Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation (CAAI) - Virginia Tech · 2020-01-29 · describing activities based on the work plan objectives achieved. In January, CAAI held a training

Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation Program

Quarterly Performance Report – II (January – March 2019) I

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Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation (CAAI)

Agreement No. AID-OAA-L-12-00002

Center for International Research, Education and Development (CIRED) 526 Prices Fork Road Blacksburg, VA 24061

FY 2019 Quarterly Performance Report – 2 (January - March 2019)

Date of Submission: April 30, 2019

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was

prepared by CAAI project staff. 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.

Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation Program Quarterly Performance Report – II (January – March 2019)

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Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... II

LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................. III

PROGRAM DETAIL AND OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................V

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. 1

COMPONENT 1: STRENGTHEN AFGHAN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO

PARTICIPATE IN VALUE CHAINS ............................................................................................................. 3

ACTIVITY 1.1: IMPROVE TEACHING .................................................................................................................... 3 A. General training ..................................................................................................................................... 3 B and C. Agriculture High School (AHS), Agriculture Veterinary Institutes (AVI) and TVET

Training ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 D. University training .................................................................................................................................. 9

ACTIVITY 1.2: INCREASE WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN RURAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ........................... 11 ACTIVITY 1.3: LINK STUDENTS TO VALUE CHAIN PLATFORMS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENTIAL

LEARNING ......................................................................................................................................................... 11 ACTIVITY 1.4: ESTABLISH STUDENT GROUPS BASED ON THE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PYD) APPROACH: ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 ACTIVITY 1.6: BUILD AN AFGHAN CADRE FOR DISTANCE AND DISTRIBUTED LEARNING ................................. 12 GENDER INTEGRATION .................................................................................................................................... 12 TOTAL TRAININGS CONDUCTED ...................................................................................................................... 13 CAAI’S COMMUNICATION ................................................................................................................................ 14

COMPONENT 3: COORDINATE EFFECTIVE INFORMATION SHARING AMONG AGRICULTURAL

MARKET SYSTEMS ACTORS TO SET AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES ....................... 15

ACTIVITY 3.1: ASSIST LOCAL PROFESSIONALS IN DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH VALUE CHAIN

STAKEHOLDER GROUPS ................................................................................................................................... 15 ACTIVITY 3.3: MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS........................................................... 15 GENDER INTEGRATION .................................................................................................................................... 18 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 COORDINATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS/OTHER PROGRAMS ............................................................................ 18

CAAI PROVINCIAL OFFICES AND STAFFING ...................................................................................... 19

CAAI CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................ 20

CHALLENGES ................................................................................................................................................... 20 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 20

CAAI MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE NEXT QUARTER .................................................... 21

COMPONENT 1: STRENGTHEN AFGHAN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN

VALUE CHAINS ................................................................................................................................................. 21 COMPONENT 3: COORDINATE EFFECTIVE INFORMATION SHARING AMONG AGRICULTURAL MARKET

SYSTEMS ACTORS TO SET AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES ................................................................ 22

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING ..................................................................................... 24

BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES SUMMARY .......................................................................................... 28

ANNEXES .................................................................................................................................................... 29


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List of Acronyms ADS Automated Directives System AET Agricultural Education and Training AET, Global LLC Agricultural Education and Training, Global Company AHS Agricultural High School (under TVET-A) AIB Afghanistan International Bank AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative ARIA Agricultural Research Institute of Afghanistan ASDPII Second Afghanistan Secondary Skills Development Project ATVET Agricultural technical/vocational education and training AVC – HVC Afghanistan Value Chain – High Value Crops AVI Agricultural and Veterinary Institute (under TVET-A) C1 Cohort One (first cohort of Afghan university faculty participants) CAAI Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation CASE Cooperation Agricultural Schools (and) Extension project CHAMP Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program CIRED Center for International Research, Education and Development CLA Collaborative Learning and Adaptation COP Chief of Party CV Curriculum Vitae DAI Development Alternatives Inc. DAIL Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DG Director General DMTVET Deputy Minister of Technical Vocational Education

and Training ERF/ERR Environmental Review Form and Review Report GD General Directorate GIRoA Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan GRAIN Grain Research and Innovation InnovATE Innovation for Agricultural Training and Education project IRB Institutional Review Board LLC Limited Liability Corporation LMIA Labor and Market Information Analysis MAIL Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock MoE Ministry of Education

MoHE Ministry of Higher Education

MoWA Ministry of Women’s Affairs

NAEC National Agriculture Education College

NGO non-governmental organization

NTVETS National Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Strategy

PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan

PMU Project Management Unit PST Provincial Site Team R&E Research and Extension STTA Short-term Technical Assistance SWIM Strengthening Watershed and Irrigation Management

TBD To Be Determined

TIN Tax Identification Number

TOR Terms of Reference


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TVET-A Technical & Vocational Education Training - Authority USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government

VT Virginia Tech

VTC Vocational Training Centers

VTIC Virginia Tech Innovation Corporation

WGD Women and Gender in International Development YIAC Young Innovators in Agriculture Competition


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Program Detail and Overview Cooperative Agreement No.: AID-OAA-L-12-00002 Funding Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development USAID Funding: $ 8,000,000 Period of Performance: May 28, 2018 – May 27, 2023 Prime Implementer: Virginia Tech Partner: National Agriculture Education College Counterpart Institutions: Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Authority (TVET-A), Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).

The essence of Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation (CAAI) is to enhance the capacity of agricultural education institutions to serve their clientele groups. CAAI will improve relevance and capacity in agricultural education and promote new roles for educators and researchers by building relationships among them and with the private sector. The project’s operational approach tests a model for relationship building in five provinces: Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, and Nangarhar. By linking agricultural education institutions to locally important value chains in these provinces, CAAI will stimulate and sustain mutually beneficial collaborations among members of the agricultural education and training (AET) system and private sector actors. These relationships will improve the value of agricultural education while at the same time creating opportunities for value chain actors to perceive benefits of improved skillsets of graduating students. CAAI will measure program success in terms of increased performance of universities, agricultural institutes and high schools under the Technical and Vocational Education Training-Authority (TVET-A), and extension agents of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), with respect to improved generation and dissemination of value-chain innovations, pedagogy, workforce development, and quality of relationships between agricultural professionals and value-chain stakeholders. CAAI activities are designed and implemented by Virginia Tech and its partner institution, the National Agriculture Education College (NAEC). Public Afghan agricultural education institutions that engage in and benefit from the project’s activities in the selected provinces (Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Nangarhar and Herat) include:

1. Agriculture Faculty of each university 2. Agriculture and Veterinary Institutes (AVIs) and Agriculture High Schools (AHSs)

of TVET-A

In addition to the above, CAAI has begun activities under the pilot Edu2Fem (Education to Female) initiative at Agriculture High Schools in Bamyan and Parwan Provinces through sub-agreement with NAEC.


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Executive Summary The second quarterly performance report summarizes major CAAI activities from January through March 2019. The report is organized by program activities in each component describing activities based on the work plan objectives achieved. In January, CAAI held a training workshop in New Delhi, India for the project’s field and home office management, faculty members, and program staff to begin building an experiential learning community of practice. Virginia Tech faculty members provided planned trainings, and all participants exchanged valuable information about agricultural education systems, ATVET and the social and cultural environment in Afghanistan. Additionally, they exchanged ideas about how to improve teaching, learning, entrepreneurship, and other areas. The workshop provided an opportunity for the field and home office teams to meet and to begin building long-term relationships. Multiple training sessions focused on pedagogy, positive youth development, experiential learning and value chain analysis. Additional sessions covered project approaches for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) and communications and gender. Discussions also addressed collaborations with other programs and CAAI partners – public agriculture universities, agriculture and veterinary institutes and agriculture high schools. During this quarter, CAAI initiated collaborative activities with two USAID-funded programs: the GRAIN project, implemented by Michigan State University, and Afghanistan Value Chains – High Value Crops, implemented by DAI. In partnership with the GRAIN project and at the request of Agriculture Faculty at Kabul University, CAAI provided all Kabul University Agriculture Faculty professors full access to digital resources through the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) library. The access will provide faculty with a wide range of full-text research journals, magazines, scholarly articles and many other resources, and it includes a CAAI Research Guide customized for the project by the CALS agriculture librarian at Virginia Tech. As part of collaborative activities with the USAID Afghanistan Value Chains - High Value Crops project, CAAI will support DAI’s Young Innovators in Agriculture Competition to reduce post-harvest losses. CAAI will provide support to train AVI students in post-harvest of selected value chains in their relevant provinces and work with AVC-HVC supported private sector actors in the relevant provinces so the public education sector and private sector will work together to come up with solutions to reduce post-harvest losses. CAAI established its office in Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, and hired a program coordinator to begin CAAI program activities with agriculture education institutions, linking AVIs, AHSs and Ag Faculties to private sector stakeholders. During this quarter, CAAI PMU and PST teams worked closely with local universities and AVI educators to design and conduct various trainings for teachers and students at agriculture high schools and institutes. The training content included both in-class instruction and field-based, practical, hands-on learning experiences covering various agriculture-related subjects. The PMU team hired two English language instructors who are teaching English to students and educators in Kabul AVI and AHS. CAAI is pleased to report that 28% of the trainees participating in CAAI trainings during this quarter were female students and educators. Finally, Virginia Tech faculty members from various departments continued providing training and learning support to PST and PMU teams in the field via distance learning technologies.


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Virginia Tech faculty members also prepared multiple training modules for field office teams to continue providing training to local educators.


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Component 1: Strengthen Afghan agricultural education institutions to participate in value chains

Activity 1.1: Improve teaching

During the reporting period, CAAI Virginia Tech (VT) mentors developed the project’s first pedagogy training module designed to be delivered in-country, and they also provided an online training on March 17, 2019 on ways to present modules for CAAI Project Management Unit (PMU) and Provincial Site Team (PSTs) members. The module follows a 2-day training schema with specific procedures and methods for conducting the training. This training will be conducted for AVI and AHS instructors in Kabul and at the provincial level to better equip them with new sets of skills for their day-to-day lectures and classes. The modules teach pedagogy and learning theories through:

• Identification of fundamentals of pedagogical principles of practice in a classroom

setting

• Defining pedagogy

• Discussing primary pedagogical approaches

• Discussing learning theories

• Discussing how the knowledge of learning theory can be used to provide sound instructional processes

A. General training CAAI Project Training Workshop: The first project training, “Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems: Creating a Community of Practice,” was held in New Delhi, India, 18-24 January. Members of the CAAI Project Management Unit (PMU), staff of Provincial Site Teams (PSTs), heads of Herat AVI, Balkh AVI and Kandahar AVI, and mentors and faculty members from Virginia Tech participated in the training. Additional participants from NAEC and TVET - A were targeted to attend the training, but due to some visa issues, were unable to participate. The training workshop was designed to initiate a process of contextualized and on-going experiential learning for the promotion of Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) through the creation of an experiential learning community of practice that will catalyze agricultural innovation in Afghanistan. This community of practice is characterized by an exchange of knowledge, information, ideas and practices among the CAAI PMU and PSTs, Virginia Tech mentors, and collaborating partners. During the workshop, the training themes of CAAI’s Work Plan such as pedagogy, value chain interactions, positive youth development (PYD), and gender were addressed with respect to basic principles and best practices in agricultural innovation systems. Participants discussed ways to adopt and apply these principles and best practices in each province through their respective Provincial Action Plans (PAPs). At the end of the workshop, participants created a learning agenda to chart ongoing collaboration between Afghan partners and VT mentors for the implementation of CAAI’s Work Plan. The training workshop laid the foundation for long-term cooperation between Virginia Tech faculty members and Afghan partners of the program. The training was a learning experience


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for both Virginia Tech faculty and the Afghan team. Program partners exchanged valuable information about agricultural education systems, NAEC programs, and the social and cultural environment and shared ideas about how to improve teaching, learning, entrepreneurship, and other areas. At the end of the workshop, through development of a training-of-trainers (TOT) approach which is linked to the CAAI work plan, Virginia Tech and CAAI’s in-country team planned activities to support and mentor in-country partners as they promote Afghan agricultural innovation. The overall purpose and objectives of this joint event were:

1. Relationship building 2. Developing mentorship program and conducting training needs assessment 3. Transferring fundamental and inclusive principles for value chain assessment and

pedagogical methods and learning approaches to CAAI technical team and heads of AVIs.

4. Providing tools for collaborative experiential learning, stakeholder analysis, and sustained relationships with stakeholders.

5. Introducing Positive Youth Development framework and approaches

Communications Training to AHS and AVI teachers: CAAI has been in the process of identifying a local firm for conducting an advanced communications training for AHS and AVI teachers in Kabul. Concept notes and quotations have already been received and compiled from potential consultancies. CAAI’s initiation for connecting Kabul AVI with other USAID projects: In the reporting quarter, CAAI initiated a process of connecting Kabul AVI with USAID-funded projects. CAAI staff arranged a meeting between the head of Kabul AVI and technical staff of the SERVIR project. The meeting was followed by a presentation on remote sensing and GIS by SERVIR for the teachers of AVI to educate them on the different uses of this technology in agriculture education and research. CAAI also supported Kabul AVI by providing learning material to the students at AVI. By making these mutually-beneficial connections, CAAI supports innovation in

CAAI, VT, and AVI representatives performing group exercise during India Training

Training participants of “Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems” – New

Delhi, India

Presentation to AVI teachers by SERVIR Project


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agriculture among the agricultural institutes and USAID-funded programs.

B and C. Agriculture High School (AHS), Agriculture Veterinary Institutes (AVI) and TVET Training

Ongoing English and Computer courses:

During this quarter, CAAI recruited two English instructors and began offering English Language courses for the teachers and students at AVI in Kabul city and at AHS in Qarabagh district in Kabul province. Each instructor teaches five days a week, for two to three hours every day. Currently, there are three classes ongoing at Kabul AVI, one is for the teachers of AVI with a total of 14 teachers (two females and 12 male); the other two classes are for students, including one class of 18 students (all male) and one class of 16 students (three females and 13 male). At the beginning of these courses, each instructor assessed the enrolled students’ English language proficiency to place them according to the following categories:

• Elementary

• Intermediate

• Upper Intermediate

• Advanced All who were assessed fell into the elementary category, and none qualified for other category assignments. The total duration of instruction for the elementary category is four and a half months, including three books taught in three steps, each step lasting 45 days. A pre- and post-test is administered for each step to assess learning and improvement. Pruning and Grafting training: In March 2019, CAAI PST teams facilitated and organized trainings on Pruning and Grafting through local institutions for AVI and AHS instructors, Agriculture Faculties, and DAIL technical staff in Balkh, Herat and Kandahar. In Balkh, CAAI offered a 3-day training on Pruning, Grafting and designing of orchards for fruit crops to the AVI and AHS instructors, agriculture faculty members, and technical staff of the department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. The training helped the participants to increase their knowledge, build capacity and improve understanding of pruning and grafting methods and techniques. Instructors will be able to incorporate training content and approaches into student practical sessions

Teachers attending the English course in Kabul AVI organized by CAAI

Participants discussing the pruning in groups


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at their respective institutions. The total number of participants was 29 (four female and 25 male), and the training was conducted at the Balkh AVI compound, where both theoretical and practical sessions were carried out.

CAAI’s Herat team organized

a Pruning and Grafting

training for teachers and

students at AHS, AVIs,

Agriculture Faculty, and Herat

University as well as technical

staff from DAIL. The five-day

training helped the participants

identify the best methods of

grafting for various fruit

species and cultivars and the

pruning techniques in different

fruit crops. In this training, 53

participants took part including

28 male and 25 female. In

addition to practical sessions on grafting and pruning, the training session included a

demonstration of orchard design and layout. Participants were instructed on how and when to

apply manure and green manure to their orchards, subject to the soil fertility and growth vigor

of the trees.

Due to high demand, the CAAI Herat team organized a second round of the Pruning and Grafting training for a new group of participants from the AHS, AVI, and Agriculture Faculty of Herat University. The total number of participants in this training was 49 students (19 female and 30 male). This training lasted for five consecutive working days, 4 hours/day. It was conducted at the facilities of AVI in Herat. The training on Pruning and Grafting in Kandahar was conducted for Daman - Agriculture and Veterinary Institutes, Maiwand - Agriculture and Veterinary Institutes and Arghandab - Agriculture High School teachers and students. There were 34 participants, all male. The five-day training was conducted during March at the Research Center training hall, Agriculture Faculty, University of Kandahar. Participants were trained in grafting skills and the pruning of different fruit trees of various species.

The trainer showing participants how to do pruning and grafting

Participants gathered to do practical on pruning and grafting

Practical grafting Session


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Every species and cultivar of fruit crop requires a different frequency and intensity of pruning in different times of the crop cycle. Soil Testing and Analysis Training: In March 2019, CAAI designed and organized training in Soil testing and analysis for the students and teachers of AHS, AVI, and Agriculture Faculty as well as the technical staff of DAIL. CAAI utilized local resources and materials in the development of training content and in conducting the training. CAAI also provided Soil Testing & Analysis training to instructors of AVIs and AHS in Kabul at the soil laboratory of MAIL in Badam Bagh. This five-day training was aimed at improving agriculture education instructors’ knowledge of soil analysis, understanding of soil texture and practical skills in analysis of soil moisture content, pH and EC. Participants were provided practical training in how to determine soil fertility, soil organic matters and calcium carbonate. Of a total of 11 participants (including three females and eight males), eight were from the AVI in Kabul city and three from other AVIs in Kabul province. Participants’ reflections were very positive.

The CAAI Herat team designed and organized this 6-day training event. The training provided the platform for the participants to analyze soil, measure the pH of soil and determine total soil electrical conductivity (EC) and important elements such as N.P.K. (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium). Participants used various types of equipment and materials in the soil lab, investigating how to measure characteristics of soil by using Keen’s Cup, how to analyze chemical materials of soil, what texture is and how to survey the soil. There were 46 participants

including 19 females. The venue for this training was the soil laboratory in the Agriculture Faculty, Herat University.

“Since my graduation…almost 25 years ago, this is the first ever time

that we received practical training in soil test and

analysis”

Mohammad Musa Barakzai, head of the soil science department

Training participants carrying out practical experiments in the lab


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Animal Laboratory Diagnostics test training: CAAI also conducted a five-day training on animal laboratory diagnostic testing at the diagnostic laboratories of MAIL in Darul Aman. The 10 participants, all male AVI teachers, focused on practical lab exercises and classroom instruction. Participants received training in collecting blood samples from small animals. They were also trained on basic practical exercises of hematology including blood smear preparation for counting red blood cells, white blood cells and total blood cells. The participants were also trained in how to collect and prepare stool samples from small animals to identify different eggs of internal parasites. They received bacteriology training, using the milk ring test (MRT) to determine the presence of brucellosis in small animals. They also tested the colony of bacteria morphology. Saffron Orientation for students at Balkh AVI:

The CAAI Balkh team, jointly with the AVI and agricultural faculty of Balkh University, conducted a one-day field visit for AVI students from grades 13 and 14. The field visit was an orientation training on Saffron attended by 11 students (six female and five male) including the head of the AVI and teachers. They were educated on the planting and harvesting of saffron and post-harvest practices.

Trainees performing various tests

Saffron orientation at the field in Balkh University facility

“To me, this training was interesting as I learned that it is

the tiny stamen of Saffron which fetch higher price in the market, and it is this part of the

flower which is used for different purposes”

An AVI student in Balkh


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Establishment of CAAI’s office in Nangarhar Province:

During this quarter, CAAI hired its Provincial Site Coordinator for Nangarhar. He is stationed in the compound of the AVI and has established a CAAI office to support program activities in Nangarhar.

D. University training Second round of Pre-employment skills development training at Herat University The pre-employment and personal development skills training conducted at Herat University during the first quarter of 2019 was so well received by students that the Agriculture Faculty leadership requested that CAAI organize another training for their new graduates. The CAAI Herat team conducted the second round of training on Pre-employment skills development for 65 new graduates of the Agriculture Faculty, including 12 female. As a follow-up to this training, the CAAI Herat team hosted an employability event for new graduates to connect them with private and public sector employers in Herat province, including other USAID-funded projects, for internship and job opportunities. More than 200 participants/graduates attended the event. As a result of this event, two female graduates were hired as interns by a local agricultural company. After the two-month internships, these interns now hold permanent jobs at the respected company.

Connecting the Library of Virginia Tech with Agriculture Faculty, Kabul University During the initial scoping visit of CAAI staff to Kabul University Agriculture Faculty, the Dean of the Agriculture Faculty requested access to Virginia Tech’s on-line digital libraries for agriculture resources. The PMU team worked with Virginia Tech’s agriculture librarian in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to explore the possibilities of providing Agriculture Faculty professors as well students with access to VT online digital libraries. The CAAI project staff also visited Kabul University central library and Agriculture Faculty library to assess the current situation and provide support from VT as needed.

Pre-employments skills training in Herat for new graduates

Graduates attending the linking event organized by CAAI


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Kabul University’s central physical library has been in operation from the university’s inception, but its electronic library is still in the infancy of its development. Kabul University’s Agriculture library consists of a few outdated books, as well as desktop computers that are not connected to the internet. There is currently no access to online digital library resources in the existing library. The benefits and importance of digital library resources are enormous for higher education and research activities. They are available 24/7, can be accessed from anywhere, facilitate fast research and retrieval of information, and enable the same document to be accessed by many individuals simultaneously. In addition, there are no space limitations for storage, as is the case with physical libraries, and they facilitate the preservation and conservation of documents in an orderly fashion for a long time. Working with VT libraries, CAAI created a solution to provide full access to all Kabul Ag Faulty professors to explore VT on-line digital libraries. CAAI provided a short session to Ag Faculty professors on how to use the VT online digital libraries through a customized research guide specifically created for them via the CAAI project. The link to the VT libraries is: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/c.php?g=923588 and the professors can use this guide to access citations and full-text resources such as e-books, lectures, research journals and articles, Ag related magazines and other digital materials, reports, student theses and thousands of self-study and enrichment links. CAAI plans to provide further detailed information sessions to faculty members and students in Agriculture Faculties in all five of the CAAI project’s provinces. CAAI also plans to assist these Ag Faculties with internet access.

CAAI CoP demonstrates the use of the digital library to professors.

Virginia Tech Library Web Page

https://guides.lib.vt.edu/c.php?g=923588


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Activity 1.2: Increase women’s participation in rural agricultural education During the reporting period, CAAI conducted a visit to the National Agricultural Educational College (NAEC) to observe the overall teaching environment and discuss teaching approaches. NAEC has a sub-agreement with VT to support CAAI through the Edu2Fem pilot. NAEC will also support other CAAI activities including in-service training of AHS teachers. Regular weekly coordination meetings are being held between both parties to discuss the Edu2Fem activities. NAEC has been in the process of team development in the two target provinces. In March 2019, a detailed work plan from NAEC was submitted to CAAI for review. It’s expected to be finalized by early next quarter with initial implementation of the activities as outlined in the provided work plan.

Activity 1.3: Link students to value chain platforms to create opportunities for experiential learning During this quarter, the CAAI Herat team met with the DAIL Directors of Human Resources

and Provincial Capacity Building directors to facilitate internship opportunities for the students

of AVI and agriculture faculty members.

CAAI also collaborated with DAI’s private sector partners on job and internship opportunities

for students. CAAI strives to ensure inclusion of these interns during trainings. Two interns

from NHLP and GRAIN participated in CAAI’s soil test and analysis training conducted in

Kabul. Small steps are being taken to link students and graduates to value chain platforms.

Activity 1.4: Establish student groups based on the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach:

CAAI has been specifically focusing on the

development and involvement of youth

groups for its project life. The Positive Youth

Development (PYD) approach has been

identified as a way to engage youth with their

communities, schools, organizations, peer

groups and families. During this reporting

period, CAAI developed a PYD training

module with technical support from VT faculty

members. VT faculty members conducted a

one-day online training for CAAI PST and

PMU teams to reinforce the basic ideas that

were taught and shared during the January India training. The main purpose and objective of

the module was to:

CAAI - NAEC Weekly Meeting

CAAI PMU & PST receiving virtual training on PYD from VT faculty members


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1. Define the principles of PYD

2. Describe the components of the PYD

framework

3. Discuss examples of Developmental

Systems, the 5 C’s of PYD

development and 4-H programming

4. Identify adaptations and partners to

support PYD programming in

Afghanistan.

PYD is a completely new concept within the

AET system and steps are being taken by

CAAI to ensure its consideration and

implementation throughout the project life.

CAAI and VT jointly drafted a concept note on

PYD assessment that would be conducted in

Kandahar, Herat, Balkh and Kabul for the following objectives:

1) Identify constraints and opportunities to developing PYD programs at provincial level

2) Collect information from stakeholders

who would assist in the design of a

model for PYD programing in

Afghanistan

3) Collect information from stakeholders that would help to contextualize training

materials for CAAI’s June 2019 PYD Training in India

4) Identify potential ways to support the inclusion of women in PYD programming,

specifically agriculture-focused activities

5) Identify potential opportunities to increase the inclusion of gender and empowerment

into PYD curricula, learning materials, and activities

Activity 1.6: Build an Afghan cadre for distance and distributed learning

During this reporting period, CAAI began the initial discussions with NAEC on possibilities and

existing opportunities on distance and distributed learning approaches and tools. CAAI will

continue to explore the mechanisms best suited for target audiences as part of the 2019 work

plan.

Training in distance and distributed learning will be conducted in June in India by Virginia

Tech’s Technology-Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies division (TLOS).

Gender Integration

CAAI’s Gender and Communications Specialist is working with the NAEC team on the development and implementation of the Edu2Fem approach. The specialist has also been reaching out to the targeted group as identified in the approved MEL plan. During the reporting

CAAI field team and VT faculty members discussing PYD concept


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period, 28% of participants were female as shown in the chart below. This percentage includes participants from the Agricultural Education Institutions’ (AHS, AVI and Ag Faculty) teachers and students and administrators, and DAIL employees.

Total Trainings Conducted During this reporting period, CAAI conducted 11 trainings and trained 297 individuals including AHS and AVI teachers, students and administrators and DAIL employees on various topics. Following is a table of trainings and a descriptive chart:

Female, 28 %

Male, 72 %

CAAI Training participants in %


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CAAI training conducted during the second quarter 2019

S/N Training Name Training Location

Training Date Female Male Total

1 Pre-Employment Skills Training Herat

29-Dec-18 1-Jan-19 12 53 65

2 Pruning & Grafting training for AVI & AHS Students Herat 5-Mar-19 10-Mar-19 24 21 45

3 Pruning & Grafting training for AVI & AHS Teachers Herat 5-Mar-19 10-Mar-19 1 7 8

4 Soil Training for AVI&AHS Teachers Herat 6-Mar-19 16-Mar-19 0 13 13

5 Soil training for AVI & AHS Students Herat 6-Mar-19 16-Mar-19 19 14 33

6 Pruning & Grafting 2nd round training for Students Herat

18-Mar-19 24-Mar-19 19 30 49

7 Soil Training for Kabul AVI Teachers Kabul

24-Mar-19 28-Mar-19 3 8 11

8 Animal Laboratory Diagnostic Test Training for Kabul AVI Teachers Kabul

16-Mar-19 19-Mar-19 0 10 10

9 Pruning & Grafting training for AVI Teachers, Balkh Balkh

18-Mar-19 20-Mar-19 4 25 29

10 Pruning & Grafting training for AVI & AHS Teachers, Kandahar Kandahar

26-Mar-19 31-Mar-19 0 11 11

11 Pruning & Grafting training for AVI students Kandahar Kandahar

26-Mar-19 31-Mar-19 0 23 23

Total 82 215 297


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CAAI’s Communication In this quarter, extensive work has been performed to create awareness through promotional materials such as CAAI stationery, notebooks, wall clocks and calendars for the new fiscal year 1398 / 2019 for distribution to promote USAID’s CAAI program at central and provincial level. During the reporting period, CAAI’s Gender and Communication Specialist held regular skype calls with the provincial site teams to provide awareness on communications and public relations to CAAI staff and also to build upon the newly-introduced procedures. Regular skype calls are also taking place with VT communications department for updates, plans and progress of the project’s activities in terms of communication. In January, a session by VT’s Communication Director was also facilitated during India training.

In order to ensure quality of reports, the CAAI communications unit introduced the internal reporting format to the CAAI PSTs. This enables the management team to better track the progress of activities at field level. According to USAID requirements, CAAI has also contextualized the consideration of success stories throughout the project cycle. CAAI Herat and Balkh teams submitted two success stories that will be shared with USAID.


16

Component 3: Coordinate effective information sharing among agricultural market systems actors to set agricultural research priorities

Activity 3.1: Assist local professionals in developing relationships with value chain stakeholder groups

VT/CAAI and DAI (Agriculture Value Chain-High Value Crops AVC-HVC) projects worked together to launch the first Young Innovators in Agriculture Competition (YIAC 2019), a process which will last for six months for the young male and female students at AVIs. These young talents, with the support of their faculty members, will focus their ingenuity to develop technological solutions to reduce post-harvest losses in preidentified high value crops among the best value chains in five provinces. The competition will meet its goals through the recruitment and selection of post-harvest technology prototypes, pre-acceleration sessions and a boot camp, innovation challenge and the innovation showcase. One of the main objectives of this activity is to establish active linkages and partnerships among agricultural institutions, private and public sectors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and donors to facilitate engagement beyond the challenge.

Activity 3.3: Maintain engagement with stakeholder groups During this quarter, CAAI conducted numerous meetings and consultation sessions with its stakeholders. These meetings are recorded in the following table:

Table-2: Consultation sessions/meetings held with CAAI stakeholders

CAAI Meetings

# Institution/Org. Location Leadership/representatives involved in

Meetings Date Meeting purpose Meeting Results

1 CAAI and USAID visits to GRAIN’s mentorship program

Kabul Agriculture Faculty, CAAI office, Kabul AVI

USAID representative, CAAI DCOP, CAAI PMU technical staff, dean of Ag-faculty, and head of Kabul AVI, GRAIN mentors, mentees and communications specialist

February 19, 2019

1. Introduction to GRAIN mentees mentors 2. Visit to the mentorship program and exchange of experience among GRIAN and CAAI

CAAI became familiar with GRAIN mentees and their mentorship program

2 CAAI coordination meeting with SWIM

CAAI DCOP, CAAI PMU technical staff, SWIM DCOP and his team

February 25, 2019

Introductory meeting with SWIM to know each other activities and identify areas of future cooperation.

3

CAAI coordination meeting with CHAMP

CAAI DCOP, CAAI PMU technical staff and CHAMP DCOP and his technical staff

March 5, 2019

Briefed CHAMP on the activities of CAAI and exchanged views on areas of mutual cooperation


17

4 Coordination meeting with SERVIR

CAAI DCOP and PMU technical staff, SERVIR Technical Coordinator and his team

March 5, 2019

Introduced CAAI project and briefed them on the project activities and identified areas of future cooperation. SERVIR gave presentation on GIS and remote sensing technology to the faculty members of Agriculture and Veterinary Institute in Kabul.

5 Regular Coordination meetings with Ag. Faculty

CAAI DCOP and PMU team, Dean of Agriculture Faculty and his faculty members

March 28, 2019

1. Discussed areas of mutual cooperation, 2. Connected them with the digital library of Virginia Tech

6 CAAI and NAEC weekly coordination meetings

CAAI CoP, DCOP and PMU team, NAEC Project Manager, and his team

weekly 1. Follow-up and update on activities 2. Identification of support required from both sides

CAAI is informed and updated on the edu2fem activity

7 CAAI regular coordination meetings with DAI

CAAI CoP, DCOP and PMU team, DAI Gender Advisor, HVC Gender Adviser, and M&E Manager

February 17, 2019

1. Identification and finalization of joint activity among DAI and CAAI 2. YIAC 2019 competition planning 3. Launching YIAC 2019

1. CAAI and DAI designed YIAC 2019 as a joint activity 2. Identified dates for the Launch of the YIAC 2019 with clear roles and responsibilities of both the parties

CAAI Balkh Office

8 CAAI introductory meeting

Agriculture Faculty

CAAI PST coordinator, Dean of Agri-Faculty

January 16, 2019

Introduction to CAAI program

1. Introducing CAAI to the agriculture faculty 2. Creating relationships among both the parties

9 CAAI coordination meeting with DAI

DAI office CAAI PST Coordinator, DAI-HVC/Kandahar Provincial Coordinator and Gender Focal Point

Introduction to CAAI program

1. Introducing CAAI to DAI and getting familiar with each other’s work

10 CAAI regular coordination meeting with Department of Balkh University on conducting trainings

Soil Science department of Balkh University

CAAI PST Coordinator and Technical Specialist, Head of Soil Department and lecturers

February 28, 2019

1. Introduction to CAAI program 2. Discussion on existed facilities and conditions of Soil Science Laboratory at Balkh University

To find possible source for conducting Soil test and analysis training. To know how we can use it in the future for technical training.

11 CAAI regular coordination meeting with Department of

Horticulture and Forestry Department – Balkh University

CAAI PST Coordinator and Technical Specialist, Head of

March 6, 2019

1) Introduction of Both CAAI and Horticulture and Forestry

1. To introduce 2. To find an individual training provider for


18

Horticulture and forestry

Horticulture and Forestry Department and lecturers

Department including lecturers. 2) To discuss about the Horticulture (Pruning and Grafting) Training and to know about the capabilities of the instructors in order to provide the training as an individual training provider.

conducting Horticulture (Pruning and Grafting) Training

CAAI Herat Office 12 CAAI

introductory Meeting with DAIL HR And Capacity Building department for internship opportunities to graduates

DAIL office CAAI PST Coordinator and Technical Specialist, Head Director of Gov HR and DAIL HR

February 10, 2019

Discussed on internship programs and introduction methods of fresh graduated students

Better coordination for introducing the new graduated Students to internship programs

13 Training coordination meetings with DAIL

DAIL Office CAAI PST Coordinator and Technical Specialist, representatives of Agriculture directorate

March 3, 2019

Permission of the soil & Horticulture Training in DAIL Urdo Khan Research farm.

promises any type of cooperation with CAAI and with launching the training

14 CAAI regular coordination meetings

TVET, AVI, DAIL, Herat University

CAAI PST Coordinator and Technical Specialist

January 31, 2019

1) Sharing CAAI’s report and plans 2) Introduction Head of AVI and Dean of Ag. Faculty to the participants

Ensuring further implementation of CAAI activities with their coordination

15 CAAI introductory meeting with Mahtab Saffron Company

Mahtab Saffron Company

CAAI PST team, USAID representative, CAAI CoP and DCOP and Mahtab management team

March 25, 2019

Monitoring from CAAI two interns

Better cooperation with Mahtab Saffron & CAAI PST

CAAI Kandahar Office

16 CAAI introductory meeting

Agriculture Faculty

CAAI PST Coordinator and Dean of Agri-Faculty

March 11, 2019

Introduction to CAAI and further coordination with agriculture faculty

Exchange ideas and information and identification of coordination mechanisms

17 CAAI Coordination meeting with DAI

DAI office CAAI PST Coordination, DAI Project Manager, Gender and Communication Officer

March 19, 2019

Introductory meeting and Orientation on CAAI project

Got familiar with each projects activity and introduced to provincial teams


19

Gender Integration

CAAI has also been coordinating closely with GRAIN and other USAID projects on the aspects of gender integration. The development of a gender assessment has been completed and a concept note was developed with the support of VT mentors. The assessment will be conducted in Balkh, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul, and will help CAAI to better address gender throughout the project life cycle. During the reporting period, CAAI’s Gender and Communications Specialist worked closely with VT mentors on the development of a Gender in Pedagogy module that was presented in India during the January training event and also integrated into the final Pedagogy module for project trainings in-country.

Coordination with Stakeholders/other Programs During the reporting Period, CAAI has coordinated with stakeholders in the following initiatives: DAI (AVC/HCV) and CAAI joint event:

As mentioned previously, CAAI initiated a joint activity with DAI, launching the first Young Innovators in Agriculture Competition (YIAC 2019). It is a six-month competition process in which young male and female students of Afghan agriculture institutes will focus their ingenuity to develop innovative solutions and innovative technologies to reduce post-harvest loses in key crops. The challenge will meet its goals through, recruitment and selection of postharvest technology prototypes, pre-acceleration sessions and a boot camp, innovation challenge and the innovation showcase. The

main objectives of this competition are:

Group work on gender inclusion - New Delhi

CAAI presentation on Gender inclusive Pedagogy

Collaborative Work Meeting between CAAI and AHVC of DAI


20

• To stimulate innovation in agriculture, engage young men and women in the scientific

discovery process and link local Agricultural education professionals to value chain

stakeholder groups

• To identify viable and scalable early-stage and market ready postharvest innovations and

technologies across the agricultural value chains

• To provide a platform for private entrepreneurs to be exposed to and put in practice

innovative ways to reduce postharvest loses.

Regular coordination meetings between CAAI and DAI have taken place and both parties have agreed on a clear timeline for implementation of the YIAC 2019. This competition is planned for July 2019 with support from CAAI and its provincial offices. The initial work of the competition is expected to start in April. In this regard, CAAI provincial Site teams also organized coordination and introductory meetings with DAI provincial directors in Balkh, Herat and Kandahar.

CAAI Provincial Offices and Staffing

Hiring of CAAI Staff and Establishment of Provincial Offices During the second quarter of the 2019 fiscal year, CAAI management, with assistance and support from the home office at Virginia Tech, completed the hiring process for three new staff members, two Instructors for Kabul office and one Provincial Site Coordinator for the Nangarhar Province. The following is a list of new CAAI employees including their names, titles, locations, and start dates:

Project Management Unit – Kabul Based

Full Name Start Date (s)

- Baryal Babakarkhail – English Instructor 10 February 2019

- Wahdatullah Sais – English Instructor 10 February 2019

Provincial Site Teams – Province Based

Nangarhar Office Start Date(s)

- Abdul Basir – Provincial Site Coordinator for Nangarhar

24 March 2019


21

CAAI Challenges and Recommendations

Challenges

1. Low capacity of the relevant government institutions involved in program implementation

2. Low number of females within the targeted locations and groups 3. Start of the academic year makes it hard for the project staff to reach out to the

teachers of AVI and AHS

Recommendations

1. Supporting TVET – A and relevant programs and stakeholders technically in order to build and improve upon their existing capacities

2. Gender awareness among targeted groups (AHS/AVI and TVET) 3. Working with universities to implement selected activities originally designed under

component 2 of the Work Plan.


22

CAAI Major Activities Planned for the Next Quarter

Component 1: Strengthen Afghan agricultural education institutions to participate in value chains Activity 1.1: Improve teaching General trainings:

- A second more comprehensive training for Afghanistan Faculties and educators from Agriculture universities, AVIs and NAEC is planned for June 2019 in India. This training will be conducted by Virginia Tech and Indian Research Institute.

- Design training workshops on the following topics: Experiential learning, Inquiry-led learning, Mentoring, Good practices for facilitating collaborative learning

- Pilot the mentioned training workshops - Study tour for high-level administrators (TVET - A and University) and selected private

sector representatives to ICARE Armenia Agribusiness teaching center to see the successful model of curriculum, teaching, and private sector placement and lessons learned – This training is postponed from May to September due to visa issues for participants from Afghanistan.

AHS trainings

- Develop practical exercises to meet the needs identified through activities 1.1.2.1 of the CAAI work plan and work with CAAI PST staff to implement these exercises as part of in-service training for high school teachers

- Conduct leadership and communication training for teachers and administrators of selected provincial AHSs

- Provide basic English and computer training for teachers & students - Provide technical training (soil test, pruning, grafting and budding) to AHS teachers &

students

TVET Institute trainings

- Meet and consult with AVI teachers and partner universities to identify ways to foster relationships between the two institutions to strengthen competencies associated with teaching the new AVI curriculum

- Conduct leadership and communication training for teachers and students - Provide basic English training for teachers & students - Provide basic computer training for teachers & students - Provide technical training (lab science and use, and forestry) to AVI educators - Design 2 pedagogy training modules for AVI and pilot those modules

University Trainings

- Hold a workshop on agricultural value chains for faculty members at partner universities- Balkh, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar

- Prepare an overview document on agricultural value chains Activity 1.2: Increase women’s participation

- Finalization of NAECs Work Plan - Update 2014 Edu2Fem feasibility study to gain current data in Bamyan and Parwan - Identify and agree with TVET-A on pilot areas and teaching locations - Recruit female teachers in Bamyan & Parwan


23

- Train female teachers - Recruit female students - Obtain approval for use of MoE studio / radio station - Develop appropriate radio programming - Record and broadcast lessons - Organize on-site trainings - Set up M&E protocols

Activity 1.3: Link students to value chain platforms to create opportunities for experiential learning

- Develop training modules for value chain experiential learning - Pilot the training to AVI/AHS teachers in experiential learning - Link high schools and extension to Agriculture sector actors - Establish internship programs - Discuss internship model with AVIs and university

partners in each province through a workshop - Revision and evaluation of training modules

Activity 1.4: Establish student groups based on the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach

- Hold a conceptualization workshop on development of an Afghan Positive Youth Development model

- Pilot the PYD training module at target provinces Activity 1.5: Scholarships

- Design and develop merit- and need- based scholarship programs - Provide training on scholarship administration and processes to AVI and AHS

administrators - Provide scholarships to qualified AHS students to prepare for entrance exams for

higher education

Activity 1.6: Build an Afghan cadre for distance and distributed learning - Design training modules on distance and distributed learning - Hold a workshop on distance learning and adapting distance learning approaches for

the Afghan education system. Prioritize distance learning modalities likely to be successful, then prioritize distance learning tools and skills needed to train the team

- Hold a training series in distance learning approaches for NAEC and MAIL Home Economics Directorate for education and extension applications

Component 3: Coordinate effective information sharing among agricultural market systems actors to set agricultural research priorities Activity 3.1: Assist local professionals in developing relationships with value chain stakeholder groups

- Train in defining and involving stakeholders - Train in developing and using advisory boards - Train in managing meetings and strategic planning - Train in methods to measure stakeholder needs - assessment design, survey

development, focus groups, data analysis - Design and develop Training module on New Collaborative Roles and Responsibilities - Deliver training to university researchers, AVI instructors, AHS teachers, students and

extension agents


24

- Develop and deliver training on mentorship, data collection, implementation, and feedback relationships – ToT

- Provide training in developing listening and facilitation skills to Ag professionals to assure achievement of stakeholder goals

- Train PST and PMU members on participatory appraisal methodology, and subsequently deliver this training to agricultural professionals

- CAAI PMU staff to develop an Industry/Stakeholder Advisory Board - AHS, AVI, faculty of agriculture, NGO and agribusiness leaders for advice and support

Activity 3.2: Conduct Participatory Value Chain analysis

- Design and deliver training on how to conduct participatory value chain analyses as a collaborative learning exercise

- Guide each university in leading a value chain stakeholder analysis, building on local and partner knowledge to identify appropriate value chain partners

Activity 3.3: Maintain engagement with stakeholder groups

- Maintain engagement with stakeholder groups - Hold Annual National Agricultural Education, Research, Extension and Economics

(NAEREE) Conference -

Gender & Communication

- Conduct Gender and PYD assessment - Work closely with NAEC on implementation of Edu2Fem approach - Contribute to India training and facilitate relevant sessions if required - Support all CAAI planned activities for the coming quarter such as integrating gender

within the value chains, conducting the communications training, ensuring gender consideration within all newly developed modules and trainings

- Ensure maximum level of women/ female participation on targets within all activities - Follow- up with PST and PMU teams on gender work plan implementation and

reporting


25

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning During this reporting period, CAAI received USAID approval for the Project Monitoring,

Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan, which was submitted to USAID in late December 2018.

In this quarter, the MEL unit continued to work on the design and development of an online

portal (www.caai-mel.org) to establish a quality data management and reporting system at the

CAAI office in Kabul and four provinces where CAAI works. The MEL Unit will provide online

training to the CAAI PMU and PST members on how to use the CAAI online portal once the

system is up and running.

During this quarter, the MEL Team with the PSTs assistance collected biodata for more than

1,300 graduates and/or students who are going to graduate by end of the third quarter 2019,

including (228 female) of AHS, AVI and Ag. Faculties in all CAAI target provinces. CAAI plans

to conduct a Graduate Tracer Study during the fourth quarter of the FY 2019. The graduate

tracer study will be a baseline study of students who have graduated from the above-

mentioned institutions supported by CAAI and have not received CAAI support so far. CAAI

will use contact information collected from student records at each target TVET institution as

the sample list for the interviews/surveys.

A comprehensive report on all CAAI activities and achievements this quarter will be submitted

in Afghan Info by 30 April 2019. Appendix 1 contains a chart summarizing progress toward

project indicators targets through 31 March 2019.

http://www.caai-mel.org/

Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation Program (CAAI) FY 2019, Quarterly Performance Report – II (January – March 2019) 26

APPENDIX 1: UPDATE ON CAAI PERFORMANCE MEL Plan (May 2018 TO May 2023) FY 2019 QUARTER II (January – March 2019)

No

Goal & IR that

the project supports

Description of Indicators

LOP Target

FY2019 FY2019

Comments/status

Ta

rge

t

Ach

ieved

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

To

Date

1

Goal: To catalyze Afghan-led agricultural innovation

Number of individuals with new or better employment following completion of USG-assisted workforce development programs. (GFSS: EG 6-1)

500 100 - - -

2 Number to student/ graduate-owned entrepreneurial enterprises founded in the agriculture sector

100 20 - - -

3 Number of innovations introduced to the value chain actors

TBD - - - -

4 Intermediate Result 1: Coordinate effective information sharing among agricultural market systems actors to set agricultural research priorities

Number of individuals who have received USG-supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training (GFSS: EG 3.2-1)

770 120

-

82

8F- 74M

82

8F-

74M

During Q2 FY2019, a total of 82 teachers including 8 females trained from AHSs, AVIs and Ag. Faculties on Pruning & Grafting, and Soil Analysis and animal laboratory diagnostic test training.

5

Number of short-term training modules developed and implemented based on IR-2 and IR-3 activities and pedagogic needs assessment

20 6

- 2 -

CAAI developed the two Modules (Pedagogy and Positive Youth Development module) during this quarter and trained the PMU and PST teams on how to conduct the follow up training to the select Agriculture Institutions’ teachers.

6

Number of students/graduates of agricultural technical schools received USG scholarships to attend higher education 700 100

- - -


No

Goal & IR that



LOP Target

FY2019 FY2019

Comments/status

Ta

rge

t

Ach

ieved

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

To

Date

7

Number of individuals with improved skills following completion of USG-assisted workforce development programs. (GFSS: EG 6-2)

7700 1500

85

15F-

70M

215 74F

-141M

300

89F-

211M

During this quarter CAAI trained total of 215 students and/or graduates including 74female, on Pre-employment skills, pruning & grafting, and soil analysis training.

8

Intermediate Result 2: Strengthen research and extension actors

Number of collaborative applied research and extension activities involving more than one institution

TBD TBD

- - -

9 Number of women engaged in collaborative applied research and extension activities

TBD TBD

- - -

10

Number of technologies, practices, and approaches under various phases of research, development, and uptake as a result of USG assistance (GFSS: EG.3.2-7)

TBD TBD

- - -

11

Number of research products generated as a result of collaborative applied research projects

TBD TBD

- - -

12

Intermediate Result 3: Coordinate effective

Number of collaborative activities increased between value-chain stakeholders and agricultural professionals

40 6

- - -


No

Goal & IR that



LOP Target

FY2019 FY2019

Comments/status

Ta

rge

t

Ach

ieved

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

To

Date

13

information sharing among agricultural market systems actors to set agricultural research priorities

Number of women involved in collaborative activities value-chain stakeholders and agricultural professionals

310 40

- - -

14

Institutionalized the coordination and effective information sharing mechanism among agricultural value chain actors and agricultural professionals

5 3

- - -


Budget and Expenditures Summary Below is table with an up to date summary of second quarter’s expenditures and for project to date. This financial report is for the second quarter of the year 2 activities for the three-month period of January 01, 2019 to March 31, 2019. The actual costs incurred were lower than projected for the period, but they were much higher than the previous quarters which means that CAAI’s planned activities are on right track and picking up. We anticipate that the spending in the next quarter and thereafter will incur in line with approved budget and projected expenditures.

CAAI Budgeted va Actual Expenditure Report for Jan 1st - Mar 31st, 2019 Quarterly Reports

CAAI SUMMARY BUDGET Year 1 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Total 5 Years ($)

Line Item Description

Actual Cumulative

Costs as of Sept

30th 2018

Actual

(Oct 2018- Dec

2018)

Actual (Jan

2019-Mar

2019)

Projected (Apr

2019-Sept 2019

Projected (Oct

2019-Sept 2020

Projected (Oct

2020-Sept 2021

Projected (Oct

2021-Sept 2022

Projected (Oct

2022-May 2023

Total

Expenditures

Personnel 925,213.00 59,738.09 47,515.30 47,616.72 131,464.89 205,961.00 172,124.00 159,941.67 100,851.33 925,213.00

Fringe Benefits 363,662.00 18,302.34 17,018.30 17,385.25 57,576.78 80,261.33 68,282.33 64,095.00 40,740.67 363,662.00

Travel, Transportation, and Per Diem 256,664.00 13,142.06 12,729.67 45,868.98 85,032.00 50,634.67 51,601.33 52,592.00 35,504.00 347,104.71

Equipment - - - - - - - - - -

Supplies - 2,199.66 255.88 744.21 - - - - - 3,199.75

Contractual 1,983,667.00 - 188.48 - 421,728.14 387,666.67 386,264.67 405,687.00 291,691.33 1,893,226.29

Contractual - LLC reclassification 3,078,528.00 100,000.00 147,643.0 248,456.02 288,395.58 607,062.00 620,290.00 629,991.67 433,490.00 3,075,328.25

Participant Training - - - - - - - - - -

Security - - - - - - - - - -

Other Direct Costs 110,562.00 2,110.12 6,664.8 10,052.45 9,643.68 21,816.00 22,250.67 22,694.33 15,330.00 110,562.00

Indirect Costs 1,281,704.00 50,256.08 60,274.99 96,232.14 147,906.46 258,891.67 250,783.00 249,421.67 167,938.00 1,281,704.00

Total Estimated Cost 8,000,000.00 245,748.35 292,290.35 466,355.77 1,141,747.53 1,612,293.33 1,571,596.00 1,584,423.33 1,085,545.33 8,000,000.00

Budget

Obligation

Year 2


Annexes The following Annexes are par the second quarterly report:

1. Annex 1: CAAI Gender and Positive Youth Development: a. PYD and Gender Assessment Concept Paper b. CAAI PYD Positive Youth Development Module-1 c. CAAI PYD Lesson Plan Module-1

2. Annex 2: CAAI Linking Graduate Students with Relevant Private and Public Sectors 3. Annex 3: CAAI Value Chain/AVC & YIAC Post Harvest Concept Note for 4. Annex 4: CAAI Pedagogy Methodology Training Module and Related Materials

a. Annex 4-a. Pedagogy Module - Effective and appropriate pedagogy b. Annex 4-b. Pedagogy Module - Kobl Model Lesson Plan and Handout c. Annex 4-c. Pedagogy Module -Learning Theories d. Annex 4-d. Pedagogy Module - Presentation

Documents

Catalyzing Afghan Agricultural Innovation (CAAI) - Virginia Tech · 2020-01-29 · describing activities based on the work plan objectives achieved. In January, CAAI held a training