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USAID KENYA YYC! NER QUARTERLY REPORT

APRIL 2015 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Education development Center

USAID KENYA YYC NER FY 2015 2ND QUARTER PROGRESS REPORT

1ST JANUARY 2015 – 31STMARCH 2015

Award No: (623-A-00-03-0000 1 0 -00)

Prepared for Dr. Lucy Kithome United States Agency for International Development/Kenya C/O American Embassy United Nations Avenue, Gigiri P.O. Box 629, Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya Prepared by Education Development Centre Inc 43 Foundry Avenue Waltham, MA 02453-8313

DISCLAIMER

The authors’ views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

USAID/KENYA YYC! NER PROGRESS REPORT FOR Quarter 2 FY 2015 ii

I. YYC! NER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................ 4

II. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (Qualitative Impact) .............................................. 5

III. ACTIVITY PROGRESS (Quantitative Impact) ............................................ 7

IV. CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ............................................... 15

V. PERFORMANCE MONITORING .............................................................. 18

VI. PROGRESS ON GENDER STRATEGY .................................................... 19

VII. PROGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING .................................................................................................. 19

VIII. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER USAID PROGRAMS.................. 19

IX. PROGRESS ON LINKS WITH GOK AGENCIES .................................... 19

X. PROGRESS ON USAID FORWARD ........................................................... 20

XI. SUSTAINABILITY AND EXIT STRATEGY ............................................ 20

XII. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (if applicable) ........................ 20

XIII. SUBSEQUENT QUARTER’S WORK PLAN ......................................... 20

XIV. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ................................................................ 22

XV. ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION .............................................................. 22

XVI.INFORMATION FOR ANNUAL REPORTS ONLY ............................. 22

XVII. GPS INFORMATION ............................................................................. 22

XVIII. SUCCESS STORY ................................................................................... 22

ANNEXES & ATTACHMENTS ...................................................................... 24

USAID/KENYA YYC! NER PROGRESS REPORT FOR Quarter 2 FY 2015 iii

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CBF County Board Forum COFI Community Owned Financial Initiative DQA Data Quality Assessment EDC Education Development Center EX-COM Executive Committee Members FOG Fixed Obligation Grant GOK Government of Kenya NER North Eastern Region NYBA National Youth Bunge Association PIRS Performance Indicator Reference Sheet SACCO Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization SUPKEM Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims PMP Performance Monitoring Plan USAID United States Agency for International Development YYC! NER Yes Youth Can! North Eastern Region YYC! R Yes Youth Can! Regional

USAID/KENYA YYC! NER PROGRESS REPORT FOR Quarter 2 FY 2015 4

I. YYC! NER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The report describes the activities of the project during the period of 1st January to 31st March, 2015. The main activities conducted during this period provided support to youth in Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, largely implemented through the Country Board Forums (CBFs) and Youth Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations.

Key achievements include:

• With EDC support, the Garissa and Wajir CBFs held quarterly meeting and work plan sessions for the second year of the County board forums activities.

• The CBF and SACCO formation meetings for Mandera were conducted at which sixty selected delegates from across the County were given an opportunity to reach consensus on who to join the SACCO or CBF. All committees were successfully formed.1

• Youth have been increasing their contributions to the newly formed SACCOs in all three counties. EDC supported training for the SACCOS leading to the preparation of work plans and budgets for all three.

• Scholarships were issued in Garissa and Wajir and the application process began in Mandera. • A revised baseline survey was administered in Mandera Country. The survey targeted members

from 29 youth bunges. • Financial Management and Leadership trainings for Mandera CBF and Cooperative and Shari’ah

trainings for the Mandera SACCO were also conducted in the period. Both the CBF and SACCO members went through simultaneous trainings for approximately a week.

• EDC continued to broadcast the weekly one hour radio programs through Star FM’s national frequencies covering the whole of North Eastern Region and most parts of Somalia.

• In Wajir, EDC initiated monthly radio programs through Wajir Community Radio. The radio programs centered on peace, security and community development as was identified by the youth and were produced in partnership with the Wajir CBF and the Wajir community Radio.

• A revised baseline survey was conducted in Mandera with a total of 290 respondents from 29 youth bunges spread across the six sub-counties of Mandera. The full baseline survey report is available under separate cover. The Mandera baseline results revealed that youth had confidence in participating in civic engagement but that they did not often participate in civic activities. More respondents reported engaging with local and religious leaders than those in government. Men and those respondents with higher education levels responded with higher frequencies of participation. The study also revealed that roughly 70% of youth reported that they had not worked in the past 6 months. Roughly half of those who had work worked for themselves and many respondents reported difficulty saving money and meeting their basic needs.

1 The selection of delegates for Mandera North Sub-County that wasn’t completed in the previous quarter (due to clan issues that surfaced during the delegates meeting) was accomplished through ward meetings at the sub county headquarters in Rhamu. All five wards unanimously endorsed two delegates each after lengthy deliberations.

Young men in Mandera completing the baseline survey


Quantitative Impact

The following table reflects select achievements the project has made during the last quarter. Cumulative results are included in the body of the report.

# of youth bunges registered 105 bunges

# of youth registered in bunges 2005 youth (1098 male/907 female)

Scholarships issued 70 (Wajir), 21 Garissa

SACCO meetings 2 (Garissa and Wajir)

CBF meetings 2 (Garissa and Wajir)

Training sessions held 5

Radio programs produced 14

Constraints and Opportunities

During the reporting period there have been a number of constraints and opportunities. Insecurity in the region coupled with ethnic rivalry. At the time of this report, Garissa had experienced the horrific incident at Garissa University in April 2015 that has now led to a greatly heightened security risk level in the North Eastern region and has implications for the project’s operations. In addition high illiteracy levels remained a restraining factor in meeting project objectives on time. As a result of low commitment from SACCO officials, SACCO contributions stayed low. And in the scholarship disbursement, there were some delays processing beneficiary lists and payment cheques because host institutions were non-committal to the faster process. In both Garissa and Wajir, there were delays in meeting the deadline for the Fixed Obilgation Grants (FOG) while new youth bunge registration remained a challenge in all the three counties. In Wajir, the YYC monthly radio programs were temporarily halted because the selected radio intern lacked appropriate skills to produce the programs.

EDC has established that one way to encourage youth in NER to join the SACCO is to identify and capacity build youth bunges that are involved in economic activities and have them registered into the SACCO to obtain loans.

Subsequent Quarter’s Work Plan

In the upcoming quarter, the project plans to implement a full set of activities, provided that security issues will not prevent activities from being implemented as scheduled. Specifically, the project plans to extend the CBF FOGs in Garissa and Wajir to include the new workplan activities and issue the FOG to the Mandera CBF. Bunge annual elections and the Annual General Meetings will be conducted for Garissa and Wajir. Scholarships will be issued in Mandera. Radio programming will continue. SACCO FOGs will be issued for all three counties and the Coca Cola 5/20 loans will be initiated. The bunge tracker format will be revised. EDC will finalize the PMP and PIRS in collaboration with the AOR and submit a no cost extension.

II. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS (QUALITATIVE IMPACT)

Garissa County

During the quarter the project continued to support the County Board Forum to ensure it achieves its activities and completes the milestones. The CBF achieved Milestone #7 which led to the attendance of the CBF president and senior most person of opposite gender attended the first quarterly meeting of the NYBA after they were elected on December last year. The CBF also completed Milestone #8 by advertising for the upcoming football tournament through social media and posters to youth at the wards.


Milestone #9 was also realized as the first ward level meeting was conducted by the CBF. The CBF also held their third quarterly meeting during this quarter and also developed a work plan for year two. EDC also supported the SACCO in the implementation of its programs. The SACCO delegates held a special delegates meeting (SDM) to discuss challenges faced, recruitment strategies and the future of the SACCO. EDC continued to pay scholarship recipients fees for first call and follow up call. In the same quarter, EDC successfully aired 12 radio programs through Star FM and also began selecting new trainees for the Radio Training Program.

Wajir County

During the quarter EDC continued supporting the work plan prepared by the youth which is being implemented through the fixed obligation grant with Wajir CBF. Milestone #9 on development of a schedule and agenda for first ward level meeting, milestone #15 on a plan on distribution of funds at the ward level for ward level meeting and milestone #18 on the 2nd Quarterly meeting for the CBF were all accomplished.

Plan for the CBF representation at the 2nd NYBA quarterly meeting was also completed and the CBF presented their plan to send two of their representatives to attend the NYBA meeting.

EDC also supported the SACCO in the implementation of its programs. The SACCO delegates held a special delegates meeting (SDM) to discuss challenges faced, recruitment strategies and the future of the SACCO.

As a follow up to the call for scholarship, the scholarship committee did its verification of applicants and recommended 70 (58 Tertiary, 12 Vocational) successful applicants to be awarded with the scholarship. A scholarship award ceremony was held to inform the community members of the scholarships awarded and guide the successful applicants on the process they need to follow before payment can be done to their respective institutions.

EDC continued supporting the mobilization and registration of youth bunges in Wajir through the structures that have been created by the project which is the county board forum and its leadership.

EDC supported the CBF in following up on earlier linkages created e.g discussions with Finn Church Aid (FCA), Adeso, The County government’s department of Youth & Education and that of Trade.

EDC initiated monthly radio programs through the Wajir Community Radio during the quarter and successfully aired two radio programs with the support of the Wajir CBF.

Mandera County:

During the quarter, work plan and budget for Mandera County Youth Bunge Forum and that of SACCO were finalized and approved by USAID.

As a result of mass sensitization and mobilization, many new youth Bunges were formed during the quarter.

As reflected in Mandera CBF Work plan activities which included scholarships, a call was issued for the scholarship in Mandera during the quarter.

To enhance the capacity of the CBF, financial and leadership management trainings were conducted for them to impart skills on management of Youth in Mandera completing the baseline survey


organizational resources, the payment process, development and application of the organizational policies and procedures and reporting and also improve their leadership skills.

This quarter witnessed the registration of both SACCO and CBF for Mandera County. This is indeed an achievement to be noted in the County. The SACCO officials were taken through a number of trainings to improve their skills and knowledge in managing the SACCO according to the SACCO regulations in Kenya and according to Sharia law due to the mainly Muslim population in the County.

III. ACTIVITY PROGRESS (QUANTITATIVE IMPACT)

EDC has made progress in implementing the activities planned for the quarter. The tables below present data on the indicators tracked through the work plan activities for Objectives 1, 2 and 3.

During the past quarter, YYC NER was asked by USAID/Kenya to revise its Performance Management Plan (PMP) in order to better align the project’s indicators with the other YYC Kenya projects and streamline the reporting process. At the time of this report, the project has submitted its revised PMP and PIRS and these are currently under review by USAID. Starting with this quarterly report, the project will only report on those indicators included in the revised PMP. For new indicators being added to the PMP, results achieved in previous periods will be retroactively reported.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING USG ASSISTED FACILITATED EVENTS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING, UNDERSTANDING AND MITIGATION CONFLICT BETWEEN GROUPS

INDICATOR #1.6.1-12

UNIT

Individual members of group/

Bunge

DISAGGREGATE BY: Area and gender

Geographic Location Activity Title Date W M Subtotal

Garissa County

Bunge membership Jan to March 2015

7 8 15

Wajir county 27 23 50

Mandera County. 873 1067 1940

Totals 907 1098 2005

Results:

Additional Criteria If other criteria are important, add lines

for setting targets and tracking

Baseline

Results in Prior Periods

This Reporting Period 31st March

2015 FY 2015 Target

End of Activity Target

Achieved Target Achieved Target Target

W M W M W M W M W M

Sex*: Women (W), Men (M)

0 0 19844 907 1098 8000 33,000

Garissa 7 8

Wajir 27 23

Mandera 873 1067

NUMBER OF HOST NATIONALS INHABITANTS REACHED THROUGH USG ASSISTED PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS TO SUPPORT PEACEFUL RESOLUTIONS.

INDICATOR # 1.6.1-13

UNIT

listenership report

DISAGGREGATE BY: Area


Garissa, Wajir and Mandera Radio Audiences Jan to March 2015


Totals

Data not available by Synovate at the time of this report

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target

Achieved Target Target Target Target Target

W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M W M


0 0 695,102 200,000 1,263,000

NUMBER OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN USG SUPPORTED EVENTS, TRAININGS OR ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO BUILD MASS SUPPORT FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

INDICATOR NUMBER: 2.3.2-12

UNIT Participants

List

DISAGGREGATE BY: Area and gender

Geographic Location Activity Title Date W M

Subtotal

Mandera County Cooperative level 1&2 and Sheriah compliant 1&2

trainings

13/1/2015 13 17 30

Mandera County County board forum Work planning , Leadership and

financial management trainings

13-15/1/2015

12 18 30

Wajir County Scholarship verification meeting

22-23/1/2015

1 3 4

Wajir County

Scholarship award ceremony

30/01/2015

8 34 42

Totals 34 72 106

Results:



Baseline



2015

FY 2015

Target


Achieved Target Achieved Target Target Target Target Target



0 0 16594 106 1000 11,000

Garissa

Wajir 9 37

Mandera 25 35

NUMBER OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) RECEIVING USG ASSISTANCE ENGAGED IN

ADVOCACY INTERVENTIONS.


INDICATOR : 2.4.1-9

UNIT Number of

civil society

organizations



Mandera County Formation of Mandera county CSO

13 January 2015 1 1

Garissa County Formation of Garissa county CSO retroactive 1 1

Wajir County Formation of Wajir county CSO retroactive 1 1

Totals 3

Results:

Additional Criteria If other criteria are important, add lines for setting targets

and tracking

Baseline

Results in

Prior Period

s

This Reporting Period 31st March 2015

FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target



Sex*: Women (W), Men

(M) 0 3 3 3

Garissa 0

Wajir 0

Mandera 3

NUMBER OF YOUTH ELECTED TO POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP ON COUNTY BOARDS, EXECUTIVE BOARDS, OR VILLAGE COMMITTEES

INDICATOR : CUSTOM

UNIT

Number of

individuals

DISAGGREGATE BY:Area and gender


Mandera County County board election 13-15/1/2015 12 18 30

Totals

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target





0 0 24 36 12 18 90

Garissa 12 18


Wajir 12 18

Mandera

NUMBER OF COUNTY ELECTIONS HELD

INDICATOR : CUSTOM

UNIT

Number of elections



Mandera County CBF Election held 13/1/2015 1 1

Totals

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target Target


Achieved Target




0 0 2 1 3

Garissa 1

Wajir 1

Mandera 1

NUMBER OF COUNTY BOARDS FORMED

INDICATOR : CUSTOM

UNIT

Number of county

boards



Mandera County Mandera County board formed 14-1-2015 1 1

Totals 1

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target

FY Target


Achieved Target




0 0 2 1 3

Garissa 1

Wajir 1

Mandera 1

NUMBER OF COUNTY-LEVEL WORK PLANS DEVELOPED

INDICATOR # CUSTOM


UNIT

Number of Work plans



Mandera County Mandera County level work plan developed

13-15/3/2015 1 1

Totals 1

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target

FY Target


Achieved Target




0 0 2 1 3

Garissa 1

Wajir 1

Mandera 1

NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERSERVED AND/OR DISADVANTAGED GROUPS ACCESSING TERTIARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS


UNIT

Number of youth



Garissa County Scholarship Follow up Call Jan-March 2015 1 11 12

Wajir County First call scholarship Jan-March 2014

11 56 67

Totals 12 67 79

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target





182 12 67 100 500

Garissa 1 11

Wajir 11 56

Mandera

NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED USG SUPPORTED SHORT TERM AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY OR FOOD SECURITY TRAINING

INDICATOR # 4.5.2-7


UNIT

Number of individuals



Totals

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target




0 0 50 150

Garissa

Wajir

Mandera

TOTAL NUMBER OF CLIENTS (HOUSEHOLDS AND /OR MICRO ENTERPRISES) BENEFITING FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH USG-ASSISTED FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES,

INCLUDING NON- FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OR ACTORS.


UNIT

Number of

initiatives



Totals

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target




0 0 1000 1000

Garissa

Wajir

Mandera

NUMBER OF FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES SUPPORT BY USG ASSISTANCE


UNIT

Number



Mandera county Mandera SACCO formed Feb-Mar 1


of Saccos 2015

Totals 1

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY2015 Target


Achieved Target




2 1 1 3

Garissa 1

Wajir 1

Mandera 1 1

NUMBER OF PERSONS RECEIVING NEW EMPLOYMENT OR BETTER EMPLOYMENT (INCLUDING BETTER SELF – EMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATION IN USG FUNDED WORK FORCE

DEVELOPMENT

INDICATOR # 4.6.3-2

UNIT

Number of individuals



Totals

Results:



Baseline



2015 FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target




0 0 200 200

Garissa

Wajir

Mandera

NUMBER OF YOUTH LED AND PRODUCED CIVIC EDUCATION RADIO PROGRAMS PRODUCED AND AIRED WITH USG ASSISTANCE INDICATOR : CUSTOM

UNIT Number of programs



Garissa, Wajir & Mandera

Community Policing – Challenges and Successes. 4th Jan 2015

1

Garissa, Wajir & Discouraging youth from 11th Jan 1


Mandera violence-What needs to be done.

2015


The input of religious leaders in solving conflicts in North Eastern region

18th Jan 2015

1


Peace and security partnership between the public and government agencies

25th Jan 2015

1


Impact of insecurity in North Eastern – the teachers strike.

1st Feb2015

1


Solution to the Mandera clan conflict – Message from Takaba youth.

8th Feb 2015

1


Solution to the Mandera clan conflict – Message from Rhamu youth leaders

15th Feb 2015

1


Solution to the Mandera clan conflict – Message from Mandera township youth leaders.

22nd Feb 2015

1


Sustained peace in Mandera; what worked.

1st March 2015

1


Cross border peace-building – the role of the Mandera peace committee.

8th March 2015

1

Garissa, Wajir and Mandera

Cross border peace-building – the role of local NGO’s

15th March 2015

1

Garissa, Wajir and Mandera

Challenges and successes to cross border peace.

22nd March 2015

1

Wajir Objectives of the YYC!NER Project in the region

14th March 2015

1

Wajir Wajir Youth Bunge SACCO. Establishment and membership mobilisation

21st March 2015

1

Totals 14

Results:


Additional Criteria If other criteria are important, add lines for setting targets and tracking

Baseline Results in Prior Periods

This Reporting Period 31st March 2015.

FY 2015 Target


Achieved

Target Achieved

Target Target Target Target Target



63 14 10 25

Garissa , Wajir & Mandera Counties

14

NUMBER OF YOUTH TRAINED ON RADIO PRODUCTION,JOURNALISM AND BROADCAST WITH USG ASSISTANCE

INDICATOR : Custom

UNIT Number of individuals

DISAGGREGATE BY: Gender, Area


Garissa County Youth trained in radio production retroactive 5 8 13

Totals 13

Results:

Additional Criteria If other criteria are important, add lines for setting targets

and tracking

Baseline

Results in

Prior Period

s

This Reporting Period 31st March 2015

FY 2015 Target


Achieved Target



Sex*: Women (W), Men

(M) 5 8 15 30

Garissa 5 8

Wajir

Mandera

IV. CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

During the quarter, there were constraints in implementing project activities particularly due to security incidences and the weak capacity of the CBFs. There were however valuable lessons learned.

Security in North Eastern Region

During the quarter, security remained a challenge in North Eastern region. In Mandera, a number of attacks on non-locals and an attack on the governor’s convoy characterized the shifting security situation in that county. Some of the security problems are related to extremist activity linked to Al Shabab and some are related to clan feuds (see below), however both have had an impact on mobility of youth and staff and led to postponing activities and events in several cases.


At the time of this report, Garissa had experienced the horrific incident at Garissa University in April 2015 that has now led to a greatly heightened security risk level in the North Eastern region and for the project’s operations. YYC NER has discussed the security situation with USAID and is keeping them updated on if and how activities are or may be impacted. The project has identified the following potential impacts on program implementation following the recent April event:

- Mobility of youth has been more limited due to fears within communities and youth in particular that they will be stopped or even harassed by police or security forces. Bus service has also been reduced due to government scrutiny of several bus companies. As a result, the program impact is the risk that youth will not be able to travel within their counties for bunge meetings, SACCO activities or other activities planned by the County Boards, including delegate meetings. Upcoming delegates meetings planned in Quarter 3 where hundreds of youth gather may also be challenging to organize. At the time of the writing this report, the project team anticipates that they will still be able to carry out the delegates meetings planned in Q3 and Q4 and will work closely with the youth and community leadership (and security officials as appropriate) to ensure that these large scale meetings will be organized smoothly.

- Staff travel to monitor activities and provide support or participate in events was initially very limited and may be limited on a case by case situation going forward.

EDC will monitor the security situation in the region and continue with its peace building and coexistence campaigns through radio and village bunge meetings. However given the significance of the security incident in Garissa in April and the greater risk level in NER, the project would like USAID to recognize that project activities and therefore reaching some of the project targets may be slower as a result.

Delays in Meeting FOG Milestones in Garissa and Wajir

The County Boards continued to have challenges with managing their Fixed Obligation Grants (FOGs) and meeting the milestones during the past quarter. The Garissa County Board ExCom in particular has struggled with lack of commitment of some ExCom members and not understanding the proper documentation needed for financial and program accountability despite being trained on this. As a result of their delays in meeting milestones or having the proper documentation to demonstrate that milestones were met, the Garissa FOG has had to be amended three times. Managing a FOG can be a complex process and the CBFs are new entities with little experience in project management. The CBF in Wajir has had more success and has been able to achieve more progress on its activities, while the Mandera CBF has only recently received its FOG so has not yet had much time to demonstrate its capacity. However, the issue of management capacity is still important to note for all of the CBFs particularly as the project seeks to promote the medium to long term sustainability of these entities. EDC will continue mentoring the County Board Ex-com officials and improve their capacity to meeting the FOG milestone deadlines and adhering to the time requirements. Another constraint to the implementation of the FOG activities has been the fact that the leadership of the CBF (as well as the SACCO) does not operate from a central location in the county. This hinders effective communication on and implementation of their activities since ExCom and CBF members are elected from across diverse areas within the county where it can take a day to travel to one another and connectivity is limited.

Clan Politics

Clan feuds and rivalry found its way into the establishment of the youth leadership structure in Mandera. During the selection of SACCO and CBF members, local clan dynamics had to be obeyed which greatly compromises competence among selected officials. Clan politics is worse in Mandera than in Wajir and Garissa. EDC will strive to instill unity among the youth through the leadership structures in all the counties.

Youth Bunge Registration

Another challenge was low registration of youth bunges for this quarter in both Garissa and Wajir. In Garissa low registration of bunges is attributed to withdrawal of non-Somali staff in the government’s


social service departments due to increased insecurity and threats on non-local government employees. Bunge registration in Wajir dropped as a result of lower expectations from the youth who initially saw prospects of grants and quick loans. EDC will continue working with the CBF’s in mobilizing youth to register youth bunges to benefit from the project activities.

SACCOs

Low Literacy Among SACCO members

During the quarter, the low literacy level among the SACCO members proved a challenge during training where translation to Somali language was necessary. Translation of documents consumed a lot of time and made it difficult for the trainers to cover the schedule on time. It has also generally affected progress on implementation of SACOO and CBF objectives in Mandera as well as Wajir and Garissa. EDC will continue giving training to the SACCO and CBF officials to make them more competent in running their activities.

SACCO Contributions

Recruitment to the SACCO is low but growing slowly. EDC through the CBF’s FOG milestones will conduct recruitment drives in all the Counties. Contributions to the SACCO’s still remained a challenge during the quarter. There seems to be a low level of commitment from the SACCO officials in contributing subscriptions as these remained low in all the three counties. Most of the youth are still perceiving the SACCOs as an opportunity to obtain easy grants from EDC and are yet to fully embrace the SACCO philosophy and approach.

During the quarter, EDC learned that some of the youth bunges have either some savings or running business and are not joining the SACCOs. EDC has focused on the identification of youth bunges that are either involved in income generating activities, or have savings that are not invested or put to use. The project is building the capacity of the youth bunges in business development and linking them up to the SACCOs to save and have access to loan facilities.

Coca Cola 5by20 Program

The project has been given funding by USAID to join the Coca Cola 5by20 program in North Eastern region in the last year of project as the SACCOs are just getting established in each county. This has led to slow rollout of the Coke loans because the SACCOs are only just gathering members and savings which are a prerequisite for the loans. However the more immediate challenge has been engaging Coca Cola to establish a relationship in establishing a contact distribution. EDC is pursuing this with assistance from the USAID Mission. In parallel with efforts to get Coca Cola to identify the local distributor for NER, the project is moving forward with promoting the 5by20 loans to youth in order to recruit youth to start the 5by20 business and get a loan. However based on the slow pace of launching the partnership with the local bottler/distributor, there is a risk that the Coke products for the youth businesses will not be ready at the same pace as the loans and youth businesses need them.

Scholarship Disbursement

There were a number of challenges in disbursing the funds to successful scholarship awardees. The benefiting institutions are slow to compile student lists and other necessary documents. Some of the beneficiaries want to change institutions or courses after getting the awards making the changing process difficult. EDC will liaise with the institutions that are accommodating our beneficiaries to prepare all documentation before funds are disbursed.

Wajir Community Radio Programs

After the agreement with Wajir Community Radio on broadcasting YYC! NER radio programs, the Wajir CBF identified an intern to host the radio programs. The intern lacked the requisite skills to do radio programs and only managed to host two programs. Due to lack of commitment and radio broadcasting skills from the Wajir radio intern, EDC decided to halt the programs for a month as efforts are made to


identify a more competent person to do the monthly radio programs through the Wajir Community Radio.

Opportunities for Linkages

EDC has encouraged linkages between the CBFs and the SACCOs to stakeholders in the counties of operation though the available opportunities are limited. We have linked the Mandera SACCO to the County Government of Mandera’s Ministry of Cooperative Development where they were promised funds in trade (available funds KES 28,000,000) and cooperative (Kshs 500,000 for each SACCO)and a list of CBF members was shared with all the youth relevant Mandera County Government departments for future opportunities and cooperation.

In Garissa, The project work closely worked with both the national government and the county government, we work with the national government through the elected members of parliament, we have continuously linked the youth the MP`s so that they support the groups. The CBF leadership have all been introduced to their members of parliament and the MP`s promised to give the Uwezo fund to some of the groups

We work with the county government on a daily basis particularly the administration, the project linked and introduced the leadership to the Sub County Administrators so that will be involved in all the activities that takes place in their areas, the project is happy to report that the youth leadership is structure is very well being recognized by the county government and they are always invited all events and activities that take place in the county.

In Wajir, YYC NER pursued a number of linkage opportunities with other stakeholders. Key among the stakeholders were Finn Church Aid that promised to work with youth leaders in clan fight hot spot areas Adeso that promised to work with youth bunges in Tarbaj constituency to consider village youth bunges in its program and finally DAI’s Financial Inclusion for Rural Microenterprises (FIRM), This is a new linkage created and the program plans to help rural microenterprises access mainstream financial services. This provided a perfect opportunity for Wajir Youth Bunge SACCO to benefit from its services

V. PERFORMANCE MONITORING

As stated under section II above, YYC NER was asked by USAID/Kenya to revise its Performance Management Plan (PMP) during the past quarter in order to better align the project’s indicators with the other YYC Kenya projects and streamline the reporting process. At the time of this report, the project has submitted its revised PMP and PIRS and these are currently under review by USAID. Starting with this quarterly report, the project will only report on those indicators included in the revised PMP. For new indicators being added to the PMP, results achieved in previous periods will be retroactively reported.

EDC’s M&E Coordinator has continued to monitor project implementation and collect bunge trackers as were presented by youth bunges and entered into the data base. Data verification was done by the M&E coordinator as data is entered by interns. During the quarter we received new bunges from the three counties and entered into the data base and filed the copies of certificate. The M&E coordinator continued to monitor the awardees of first call of scholarship for Garissa County.

During the past quarter, a revised baseline survey was conducted in Mandera County. As discussed in earlier quarterly reports, the project found it necessary to re-design its baseline survey after the baseline data from each three counties was characterized with “ceiling effect”, in other words, the baseline data was already high or higher than the level expected at the endline in terms of attitudes toward civic participation and other attitudes. As a result, the project re-designed the baseline to strengthen the survey items to more effectively convey the questions. While the original baseline had been conducted in all 3 counties, because project interventions had not yet started in Mandera, it was possible to revise the survey and re-conduct it in that county. The project implemented the revised baseline survey in Mandera early this quarter with a total of 290 respondents from 29 youth bunges spread across the six sub-counties


of Mandera. The full baseline survey report will be submitted separately. The Mandera baseline results revealed that youth had confidence in participating in civic engagement but that they did not often participate in civic activities. More respondents reported engaging with local and religious leaders than those in government. Men and those respondents with higher education levels responded with higher frequencies of participation. The study also revealed that roughly 70% of youth reported that they had not worked in the past 6 months. Roughly half of those who had work worked for themselves and many respondents reported difficulty saving money and meeting their basic needs. A majority of those who did not have work reported that they were looking for work. Those who were not searching reported a lack of jobs and a lack of skills as some of the reasons why.

VI. PROGRESS ON GENDER STRATEGY

Maintaining the project’s goal of a ratio of 2 females to 3 males among project participants remains a key priority. There are a number of active female bunge members and ExCom members within the County Boards. The project is focusing in mobilizing 70% female youth in taking up sale of Coca Cola products under the Coca Cola 5 by 20 Program. The project is hopeful that this will be a strong strategy for reaching female beneficiaries. The project staff also includes strong female managers who are from the region including the Chief of Party and the Grants and Investment Officer who provide regular technical assistance and outreach with the youth. These two female leaders in particular serve as strong role models for young women from the North Eastern Region and demonstrate skills in public speaking and management for female bunge and CBF members to model.

VII. PROGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION AND MONITORING

N/A

VIII. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER USAID PROGRAMS

EDC continues providing linkages between the youth and other USAID programs in the region. Linkages between the Wajir and Garissa CBF and Fin Church Aid (FCA) and ADESO were created and strengthened.

IX. PROGRESS ON LINKS WITH GOK AGENCIES

EDC linked the Mandera youth Bunge SACCO to the County Government’s Ministry of Cooperative Development where they were promised funds in trade. The SACCO was promised a sum of 500,000 Kenya shillings (5500USD) as grants.


EDC also strengthened the linkage between Wajir and Garissa CBF and the county government to pursue the participation of the SACCO’s in the county development agenda.

As we approach the annual general delegates meeting for the bunges, the slow renewal of the bunge registration was attributed to withdrawal of non Somali staff in the government’s social service departments due to increased insecurity and threats on non- local government employees.

X. PROGRESS ON USAID FORWARD

The project is designed to develop and support youth County board forums. As of now all the three counties have established County Youth Board Forums. Although the project is to support the youth in youth owned, youth managed activities, the capacity of the youth leadership requires more capacity development in being able to meet the self-sustaining level. EDC will continue to capacity build all the three CBF’s so as to enable them manage their activities independently while EDC provides oversight in their policy implementation.

XI. SUSTAINABILITY AND EXIT STRATEGY

EDC will strengthen the three county SACCO’s so that the youth can obtain loans to have start up businesses. The partnerships created between the youth and government agencies will be a basis for engagement between National/County government agencies and the grass root youth bunges in future.

XII. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (IF APPLICABLE)

N/A

XIII. SUBSEQUENT QUARTER’S WORK PLAN

In light of the newly heightened security situation described above, YYC NER acknowledges that some of the activities planned for the next quarter may be more difficult to organize, due to potentially limited mobility of youth participants and any spontaneous security incidents that may occur during the remaining period of performance.

Activities in the next quarter will support the CBFs in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera in implementing their work plans as outlined in their respective FOG milestones. EDC will continue liaising with USAID and other regional partners to implement best practices. Below are the specific activities to be implemented in the coming quarter, several of which are already underway or completed at the time of writing this report:

Garissa County:

• Finalize year three work plan for Garissa County CBF • Amend and extend the FOG for Garissa county CBF to include this year’s work plan by the CBF • Conduct Bunges Annual elections • Conduct annual general meeting for the Bunge delegates • Train selected bunges on income generating skills • Continue mobilization and formation of village Bunges in Garissa County


• Begin training the new cohort of radio trainees in partnership with Star FM. • Finalize the Garissa SACCO FOG and begin to provide matching grants for small business

loans. • Call for applications for year 3 scholarship • Recruit a book keeper for Garissa SACCO • Train book keeper on QuickBooks • Mobilise 100 bunge members to register with the SACCO and benefit from the Coca Cola 5/20

program that will give groups cooler boxes and crates of soda to sell.

Wajir County:

• Finalize of year three work plan for Wajir County CBF • Amend and extend the FOG for Wajir county CBF to include this year’s work plan • Finalize the Wajir SACCO FOG and begin to provide matching grants for small business loans. • Conduct Bunge’s annual elections • Conduct annual general meeting for the Bunge delegates • Train selected bunges on Income Generating skills • Continuous Mobilization and formation of Village Bunges • Call for applications for year 3 scholarship • Recruit a book keeper for Wajir SACCO • Train book keeper on QuickBooks • Mobilise 100 bunge members to register with the SACCO and benefit from the Coca Cola 5/20

program

Mandera County:

• Support and monitor the implementation of the FOG by the CBF • Offer scholarship to successful scholarship applicants • Disburse the scholarship funds for the awardees • Finalize the Mandera SACCO fixed obligation Grant and begin to provide matching grants for

small business loans. • Support and monitor SACCO activities • Issue a mini-call for scholarships, conduct the scholarship selection lotteries and disburse

scholarship funds to educational institutions • Train Bunges engaged in businesses on Income Generating Activities (IGAs) • Recruit a book keeper for Mandera SACCO • Train book keeper on QuickBooks • Mobilise 64 bunge members to register with the SACCO and benefit from the Coca Cola 5/20

program

Cross-Cutting:

• Submit no cost extension request • Finalize PMP and PIRS based on USAID feedback • Continue to implement the weekly radio programs that will be broadcast on Star FM. The radio

team will work in partnership with both the CBF and Star Fm to identify topics of interest • Continue to implement the monthly radio programs through Wajir Community Radio • EDC will also continue to monitor the weekly radio programs through independent research

Firm- Ipsos Synovate so as to determine the program’s audiences reach • Strengthen linkages and create more linkages with public, private sectors • Encourage equal representation of communities


• Revise the bunge tracker and its procedure. • Conduct scholarship data quality assessment (DQA).

XIV. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Note: EDC is preparing a request for a no-cost extension and based on the request, the projected costs may be updated.

REDACTED DUE TO SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

XV. ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION

Personnel

Building the capacity of the youth bunges to be able to save wih SACCO and get loans, EDC is focusing in engaging a consultant to help with training of trainers and youth bunges to develop business skills carry out economic activities with their savings and enhance their business .

Contract, Award or Cooperative Agreement Modifications and Amendments

The Wajir and Garissa agreements were modified this reporting period to include the VAT submission contacts and the Garissa one was modified to set new delivery time frames for the remaining activities.

XVI.INFORMATION FOR ANNUAL REPORTS ONLY

N/A

XVII. GPS INFORMATION

The GPS report is attached as a separate document to this report, due to security reasons.

XVIII. SUCCESS STORY

“I Will Have a Reward for This” Says Scholarship Beneficiary 21 Year Old Wants To Be a Champion Of Peace In a Region Beset By Insecurity

It’s a double delight for Aden Kassim Nunow! In 2011 the Garissa Youth Project (G-Youth) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) paid him full scholarship to study a Certificate course in Criminology at the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice.


Again last year, the Yes Youth Can! (YYC!) North Eastern Region project, which succeeded the G-Youth project, came to his aid after dropping out of college while pursuing a diploma course in Forensic Investigation at the same college.

“I was twice lucky with the USAID funded youth project in North Eastern and the current scholarship relief came when I most needed it”, said Aden when we met him in Wajir recently.

Aden is currently doing his diploma course and was hired as a marketing agent by the same institution he was studying in.

“I work and study here, can it get better than that for now?” he asks.

“Aden is a focused and dedicated student and because of his aggressive marketing initiatives the college is soon moving to a new location to accommodate the bigger student enrollment” said the College’s Wajir campus coordinator Lucas Okuku.

Like Aden, hundreds of other youth in North Eastern have benefitted from the YYC scholarship program.

The YYC North Eastern Region project implemented by Education Development Center (EDC) has so far awarded 261scholarships to deserving students in Universities, Middle Level Colleges and Vocational Training Institutions from Garissa and Wajir Counties.

In Mandera County, 300 youth are set to benefit from the scholarship program rolled out recently.

Adan wants to specialize in peace and security studies and hopes to one day start an organization that will nurture peace in the region.

“When I hear about the conflicts in Mandera and the terrorist attacks in Garissa and Wajir, I ask myself, I wish I could do something”, Adan says as he gazes out of the window, far into the horizon, perhaps thinking his dream will be a reality one day.

And then he looks at us and says “I don’t know how soon but I want to make those who helped me proud one day”.


ANNEXES & ATTACHMENTS (MAXIMUM 10 PAGES)

Annex I: Schedule of Planned Events in Quarter 3

DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY

May 2015 Wajir and Garissa Annual delegates meeting

May 2015 Mandera Scholarship award

May 2015 Garissa & Wajir & Mandera Finalize the Fixed obligation grant for the SACCO

May 2015 Garissa & Wajir Scholarship Call

May - June 2015 Garissa, Wajir, Mandera

Support SACCOs to recruit members and issue loans


Annex II: List of Deliverable Products for Quarter 1I 2015-2016

Below are the deliverables for the quarter:

• Synovate listenership data is forthcoming as it was not available at the time of submission • Mandera baseline report. – will be submitted separately

Annex III: List of Attachments

• Success story photo

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