ Ad-ministrative Procedures in each of the following stages of development as a resultof USG assistance in each case: Stage 1: Analyzed; Stage 2: Drafted and presented for public/stakeholder consul-tation; Stage 703: Presented for legislation/decree; Stage 4: Passed/approved; Stage 5: Passed for which implementation has begun
Number 0
IV Nutrition & Women
20 Women’s Dietary Diversity: Mean num-ber of food groups consumed by women of reproductive age
Number TBD
21 Percentage of Households with Soap and Water at a Hand Washing Station Com-monly used by Family Member
Percent n/a
22 Percentage of respondents who know at least 3 of the 5 critical moments for hand washing
Percent n/a
23 Number of people trained in child health and nutrition through USG-supported health area programs
Number / Individual 900 5,000 5,000 individual
N.B. As noted above this table is assumed as these indicators are not confirmed in the proposd Agro Horizon AMEP
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 29
The following are the key activities that were focused on Monitoring, Data Collection, and Reporting during the Quarter-3; April – June, 2015: Agro Horizon’s Baseline Survey Results: The USAID Agro Horizon’s key partner-subcontractor M-Vector presented the results of the Baseline Study Results to the Agro Horizon project Task managers, M&E team, Agro Horizon project top managers, and the USAID/KR representatives. The presentation was scheduled for 3 hours. Both qualitative and quantitative parts were presented in combination. The presentation was followed by Q – A and discussions, and the feedback was taken into account for further finalization. However, the feedback gave minor changes to the report since it was reviewed and discussed by the Task manager prior to the presentation. The M&E team routine activities: The M&E team; particularly Regional coordinators and managers conducted observations, spot checks in all forms of data collection in all four oblasts. They participated in the several Round Tables, grants activities in all four oblasts. Participation in other Project activities: The team also participated in the Grants Committees and Milestones deliverables with the senior technical personnel. Overall there were 12 grants for about $150,000. Agro Horizon M&E team support by the ACDI/VOCA HQ: Senior M&E Director of the HQAV worked with the M&E Agro Horizon Team member for 5-working days. This work covered meetings with Agro Horizon project managers, USAID/KR representatives, SI, and M-Vector; reviewed the Baseline results; modification of AMEP; reviewed the data collection tools; and Database items modifications. Agro Horizon’s Database: the Database entered the data of the beneficiaries (BNFs) that are based on filled forms from the field coordinators. Overall, about 900 BNFs data had been entered to the SharePoint Database of the project. Seminars, workshops: The M&E team members actively took part in various meetings, seminars and other events. The events that M&E team participated are mostly organized by the Agro Horizon project management, USAID/KR mission, and the project partners. They included participating in the workshops and seminars by the National Statistics Committee, SI, KREG projects, and partners. Meetings: Meetings on program implementation procedures that included discussions on communication between the Task Leaders and Grantee organizations. Indicators & Results Framework: The project indicators and Results Frameworks had been simplified with the help of new project management; COP and HQ representatives (the screenshots of the RFs are in the Annex 1) Some Field activities: The M&E staff took part in the field interventions by doing M&E activities and support for the activities organizations; e.g. WASH TOT of Task 4 in four oblasts, RAS-JA on strawberry project, TES-Center, and Drip Irrigations project. They visited 6 sites including Batken, Osh, JA, and Naryn Oblasts. All M&E team participated activities in the fields had followed by two types of reports; “Immediate Feedback from M&E on ToT WASH in Osh” and “M&E Report on ToT WASH in Jalalabad.”
The M&E team managers participated in implementation of interventions of each 4 tasks including M&E and supportive activities. The following are the key points for each task: IR-1: Developed detailed Report on National Workshop on progressive way of growing cherries and early vegetables to farmers in Aravan rayon. Participated in the reviews of the Milestone deliverables conducted for 5 grant projects; BIS004, BIS006, BIS005, BIS009, BIS010. Monitoring visit conducted to grant project activity Strawberry production and marketing in Jalalabad BIS003.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 30
IR-2: Agro Business Trade Platform in Naryn Oblast was conducted with participation of 59 people. The monitoring activities and an overall organizational support was provided during event. IR-4: A series of ToTs for the ABSPs on “WASH 5 critical moments of hand washing” were conducted by the task leaders and the M&E team supported conducting the activities. The trainings conducted in June 12, 16, 19 and 26 in all four ZOI oblast centers with participation of 66. Each training was evaluated observed and evaluated by the M&E team members.
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 31
ANNEX I: APPROVALS SUMMARY
Kyrgyzstan Agro Horizon Project October 1, 2014 - September 30, 2018
Approvals to Date for Year 1
Item Date Submitted Date Approved
Travel Approval – Rebekah Bakewicz 9/22/2014 9/23/2014
Travel Approval – Maria Bina Palmisano 10/03/2014 10/30/2014
Travel Approval – Paul Forrest 10/03/2014 10/30/2014
Travel Approval – Angelina Tracy 10/03/2014 10/30/2014
Travel Approval – Claire Clugston 10/23/2014 10/28/2014
TCN Waiver – Markus Ischer, Elisabeth Katz, Jane Gisin, Peter Schmidt, Lydia Pluess and Valeriya di Berardino 10/25/2014 3/3/2015
Annual Work Plan – Year 1
11/15/2014; revised 2/6/2015; revised 6/23/2015 6/29/15
Travel Approval – Ken Smith 11/17/2014 11/17/2014
Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (AMEP) 12/1/2014 Pending
Labor Approval – Susan Anderson 12/16/2014 12/22/2014
Travel Approval – Susan Anderson 1/12/2015 1/12/2014
Project Fund Manual 2/3/2015 Pending
1st Quarterly Report -Q1 FY 2015 2/3/2015 6/2/15
Travel Approval – Jacob Gray 2/3/2015 2/6/2015
Travel Approval – William Sparks 2/3/2015 2/6/2015
Travel Approval – Jeremy Barnes 2/3/2015 2/9/2015
Travel Approval – Charlotte Block 2/10/2015 2/12/2015
Travel Approval – Dirck Stryker 2/25/2015 2/27/2015
Travel Approval – Mukhtar Amin 2/25/2015 2/27/2015
Travel Approval – Svetlana Livinets 2/25/2015 2/27/2015
Travel Approval – Rebekah Bakewicz 3/11/2015 3/16/2015
Travel Approval – Geoffrey Chalmers 4/3/2015 4/7/15
PERSUAP 4/8/15;
revised 6/26/15 Pending
Labor Approval – William Sparks 4/22/15 4/30/15
Travel Approval – William Sparks 4/22/15 4/23/15
Labor Approval – Tamara Ljubinkovic 4/22/15 4/30/15
Travel Approval – Tamara Ljubinkovic 4/22/15 4/23/15
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 32
2nd Quarterly Report –Q2 FY 2015 4/30/15 Pending
Key Personnel, Salary Approval, & TCN Waiver – Martin West 5/12/15 6/3/15
Labor Approval – Elizabeth Adams 5/20/15 5/27/15
Grant Approval - Alysh Dan (BIS007) 5/20/15 6/8/15
Grant Approval - Batken Jimishi (BIS013) 5/20/15 6/8/15
Grant Approval - Contracting Centre, LLC. (BIS008), correction 5/21/15 5/21/15
Travel Approval – Martin West 6/4/15 6/4/15
Travel Approval - Paul Schoen 6/20/15 6/22/15
Travel Approval - Nico vanWageningen 6/20/15 6/22/15
Local Salary Adjustment – four local staff 6/22/15 Pending
Travel Approval – Maria Bina Palmisano 6/22/15 6/23/15
Labor Approval – William Sparks 6/26/15 Pending
Travel Approval – William Sparks 6/26/15 Pending
Labor Approval – Jennifer Williamson 6/30/15 Pending
USAID AGRO HORIZON PROJECT QUARTERLY REPORT 33
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