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USAID CEW Program Delivers Equipment to Monitor Groundwater in Armenia’s Ararat Valley

Flow Meters With CaptionsUSAID presented flow-meters to the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia at a ceremony held on February 24 at "Masisdzuk” fish farm in Sayat Nova in Ararat Province. Susan Fritz, USAID’s Acting Assistant Administrator for the Europe and Eurasia Bureau, Karen Hilliard, USAID/Armenia Mission Director, Simon Papyan, Deputy Minister of Nature Protection, Vahan Davtyan, head of the Water Resource Management Agency of the Ministry of Nature Protection, and other government officials attended the event.

Flow Meters 2 (420x280)The USAID Clean Energy and Water Program (CEWP) purchased latest generation portable flow-meters as part of USAID’s technical support to the Ministry of Nature Protection and the Water Resources Management Agency, with the aim of strengthening control over the extensive exploitation of groundwater resources in the Ararat Valley. The flow meters will be used to monitor the level of groundwater extraction by fisheries – currently the largest water consumers in the area.

The assessment of the current status of groundwater resources in the Ararat Valley, conducted by USAID/CEWP in 2014, raised public awareness of the shrinking level of groundwater in the Ararat Valley, Armenia’s vital agricultural hub. Uncontrolled withdrawal and use of the groundwater by numerous fisheries was reported as one of the major causes. Stricter water permitting practices, consistent oversight, and the introduction of innovative water conservation technologies will help mitigate and eventually reverse the damaging effects of the unregulated use of the groundwater reserves in the Ararat Valley.

The USAID-funded Clean Energy and Water Program is a four-year project designed to support Armenia in improving sustainable management of the water and energy sectors. The Program is implemented by ME&A in Armenia. (more)

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USAID Selects ME&A to Assess Workforce Readiness in Kosovo

WRA 2 (420x263)The USAID Mission to Kosovo has selected ME&A to conduct an assessment of Workforce Readiness in this Balkan country. Four weeks of fieldwork are scheduled to begin in the country’s capital of Pristina on February 9, 2015.

When completed, the new assessment will provide USAID/Kosovo with an analytical study that will guide the Mission in investing in new workforce readiness programs that are effective, efficient and relevant to prepare and develop Kosovo’s youth for the 21st century workforce. The assessment will also help to Identify priority areas for USAID/Kosovo intervention that would contribute to its current Strategic Plan and Development Objectives.

Over the past five years, ME&A has conducted nine evaluations or assessments for the USAID Mission in Pristina, and more than 55 evaluations for USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in over 25 countries.

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ME&A Evaluates USAID “Feed the Future” Project in Rwanda

The USAID Mission in Rwandarwanda-ejo-heza has selected ME&A to conduct the mid-term performance evaluation of the Rwanda Integrated Improved Livelihoods Program. Fieldwork began on January 18th in Kigali and will end on February 18, 2015.
Locally known as the Ejo Heza Program, the project aims to improve the livelihoods and food consumption of Rwanda’s disadvantaged population, particularly women, by building the capacity of low income households to access appropriate financial services necessary to grow local agricultural businesses. Simultaneously, it works with financial services providers to recognize and approach rural market opportunities, while increasing their capacity to foster linkages between opportunities and products.

This five-year project under USAID’s Feed the Future initiative, covers eight districts of Rwanda’s Southern and Western Provinces. The ME&A evaluators will assess the progress of the Ejo Heza Program over its first three years towards achieving agricultural productivity and demand for financial services, Increased supply of financial services, behavioral change and marketing, as well as health and nutrition. The final report will provide recommendations to help guide the program team to make necessary corrections or adjustments over its final two years.

Since 2010, ME&A has conducted more than 55 evaluations and assessments for USAID, the U.S. Department of State and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in over 25 countries worldwide.
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Energy Efficiency Project Aids Disadvantaged Families in Armenia

On December 11, the USAID Clean EnergyCEW Meghvik 1 and Water Program (CEWP) completed an energy efficiency project at the Meghvik Center in Gyumri, Armenia. The project was implemented through the joint efforts of the UNDP/GEF Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project and USAID's CEWP with the goal of designing sustainable energy efficient solutions for Meghvik Center to lower its operational costs.

Originally constructed without energy efficiency considerations, building operations in winter were too costly. Due to CEW Meghvik 2significant energy losses, much of the building space remained unutilized during the winter. To address the issue, the project team insulated the roof of the building, constructed new partitions to isolate high and low ceiling areas, and installed a radiant heating system in the main hall of the building. With weatherization and building redesign, energy losses will be cut by nearly 50%, allowing Meghvik to save over $2,100 each year.

This project has a strong social impact. About 300 children of disadvantaged families from Gyumri attend classes at the Meghvik Center, such as creative arts, chess, computer modeling, software development and computer design. The Center will now be operational year round and the saved resources will be used to meet other critical needs.

USAID's CEWP is designed to improve water and energy management practices in Armenia, as well as help the country better respond to climate change challenges. The program implements a number of water and energy efficiency projects in several rural communities in Armenia to demonstrate best practices in the management of energy and water systems. These projects focus on water supply, efficient lighting, space and water heating, biogas, and solar energy.

ME&A implements CEWP under USAID's Water II IQC. For more iformation click here

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USAID/Egypt Selects ME&A to Evaluate Two Civil Society Programs

USAID/Egypt recently awarded ME&A theEgypt CSO1 task order under the GSA MOBIS IDIQ Contract to conduct final performance evaluations of two civil society programs – Selected Civic Education Grants and Combating Violence Against Women and Children Activity. The evaluations will be conducted for the USAID/Egypt Office of Democracy and Governance (ODG). The ME&A team will begin its evaluation activities in mid-October and continue through mid-December 2014.

The Combating Violence Against Women and Children Activity seeks to improve the capacity of Egypt's National Council for Women and its National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, as well as the NGO community, to respond to violence against women and children.

The findings from this evaluation will be used to better inform future ODG decision-making and programming in the area of gender-based violence and to strengthen its future program design and management.

In 2005, the ODG began to provide direct grants to civil society organizations through Annual Program Statements (APS). A major focus of the APS grants was civic education programs. These programs sought to expand the commitments and capabilities of Egyptians to improve their communities through non-governmental action.

By evaluating a selection of these civic education grants, ODG is seeking to understand what essential elements are consistent with effective programs and what factors increased or constrained program resiliency.
 
Since 2010, ME&A has conducted nearly 50 evaluations and assessments for USAID, the U.S. Department of State and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in more than 25 countries worldwide.

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