III. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION.
BEREKE OD ACTIVITIES.
1. Milestone 1 – Preparatory Work of PA "Bereke" with Hiring the Staff of the PDP Program
a) Office Rent and Program Team Hired
In July 2015 the premise for "Partnership for Development and Prosperity" program was found and
the office set up. The Program office is located in the centre of Shymkent city, in a secure
neighborhood. The premise has high quality, fast Internet connection and a permanent telephone
link and number. The office has been equipped and furnished with the furniture donated to PA
"Bereke" by ACDI/VOCA that implemented Community Action Investment Program financed by
USAID in Kazakhstan and some pieces of equipment from previous Bereke projects.
In addition 6 computers and Multifunctional device (printer, photocopier, scanner, fax machine)
have been purchased within the Project budget, according to Bereke procurement policy and
installed.
On July1, 2015 a Partnership Agreement was signed with the Program Partner, PA "ECOCENTER"
to assist with Program implementation in Karaganda and Akmola oblasts.
b) Partners and Program Staff Orientation Workshop
The workshop was held on August 4-7, 2015 in Shymkent in Bereke office with the aim to orient
the Program team members and the partners on the overall Program framework and develop
necessary implementation mechanisms so as to achieve intended results. It was one of the
fundamental activities of the Program towards briefing Bereke team and the partners on the
Program framework, developing working relation, clarifying the responsibilities of the program
partners, discussing and developing draft project Year 1 Work Plan and Activity monitoring and
evaluation plan (AMEP), developing Program operating procedures, communication and reporting
systems; defining criteria for selection of partner rural CSOs and developing questionnaires,
discussing and defining Program granting and procurement systems and other important operating
policies and procedures. It was agreed that financial, procurement procedures and reporting,
required from target rural CSOs while developing and implementing projects within "Partnership
for Development and Prosperity" Program would be based on USAID requirements which would
give rural CSOs an opportunity to learn accounting strategies that would make them better able to
budget and maintain financial records. This in turn would also make it easier for CSOs to apply for
future grants and funding to Kazakhstani and International donors, while promoting more
transparent methods within these organizations.
Ivan Apanasevich conducted a session for Bereke and ECOCENTER teams on how achieving
"Partnership for Development and Prosperity" Program objectives will meet the priorities of
USAID Regional Development Cooperation Strategy.
By the end of the workshop draft Year 1 Work Plan with the Calendar Work Plan were developed.
Besides that, the draft questionnaire for rural CSOs for participating in the Program and identifying
the level of their development was developed and criteria for selection of partner rural CSOs were
defined,
which were afterwards revised, discussed and improved with the assistance of AOR.
Thus, Milestone 1–
preparatory work of PA "Bereke" with hiring the staff of the project was
completed by July 31, 2015.
2. Milestone 2 – Preparatory Work of Bereke with Submission of the Year 1 Work Plan
a) Year 1 Work Plan Development
As it was mentioned above PA "Bereke" together with the Program partner PA "ECOCENTER"
drafted Year 1 Work Plan (WP) and a Calendar Plan for the first year of the program. Besides all
Program related activities the Plan specified how the special conditions from USAID would be met,
it identified all the planned steps to address the special conditions considered in the Cooperative
Agreement. Year 1 Work Plan and Calendar Plan were submitted it to USAID for review,
comments and approval. The program staff discussed feedback from USAID. As a result Year 1
Work Plan was reviewed and sent to USAID.
b) Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
In August 3-7, 2015 Bereke invited Ivan Apanasevich, an external consultant to assist the
organization with Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan development.
Ivan Apanasevich together with the Program team discussed Program goals and objectives and
USAID Regional Development Cooperation Strategy and identified how the Program objectives
would meet the priorities of USAID Regional Development Cooperation Strategy.
At the sessions on AMEP development the following issues were discussed:
- Program goals
and set objectives by years;
- Staff responsible and their duties regarding Program M&E;
- Scheme of work with the key partner in Karaganda "ECOCENTER";
- Indicators;
- Conducted the analysis of the Program causal chain framework (input – outputs – outcomes –
impact);
- Discussed the quantitative objectives by years.
Thus, the program team guided by the consultant identified key outcome and output indicators, how
the data against indicators will be collected and stored, and how data received from monitoring and
evaluation will be analyzed and used.
As a result, Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan was developed and submitted to USAID by
August 15, 2015.