Tufts Global Inc

TUFTS GLOBAL BACKGROUND: TUFTS GLOBAL, INC. (TGI) FUNCTIONS TO SUPPORT AN INTERNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS PARENT ENTITY AND SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION, TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE (TUFTS). OPERATIONALLY, TGI CONTINUES TO FUNCTION AS AN AFFILIATE TO TUFTS AND HAS EXECUTED ON ITS MISSION-RELATED SERVICES FOR TUFTS FOREIGN US-AID GRANT ACTIVITIES. FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE THE TGI FIELD LOCATIONS CONTINUE TO INCUR LOCAL, IN-COUNTRY GRANT-RELATED COSTS TO STAY OPERABLE IN THE COURSE OF THE SUPPORTIVE MISSION-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THIS RELATIONSHIP ALLOWS FOR INTERCOMPANY AFFILIATE CROSS-CHARGES FOR SUCH COSTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE BILLINGS BY TGI FOR WHICH TUFTS CREATES REIMBURSEMENTS TO TGI FOR THESE LOCALLY INCURRED GRANT-RELATED COSTS. DURING FY23, FROM A LOCALITY AND FOOTPRINT PERSPECTIVE, TGI CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN TWO SEPARATE BUSINESS OFFICE REGISTRATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE BENEFIT OF TUFTS. THE FIRST OFFICE, WHICH CONTINUES TO BE LOCATED IN KAMPALA, UGANDA, OPERATES AS AN ACTIVE AND FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, ON-THE-GROUND OFFICE. A SECOND BUSINESS REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY MAINTAINED AND RECOGNIZED WITHIN KENYA. UGANDA RESEARCH GRANT ACTIVITIES: THE KARAMOJA RESILIENCE SUPPORT UNIT II (KRSU II) IS A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM FUNDED BY USAID/UGANDA, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN UGANDA, AND RUNS TO 2028. KRSU II IS MANAGED BY ACDI/VOCA AND IMPLEMENTED BY TUFTS UNIVERSITY. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE IN THE KARAMOJA REGION. KRSU II EMPHASIZES THE USE OF EXISTING AND NEW EVIDENCE TO GUIDE POLICY AND PROGRAMMING IN KARAMOJA AND WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA (GOU) TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY FOR COORDINATION. THE PROGRAM HAS THREE OBJECTIVES AS FOLLOWS: OBJECTIVE 1: TURN EVIDENCE INTO ACTION (50% LOE) KRSU II WILL GENERATE AND DISSEMINATE NEW EVIDENCE AS WELL AS REVIEW SIGNIFICANT BODIES OF EXISTING KARAMOJA RESEARCH, TO INFORM GOU, DONORS, PARTNERS, USAID, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND DELIVERY IN KARAMOJA. OBJECTIVE 2. PROMOTE AND FOSTER COLLECTIVE ACTION (20% LOE) KRSU II WILL FACILITATE COORDINATION OF GOU AND DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS. THIS INCLUDES BOTH NETWORKING SUPPORT FOR KARAMOJA-BASED AGENCIES AND STAFF AND IDENTIFYING AREAS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION OR ACTIVELY SUPPORTING COLLABORATIONS. OBJECTIVE 3: IMPROVE GOU COORDINATION TO IMPLEMENT DEVELOPMENT PLANS (30% LOE) KRSU II WILL BROADEN SUPPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF KARAMOJA AFFAIRS (MFKA) TO BETTER COORDINATE WITH DISTRICT AND SUB-COUNTY LEADERSHIP TO OPERATIONALIZE THE KARAMOJA INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN III (KIDP III), GUIDE INVESTMENTS, AND SHARE RESULTS. KRSU II WILL WORK TO ENHANCE THE GOU'S CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE THE IMPLEMENTATION AND TRACK PROGRESS OF THE KIDP III OR OTHER GOU POLICY AND STRATEGY THAT REPLACES THE KIDP III. DURING THE FY23 PROGRAM YEAR, THE KRSU II TEAM ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: * KRSU II COMPLETED THE STUDY ON THE BARRIERS TO GIRLS' EDUCATION IN KARAMOJA DURING THE FIRST QUARTER * KRSU II COMPLETED A REAL TIME REVIEW OF THE 2022 HUMANITARIAN CRISIS RESPONSE IN KARAMOJA * KRSU II CONDUCTED A STUDY ON THE INDIGENOUS EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN KARAMOJA * THE PROJECT HOSTED A NUMBER OF IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS (IPS) IN THEIR OFFICES AND GAVE BRIEFINGS ON CURRENT HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN KARAMOJA. a) THESE IPs INCLUDED WELT HINGER HILFE, MERCY CORPS, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY, DANISH REFUGE COUNCIL, SAVE THE CHILDREN JAPAN, ABT ASSOCIATES, RTI INTERNATIONAL AND CHEMONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD. * THE KRSU II CHIEF OF PARTY PARTICIPATED AS A PANELIST IN A WEBINAR ORGANIZED BY FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY UGANDA. * KRSU II PARTICIPATED AS SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS IN SEVERAL IP'S EVENTS INCLUDING: a) THE APOLOU/RCF LEARNING WORKSHOP b) THE LAUNCH OF THE USAID LOCAL PRIORITIES AND PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITY IN NOVEMBER 2022. c) THE ANTICIPATORY APPROACHES WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY WFP IN NOVEMBER 2022. d) THE REGIONAL NUTRITION EMERGENCY REVIEW MEETING ORGANIZED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION WORKING GROUP IN DEC 2022 * A STUDY WAS COMPLETED ON THE INDIGENOUS EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN KARAMOJA. A FINAL REPORT WAS PUBLISHED AND DISSEMINATED * IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WFP -PROACT THE PROJECT FACILITATED A WRITE-SHOP FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 9 DISTRICTS OF KARAMOJA TO DEVELOP THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE KARAMOJA RESILIENCE STRATEGY * THE PROJECT COMPLETED THE PREPARATION FOR A "TRAINING ON TRAINERS" ON LIVESTOCK EMERGENCY GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS (LEGS). * A PRESENTATION WAS MADE ON THE FUTURE OF PASTORALISM IN AFRICA AND IN KARAMOJA * KRSU-II MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE KDPG ON THE FUTURES OF PASTORAL AND AGRO-PASTORAL SYSTEMS IN AFRICA AND SPECIFICALLY IN KARAMOJA. * THE PROJECT HOSTED A FEW IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS (IPS) IN THEIR OFFICES AND GAVE BRIEFINGS ON CURRENT HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN KARAMOJA. * THE KRSU II TEAM PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW AND PROGRESS ON THE KRSU II ACTIVITY TO THE OFFICE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY OFFICE DIRECTORS OF THE USAID UGANDA ECONOMIC GROWTH OFFICE. * THE KRSU II TEAM BRIEFED A TEAM OF AGRICULTURE EXPERTS FROM THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY ON THE POTENTIAL OF SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT IN KARAMOJA. KENYA RESEARCH GRANT ACTIVITIES: THE RESEARCH GRANT IN KENYA CONTINUED ITS MISSION WORK WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING SUPPORT TO NAWIRI PARTNERS IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONS BY ASSISTING WITH THE CONTINUATION OF THREE PILOT PROGRAMS. 1. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE MALNUTRITION (IMAM) SURGE; 2. GRADUATION PILOT; AND 3. TRIALS OF IMPROVED PRACTICES (TIPS) ON TRADITION PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES. INITIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED: SECURING RELEVANT APPROVALS FROM THE TUFTS AND AMREF INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD SO WORK COULD CONTINUE, COMPLETION OF RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND REFRESHER COURSES FOR THE QUANTITATIVE FIELD TEAM. AFTER, THE LS ANNUAL SURVEY WAS COMPLETED BASED ON AN EXPANDED ANNUAL QUESTIONNAIRE WHICH THEN EXPANDED THE LS QUANTITATIVE SAMPLE SIZE IN RESPONSE TO BHA REQUESTS WHICH LED TO CONDUCTING A SCOPING AND DESIGN EXERCISE AT FIELD LEVEL TO SELECT NEW SITES IN LOIYANGALANI. ALSO, DURING FY23, A FINAL NAWIRI YEAR 1 QUANTITATIVE LONGITUDINAL STUDY REPORT LED BY ANASTASIA MARSHAK AND AYANE EZAKI AND CO-AUTHORED BY THE TUFTS AND KU TEAMS WAS PRODUCED. IN ADDITION, THE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH TEAM ALSO COMPLETED FOUR ROUNDS OF QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION. EACH ROUND OF QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION BUILDS ON THE PREVIOUS ROUNDS BY ADDRESSING GAPS IDENTIFIED FOR EACH SITE, IDENTIFYING AND INVESTIGATING FURTHER KEY QUESTIONS, REPORTING PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON THE HISTORICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIOPOLITICAL CONDITIONS IN THE STUDY AREAS, AND EXAMINING THE LINKAGES BETWEEN THESE AND MALNUTRITION. LATER, A STRATEGY FOR RESEARCH UPTAKE AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE LONGITUDINAL STUDY WAS DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY USAID BHA. FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETED FINAL REPORT FROM THE LS QUALITATIVE/SCOPING STUDY, CO-AUTHORED BY PADMINI IYER, ACHIBA GARGULE AND ELIZABETH STITES. OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDED PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVE CONTINUOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WITH VARIOUS KEY STAKEHOLDERS AT THE COUNTY, SUB-COUNTY, AND WARD LEVELS. THE ENGAGEMENT HAS INVOLVED THE SENSITIZATION OF THE STUDY, VALIDATION, AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH FINDING UPTAKE AND DISSEMINATION. THE TEAM ALSO, MADE FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AT VARIOUS LOCAL WORKSHOPS IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING A DATA ANALYSIS WORKSHOP WITH TEAMS FROM TUFTS UNIVERSITY, CRS AND KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. THE OBJECTIVES WERE TO; IDENTIFY KNOWLEDGE GAPS, DEVELOP PLANS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA INTO VARIOUS LEARNING OUTPUTS TAILORED TO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, AND DEVELOP PLANS FOR LEARNING AND UPTAKE. LASTLY, DURING FY23, THE TEAM DEVELOPED OUTLINES FOR A LEARNING BRIEF SERIES THEN PRODUCED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE MOBILITY LEARNING BRIEF LED BY ELIZABETH STITES AND CO-AUTHORED BY ACHIBA GARGULE AND HELEN YOUNG. THE TEAM ALSO LED DISCUSSIONS ON THE WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS STUDY: WITH THE WASH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS TEAMS, RESULTING IN COLLABORATION WITH CONCERN AND ISIOLO WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE TEAM DEVELOPED JUSTIFICATION AND PROTOCOL RE THE SITTING HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS, INCLUDING DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS FOR A LOCALLY PRODUCIBLE SITTING HEIGHT BOX. FINALLY, THE TEAM COLLABORATED WITH THE CRS STRATEGIC LEARNING AND SYSTEM STRENGTHENING TEAMS, FIELD OFFICES, MEAL, AND ICT TEAMS TO CREATE A STAKEHOLDER DATABASE FOR COMMUNICATIONS. THEN, THEY PREPARED A LEARNING BRIEF AND FINALIZED THE REPORT FOR THE PARTICIPATORY EPIDEMIOLOGY (PE) STUDY IN ILLERET.