Document Type: Progress Reports

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

September 30, 2013, marked the conclusion of the first full year of PROSPER program implementation. Like many large programs in their first year, PROSPER dealt with some growing pains associated with setting up and equipping three field offices, establishing effective administrative, financial, and logistical support and coordination systems, and orienting and training a team of more than 60 full-time project and subcontract staff (many of them new to community forestry) with regard to USAID-PROSPER’s objectives, technical approaches, monitoring system and reporting requirements. The PROSPER team struggled with a number of other program-specific and contextual challenges in FY13, notably a heavy first-year deliverables schedule, an insufficient number of experienced Liberian technical staff (which in some cases required PROSPER to rotate them from one work zone to another to lead activities and ensure quality control), and a largely dysfunctional Government of Liberia counterpart (Forestry Development Authority – FDA) which was thrown into even greater disarray in 2013 by fallout from the explosive Private Use Permit (PUP) scandal. The scandal revealed deep-seated problems in the forestry sector related to the issuing of timber licenses on community lands and resulted in the dismissal of several senior FDA staff.

Despite the various challenges faced in FY13, the PROSPER team was extremely active and persistent, and ultimately succeeded in executing a high percentage of planned first year activities. PROSPER also attained or exceeded targets for 10 of the 15 results indicators tracked in FY13. Helping to create new attitudes, skills, educational materials, governing bodies, and policies, and catalyzing action with regard to sustainable forest and natural resource management are extremely labor-intensive endeavors in the Liberian context. As a measure of intensity, it is worth noting that during Year 1, the PROSPER team organized 173 meetings and workshops in the program’s target zones, involving more than 6,600 stakeholders (not including an estimated 3,000 persons who participated in the “Make Rights Real” outreach rollout campaign. Twenty-seven percent of the meeting and workshop participants were women. Gender integration is a key facet of PROSPER’s approach, and practical measures for achieving it were defined in a gender integration plan that served as a practical guide to PROSPER teams in activity design and implementation in FY13.

At the national level, PROSPER helped to resuscitate the Community Forestry Working Group – a joint FDA-civil society group – and strengthen its outreach and watchdog capacities. Throughout the year, PROSPER was a frequent participant in high-level forestry sector and land policy review meetings, contributing information, insights and ideas gleaned from practical experience in PROSPER’s 10 field sites. PROSPER staff were regularly consulted for information and advice on forest, land, and livelihoods matters by a wide array of actors and institutions ranging from community organizations outside PROSPER’s work areas to multilateral donors.

While the PROSPER team managed to execute the majority of planned field activities in Year 1, the often frantic pace of the first year caused it to fall behind schedule in the preparation and submission of several report deliverables associated with these activities. In consultation with USAID, the submission dates of several deliverables (#9, Community Forestry Management Handbook , and #27, Year-end education workshop) have been deferred with a view to enable the program to provide better products by integrating additional information and experience gained from Year 2 activities. Nevertheless, PROSPER will tackle an ambitious Year 2 work plan in October 2013 with a backlog of reports to submit, including five for Component 1 (Deliverables 3 and 26, under Activity 1.1; Deliverables 5 and 11 under Activity 1.2; and Deliverable 7 under Activity 1.3).

Throughout the year, Tetra Tech ARD kept USAID apprised of progress made in implementing the FY13 work plan through monthly and quarterly reports that detailed activities carried out, results achieved, indicator targets attained, etc. Those written reports were complemented by regular meetings between the USAID COR, Assistant COR, and PROSPER senior management team as well as joint field missions. The present Annual Report is provided as a complement to the monthly and quarterly reports. It provides a succinct summary of PROSPER’s major achievements in FY13 by component and by activity. The Annual Report also presents several of the important lessons learned during the first year, and the principal strategic adjustments made on the basis of the first year experience.

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the second quarter fiscal year 2015 (FY15Q2) which covers January 1 – March 31, 2015.

During the January – March period, the restrictions and effects of Ebola began to subside and Liberia began to return to normal. There were some difficulties with the submission of contract deliverables due to the Ebola crisis, however, the project is almost back to normal and STTAs are once again able to come to Liberia. This will significantly improve PROSPER’s ability to timely submit the deliverables scheduled for the remainder of FY2015.

Summary and Highlights

Component 1 activities for the quarter included: formatting prototypes of the Environmental Education (EE) booklets and posters in easy-to-use electronic formats for submission to MoE; identifying School EE/nature/conservation clubs and teachers within PROSPER communities; conducting situation analysis on threats to biodiversity in the three PROSPER sites; conducting a matrix of change workshop to support the development of a communication strategy for the third annual outreach campaign; developing site-based outreach activities for CF leaders; presenting results of the impact assessment of the second annual outreach campaign to FDA and the CFWG; developing radio programs in collaboration with PCI Media Impact and CFWG for nation-wide broadcast, with specific media support activities in the PROSPER sites; deploying PROSPER staff to FTI to provide regular support and to monitor teacher development at FTI; and conducting workshops with staff and students of FTI to improve their capacity to access and effectively use FTI website.

Component 2 activities for the quarter included: supporting the Gba CFMB to implement the MOU signed between Gba CFMB and AML; revising CFMP’s for Gba, Zor and Blehi CFs; coordinating support to the Community Forest Management Bodies in Northern Nimba with AML; training Community Forest Guards in Northern Nimba; resolving the issue of recognition of PROSPER supported sites by FDA Board of Directors as CF Pilots; developing training manual and tools for CSOs and FDA in Socio-economic Reconnaissance Survey methods; supporting the FDA/CFWG/ CSOs to define and document CF steps to becoming an authorized CF, and; supporting the FDA and the NGO Coalition with the Harmonization of the CRL and its regulations.

Component 3 activities during the quarter included: training CFMBs in Best Practices of NTFP harvesting; Working with local NTFP Market Analysis/Trade Network in District 4 and Barconnie; providing support to develop and foster wood-based enterprises; providing maintenance and operations training for CPGs in Northern Nimba; monitoring processing volume of CPGs & CPOP; continuing Oil Palm processing support, Freedom Mill demonstrations, and the development of Oil Palm Nurseries; discussing possibilities of an eco-tourism pilot in the Barconnie area with other Buchanan entrepreneurs that have attempted similar projects; crop diversification activities and training in Farming as a Business (FaaB); providing technical assistance in crop production; and identifying eight new groups in the PROSPER sites.

Deliverables Summary:

There were several deliverables expected to be submitted during FY15Q2. While none were approved, significant progress has been made with each of them and many are expected to be submitted for approval in FY15Q3.

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007–2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011–2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012–2017) entitled People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas; and
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

September 30, 2015, marked the conclusion of the third full year of PROSPER program implementation. The entire year brought the program many unique challenges. During Q1, Liberia continued to feel the full effects of the Ebola crisis. Fortunately, PROSPER had anticipated the continued difficulties of interacting with local counterparts and had developed its AWP accordingly, but it was impossible to have predicted when work would continue unhampered. Consequently, many STTA visits were postponed until late in Q3, while others were put off until FY16 due to the rains during Q3 and Q4, causing slight delays with some of the Deliverables. As one of the few USAID contractors that remained on the ground during the entire Ebola crisis, PROSPER worked closely with the communities to provide several Ebola training sessions that were worked into our normal outreach activities.

During Q3 and Q4, the effects of Ebola were unremarkable as far as carrying out PROSPER activities in the field. In May 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola free. Several STTAs were able to travel to Liberia in order to assist with the completion of PROSPER deliverables. Considerable progress was made during the quarter through the collaborative work with FDA, PROSPER and the CFWG to begin the process for a community to gain Community Forest status with the implementation of tools developed to complete the nine-steps of the process to becoming a Community Forest. However, the entire year was marred with the several occurrences of the FDA requesting for PROSPER to stop work on the CF status process. This caused considerable delays that were unnecessary and would have been easily avoided with better communication within the FDA Community Forestry Department. Better lines of communication have opened up with more involvement from the Deputy Managing Director of Operations at the FDA and FY16 Q1 should see significant progress with the CF process.

Of the 18 Deliverables scheduled to be submitted during FY15, PROSPER submitted 10. The remaining 8 deliverables were delayed almost exclusively because of the Ebola crisis during the first two quarters of FY15. They are included in the FY16 Annual Work Plan. (See Annex 5)

This Annual Report is provided as a complement to the quarterly reports and includes the FY15Q4 data. It provides a succinct summary of PROSPER’s major achievements in FY15 by component and by activity. This report also presents several of the important lessons learned during the first three years of the PROSPER project, and the principal strategic adjustments made on the basis of past experience.

FY 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

Component 1: Education, Outreach, and Awareness

1. Seventy-two environmental education lesson plans reviewed, revised and matched with their respective Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs), in collaboration with the MoE.
2. School EE/nature/conservation clubs and teachers within PROSPER zones identified.
3. Situational analysis on threat to biodiversity conducted in the three PROSPER sites.
4. A matrix of change workshop conducted in support of the development of a communication strategy for the third annual outreach campaign.
5. Result of the FY14 KABs endline survey that measured the impact of the second annual outreach campaign presented to FDA and the CFWG.
6. KABs baseline on threats to Biodiversity developed and administered.
7. Rollout of the third annual outreach campaign.
8. Regional Foresters trained in the CRL and related CF themes.
9. Provided regular support to FTI to monitor teacher development.
10. Updated the Community Forestry Curriculum at FTI in fulfilment of Deliverable 8a.
11. Supported the Implementation of the Community Forestry Curriculum and use of Digital Learning Platform at FTI.
12. Gender Forums conducted at FTI.

Component 2: Forest Management and Biodiversity

1. Supported the Communities to effectively monitor activities in their CFs.
2. Provided coaching and regular support for CFMBs.
3. Provided specific support to Community Assembly Management Activities.
4. Conducted a capacity assessment for business development among local institutions, including the CFMBs.
5. Supported the development and adoption of Gba Business and Financial Plan.
6. Supported the boundary dispute resolution and signing between Doe (Gblor) and Kparblee Districts.
7. Supported the participation of CF pilot communities in the Socio-economic and Reconnaissance survey conducted by FDA.
8. Provided support to FDA to conduct demarcation in proposed CFs.
9. Supported the CF Governance bodies to participate in County-level Forums.
10. Presented six policy briefs developed in partnership with CSOs for Deliverables 26b & 26c.
11. Supported the FDA through the process of Harmonization of the CRL Regulations with the CRL.
12. Produced outreach materials on biodiversity, priority threats and sustainable forest management in collaboration with FFI and Component 1.

Component 3: Livelihood and Enterprise Development

1. The Gba CFMB became the first CFMB to receive business training in order to improve its own financial administration and to create transparency and accountability regarding the cost of operations and funds that are kept by the CFMB.
2. PROSPER provided operations and maintenance training for seven Cassava Processing Groups (CPGs) in northern Nimba.
3. Fourteen Oil Palm Processing Groups were established around the Big Gio Forest. Each group contributed a 30% ($300 USD) co-payment before receiving the machine.
4. Four oil palm nurseries were established in towns north of the Big Gio forest. Farmers each paid $60 for 60 seeds and have committed themselves to provide the necessary labor for running the nursery.
5. Four cocoa rehabilitation demo plots were established in collaboration with WIENCO Liberia Ltd. in four existing cocoa farms, not rehabilitated.
6. Eight groups were selected from an inventory of women’s groups that had been carried out by the PROSPER Gender Officer in 2012 to increase the number of crop diversification groups from 16 to 24. Currently these groups have 600 members trained.
7. PROSPER, in conjunction with the USDA funded LIFE III project (cocoa) and USAID SHOPS II, has embarked on building a sustainable platform that can support and implement price dissemination service via text messaging for farmers and traders.
8. A pilot beekeeping activity was launched in 5 towns close to the PROSPER supported CFs. The five groups have 10 hives each in the forest area. A total of 104 persons have been trained.

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007–2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011–2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012–2017) entitled People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas; and
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

September 30, 2016, marked the conclusion of the fourth full year of PROSPER program implementation. It was a year of great success regarding advancing the eight PROSPER pilot community forests, and many unique challenges were overcome.

In FY16Q1, PROSPER began its fourth year of program implementation, and arguably the most productive year of the program regarding developing community forest governing structures. Relations with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) noticeably improved, with steady progress throughout the year developing and finalizing the 9-Step process to forming an Authorized Forest Community. Also during Q1, following a request from USAID, Tetra Tech ARD submitted a proposal to the mission that called for expanded outreach and awareness campaigns in three additional counties, where interest in the Community Forestry program is high. The expanded scope of work was also intended to facilitate capacity building of the Community Forestry Department staff at the Forestry Development Authority, through the appointment of a dedicated FDA Advisor, and the building of a core Community Forest (CF) technical team among FDA regional staff. The modification was approved in Q2, and the FDA Advisor arrived at the end of February 2016. In addition to the FDA Advisor, a Communications and Outreach Advisor was hired to oversee the expanded outreach and awareness.

PROSPER’s extended outreach and awareness activities targeted communities in Sinoe, Gbarpolu, and Grand Gedeh, and included training of radio broadcasters in the respective counties and airing radio programs and dramas. PROSPER’s Extended Outreach Coordinator made several follow-up trips to the counties to monitor progress of outreach and awareness activities. She continues to work with the radio stations to ensure the programs are correctly monitored and that the people in the communities are receiving the intended messages from the activities. While radio-stations were originally providing reports on air-times and call-ins, based on information learned from field visits, PROSPER will be deploying two site-coordinators to each of the three counties to provide for more comprehensive monitoring and to ensure programs are being aired as planned.

Throughout the year, PROSPER and the FDA worked closely together to continue demarcation exercises in all of the PROSPER sites. While it was anticipated that demarcation notices and Socioeconomic Reconnaissance (SER) survey results would be posted in April 2016, actual postings did not commence until the end of June 2016, to ensure all necessary government agencies and officials in the respective counties were properly informed before the process commenced. By the end of September 2016 all communities had progressed to the penultimate step of the process (Step 8 of 9), wherein they must form their CF governance institutions.

Of the 21 deliverables scheduled to be submitted during FY16, PROSPER submitted 14 (12 have been approved and two are pending approval by USAID). The remaining seven deliverables are either being completed by STTA or they were combined with other deliverable assessments scheduled in the last seven months of project implementation. Deliverables 13b, 13c & 13d are all revisions to the biomonitoring handbook that PROSPER has developed with stakeholders. Because of the deliverable, it is not feasible to complete three revisions in seven months, so 13b, c, & d will be combined into one final deliverable. A complete listing of deliverables due during FY16 can be seen in the attached Annex 5 – Deliverables.

This Annual Report is provided as a complement to the quarterly reports and includes the FY16Q4 data. It summarizes PROSPER’s major achievements in FY16 by component and activity; and presents several of the important lessons learned during the first four years of the PROSPER project, and the principal strategic adjustments made on the basis of past experience.

FY 2016 HIGHLIGHTS

Component 1: Education, Outreach, and Awareness

1. Formally delivered Primary Environmental Education (EE) Curriculum materials to MoE for rollout
2. Conducted curriculum implementation orientation for MoE and primary educators
3. Provided training for community mobilizers, which enabled them to effectively engage teachers in EE clubs, using lesson plans developed with the MoE
4. Facilitated the development and implementation of EE club programs and conducted a rapid assessment of club programs across the sites in Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties
5. Organized and conducted a daylong Education Review Workshop with the CDWG to review lessons learned, best practices, and to assess the EE curriculum development process
6. Analyzed the results of the Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior (KAB) end-line surveys for FY15 annual outreach campaigns
7. Conducted end-line KAB Survey for FY16 annual outreach campaign
8. Trained local theater groups in the effective delivery of community forestry messages using dramas, skits, traditional songs, and dance
9. Developed outreach materials to promote community members’ understanding of the CRL and CRL Regulations
10. Launched the 4th Annual Community Forestry Outreach Campaign
11. Initiated community outreach on formation of CF governance institutions
12. Observation and assessment of implementing the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) curriculum, specifically focusing on the delivery of the CF curriculum. FY16 FTI roster included105 students (77 male, 28 females) and 26 staff
13. FTI students participated in Site-based Research Activities and conducted applied research on timber and non-timber forest products in PROSPER zones
14. HOO and PROSPER field staff delivered lecture on the CF curriculum at FTI
15. Handbook on the nine steps, including checklists, produced and being used by the FDA’s Community Forestry Department to guide the due diligence processes in issuing new Community Forestry Management Agreements

Component 2: Forest Management and Biodiversity

1. Supported the review, revision and implementation of CF Management Plans (CFMPs) of the Blei, Gba and Zor Community Forests
2. Supported the development and promotion of CF rules and permitting system
3. Supported the Gba, Zor, and Blei CFMBs to plan and conduct the general annual assembly meetings
4. Supported the Gba CFMB to re-clean the Gba CF boundary to prepare for zoning the CF
5. Supported the Participation of CFMBs at the Northern Nimba Biodiversity Stakeholders’ Forum in Monrovia held on Dec 8, 2015, April 5, 2016 and July 5, 2016, respectively.
6. Provided training to CFMBs in financial policy and business management
7. Supported the biomonitoring program
8. Conducted capacity building coordination and cooperation with stakeholders and other donors
9. Developed templates for CFMP, CFMA, bylaws, and constitutions in collaboration with stakeholders
10. Supported FDA to develop boundary demarcation verification process
11. Provided support to the FDA to compile demarcation data and develop appropriate maps
12. Provided support to the FDA to design and post-demarcation and SER survey results
13. Supported the FDA to interpret/explain the proposed CF demarcation maps and validate/update the SER survey results
14. Development of Forest Inventory and Planning methodology
15. Presented three policy briefs developed in partnership with CSOs, in fulfilment of Deliverable 26c
16. Supported the FDA through the CRL Regulations harmonization process
17. Supported the Zor Forest Community address violations of the community’s constitution and bylaws
18. Supported Capacity Building for Biomonitoring
19. Presented biomonitoring handbook to stakeholders
20. Supported communities to establish transects in the Gba CF for biomonitoring
21. Contributed to the development of a national strategy for biomonitoring and biodiversity Law Enforcement

Component 3: Livelihood and Enterprise Development

1. Developed, assessed, and launched CF outreach materials
2. Three agriculture training materials published
3. Kwakerdoe subcontract modified
4. Four Oil palm nurseries established in FY15 out-planted
5. Four new Oil palm nurseries established in FY16
6. Farmer-to-Farmer exchange visits conducted for new oil palm nursery groups
7. Community Forestry outreach materials developed and rolled out through PROSPER Component 3 groups
8. Scaled up cocoa rehabilitation activities and increased the number of participants
9. Wienco Liberia Limited and Cocoa farmers signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize cocoa demonstration
10. Five cocoa rehabilitation field days organized
11. PROSPER constructed four cocoa solar dryers and eight cocoa fermentation boxes
12. Nine new crop diversification groups identified and trained in farming as a business, crop diversification, and leadership
13. Six high performing crop diversification groups identified and supported for dry season vegetable production
14. All six crop diversification groups formalized as enterprises and received business training
15. More than $1,357.50 USD generated from six crop diversification demonstration groups
16. PROSPER organized farmer-to-farmer exchange visits for farmers in Buchanan and Sanniquellie to Tappita
17. Provided technical assistance to 33 crop diversification groups
18. Universal Outreach Foundation (UOF) subcontract modified and organized five new beekeeping groups
19. Beekeepers and ACDI/VOCA staff attended advance beekeeping training. 5 males from existing beekeeping groups participated.
20. Extension support provided to FY15 and FY16 beekeeping groups
21. 55 hives colonized for both FY15 and FY16 groups
22. Six gallons of honey harvested from three hives
23. PROSPER attended eight of the nine meetings of the Agricultural Coordinating Committee (ACC), organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. PROSPER presented an overview of its livelihood activities to the ACC in September, and distributed three agriculture publications. The agriculture publication distributed included crop diversification training manual, oil palm nursery management, and guide to oil palm out-planting and maintenance.
24. PROSPER participated in all meetings of the Cocoa ACC Sub-Committee and in all Oil Palm ACC Sub-Committee meetings.

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007–2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011–2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012–2017) entitled People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas; and
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This Quarterly Report provides a description of the activities undertaken by PROSPER during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 (FY16Q3), April – June 2016.

During FY16Q3, PROSPER supported the work of four (4) STTAs on the project to provide the following technical assistance:

1. Emiko Guthe – GIS Expert (June 2016)
   1. To provide follow on training in GIS skills to PROSPER and FDA GIS Specialists and field staff including spatial data management, analysis and cartography skills. An emphasis was put on working with the FDA to agree upon a map for posting demarcation results.
2. Andrew Wilson – Education and Curriculum Development Specialist (May 2016)
   1. Review of lessons learned, best practices, and assessment of the development of environmental education curriculum, in fulfilment of PROSPER Deliverable 24;
   2. Assessment of Environmental Curriculum Materials in collaboration with partners, in fulfilment of PROSPER Deliverable 4a.
3. William Cordero – Forest Resource Inventory and Land Use Specialist (May 2016)
   1. Develop a report on proposed best practices for community-based low impact timber harvesting in Liberia made available to stakeholders, in fulfillment of PROSPER Deliverable 18.
   2. Develop an appropriate methodology to inventory the timber and non-timber forest products in community forest pilot areas, for use by community-level forest management bodies in taking stock, keeping track of and sustainably using their forest resources.
4. Erica Dunmire – M&E Specialist (June 2016)
   1. Review institutional capacity assessment tools and ensure M&E staff are able to utilize the tool for annual assessment;
   2. Provide training to the M&E Specialist and Officer in data collection, management and reporting.

The community level rollout of the Fourth Annual Outreach campaign began in March, at the end of the last quarter; however, activities peaked through May and June. Driven by CF leaders, the exercise covered thirty-six (36) towns and villages in PROSPER zones in northern Nimba, fifty-four (54) towns in southern Nimba, and thirty-nine (39) towns and villages in Grand Bassa County.

The extended outreach activities to the three new PROSPER counties (Sinoe, Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh) included training of radio broadcasters in the respective counties and the airing of radio programs and dramas. PROSPER’s Extended Outreach Coordinator made several follow up trips to the counties to monitor progress of the outreach. She continues to work with the radio stations to ensure the programs are correctly monitored and that the people in the communities are receiving the intended messages from the activities. A more detailed report will be included in the annual report.

Throughout the quarter, PROSPER and the FDA worked closely together to continue with demarcation exercises in all of the PROSPER sites. While it was anticipated that Demarcation notices and SER survey results would be posted in April 2016, actual postings did not commence until the end of the Quarter due to ensuring all necessary government agencies and officials in the respective counties were properly informed before the process commenced.

There were 13 deliverables actively worked on during FY16Q3, which included eight deliverables that were carried over from previous quarters and one submitted ahead of schedule. Seven deliverables were submitted and approved, two were submitted and are pending approval, and the remaining four are nearly complete. A more detailed summary of the deliverables is found in Annex 5, below.

In addition to PROSPER’s contractual obligations, there has been close coordination between PROSPER and the new USAID/FIFES project to ensure continuity of PROSPER’s work and progress in the Community Forestry. Bi-weekly coordination meetings between the COP’s and inclusion of FIFES staff during workplanning sessions has assisted with the transfer of knowledge to FIFES. PROSPER has also signed an MOU with FIFES regarding the shared use of PROSPER guest houses in Tappita, Sanniquellie and Buchanan.

FY16 Q3 HIGHLIGHTS

Component 1: Education, Outreach, and Awareness

• In collaboration with community mobilizers and students, PROSPER designed and supported the implementation of programs for nature clubs across the various sites;
• Organized and conducted a daylong Education Review Workshop with the CDWG to review lessons learned, best practices, and to assess the EE-curriculum development process;
• Field teams supported CF leaders to plan activities to rollout the 4th Annual Outreach Campaign across PROSPER zones in communities in Northern and Southern Nimba, and Grand Bassa Counties;
• In conjunction with the Public Awareness Department (PAD) of the FDA, PROSPER developed training materials for community radio broadcasters and national level media partners;
• Trained sixteen (16) community radio producers from PROSPER’s three (3) target zones in southeastern and western Liberia, in the design and production of interactive talk shows;
• Supported the broadcast of a forty-two (42) episode drama, and radio messages on the CRL, on community radio stations in Nimba and Grand Bassa;
• Began monitoring weekly radio drama and radio programs on community radio stations across sites through collaboration with the FDA;
• Developed three (3) core messages, a monologue, and radio content for community radio stations;
• In collaboration with FDA, conducted extended outreach and awareness in the communities in southeastern and western Liberia;
• Observed and assessed the implementation of the FTI curriculum, with a specific focus on the delivery of the CF curriculum, and documented this in an M&E Assessment Report;
• Completed the Nine Steps Handbook, and had it approved and adopted by the FDA’s Community Forestry Department, which is now using it to inform the community forestry program more broadly.

Component 2: Forest Management and Biodiversity

• Provided training to CFMBs in financial policy and business management;
• Supported the FDA to ground-truth and address issues arising from the preliminary demarcation;
• Supported the CF governance bodies to participate in County-level forums;
• Conducted exchange visit from the Golama Community with Society for the Conservation of Liberia;
• Completed Deliverable 26, for a total of 12 Policy Briefs that PROSPER has written. They will be distributed to relevant stakeholder;
• Progress on the harmonization of CRL Regulations with FDA

Component 3: Livelihood and Enterprise Development

• Completed second phase of introductory training in proposal writing skills and business plan development to the three CFMBs (Blei, Gba and Zor) in Sanniquellie;
• Completed Deliverable 18 – Report on proposed best practices for community-based low impact timber harvesting in Liberia made available to stakeholders;
• FY15 Oil palm nursery farmers begins out-planting;
• FY16 oil palm nursery farmers complete payment toward the establishment of four new oil palm nurseries;
• Farmer-to Farmer exchange visits organized for FY16 oil palm nursery farmers in Q4;
• Cocoa rehabilitation field days organized;
• 253 (59 male, 194 female) new crop diversification farmers participate in Farming as a Business and Crop Diversification trainings;
• Provided technical assistance to 33 crop diversification groups;
• Cocoa reference price launched on Tappita community radio station;
• Universal Outreach Foundation (UOF) organized five new beekeeping groups in five towns and recruited 103 farmers to participate in FY16 beekeeping activities;
• Extension support provided to FY15 Beekeeping groups;
• Three hives harvested in two communities;
• Nine additional hives colonized.

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This fifth quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 (FY13) which covers July 1 through September 30, 2013. Individual monthly progress reports were also prepared for USAID.

The July to September period marked the conclusion of PROSPER’s first full year of implementation. Despite the advent of the rainy season which made movements of PROSPER staff and community partners difficult, and the absence of all three component leaders for 2-3 weeks for annual vacations, the program was able to move ahead with the execution of a wide variety of planned field activities across all three components. This included fifty-two workshops and stakeholder meetings involving more than 2,500 participants

Summary and Highlights:

The education and outreach team (Component 1) wrapped up the first annual outreach campaign, launched in Quarter 3, with a local rollout in Grand Bassa in July. A three-day workshop co-organized by PROSPER and PCI Media Impact in early July allowed program stakeholders to define the key elements of 52-episode radio drama serial for Liberia. The Component 1 team devoted a good part of its energies in August to preparing the faculty of the Forestry Training Institute to deliver its new community forestry curriculum, developed in FY13 with PROSPER’s assistance.

The livelihoods and enterprise development team (Component 3) pursued implementation of long-running farmer field school and ag-processing support activities throughout the quarter, while carrying out an internal review and gathering technical information and identifying partners needed to support a shift in emphasis to tree crop-based enterprise development in Year 2.

Under Component 2, the central pillar of the PROSPER program, the community forestry team provided support to the three mature CF sites of northern Nimba and the seven new sites identified under PROSPER. In the mature sites, PROSPER focused its efforts in Quarter 4 on renewing the forest governance institutions and strengthening their internal monitoring structure (forest guards), while facilitating the Gba community’s resolution of the complex and longstanding issue concerning settlements in the CF. In the new proposed CF sites, all of which submitted applications to the FDA for authorized forest community status in Quarter 3, PROSPER pursued activities intended to provide a strong foundation for future CF management. These included the extension of basic awareness-raising activities on community forestry (purpose, potential benefits, obligations and processes), and specific sessions on the role and responsibilities of community forest governance structures and qualifications of leaders. Component 2 activities also included conflict management and leadership training aimed at providing target communities with the skills needed to mitigate land disputes that may arise with the demarcation of their forest. In order to sustain momentum in the program’s new sites until the current Government moratorium on new community forest authorizations is lifted, in the fourth quarter PROSPER assisted these communities to establish interim CF “organizing committees”.

PROSPER’s ongoing efforts to empower communities to sustainably manage their natural resources gives the program a unique, close-up view of the multiple and complex challenges – both internal and external – that rural Liberian communities face in achieving that goal. In the fourth quarter, that experience continued to inform PROSPER’s work, providing information and insights that the team integrated into annual work planning sessions organized in August and September, and guiding national-level initiatives such as the establishment of a joint FDA-CFWG review process for new CF management applications.

During Q4, PROSPER continued to share that information and experience at the national level through its participation in different fora including regular meetings of the Land Commission and the Agriculture Coordination Committee. PROSPER also continued to facilitate the participation of forest community leaders in relevant fora such as the County Development Steering Committee and County Forestry Forum in Nimba and Northern Nimba Biodiversity Stakeholders Group where they have gained valuable experience and confidence in presenting their experiences and concerns on important and practical natural resource management and land issues. In August, through a subcontract to the Environmental Law Institute, PROSPER organized stakeholder consultations on the Community Rights Law and Regulation aimed at improving coherence and simplifying the legal framework for community forestry, land tenure and property rights.

With an intense schedule of field activities from July to September and considerable time devoted to preparing preparation of the FY14 work plan, the PROSPER team remained behind schedule in the submission of several deliverables (see table below). PROSPER senior staff met with the USAID COR in late September to review the status of deliverable submission. They concurred on the need for several modifications in the deliverable schedule that could be formalized in a future contract modification.

PROSPER’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit had a packed fourth quarter schedule that included the successful conclusion of the Data Quality Assessment of the PROSPER performance management system in July (see Cross Cutting Activities, below). Integrating the results of PROSPER’s extensive fourth quarter activities, the program was able to meet or exceed the targets that were established for 10 of the 15 Indicators monitored in FY13.

Deliverables Summary:

No new contract deliverables were due during the fourth quarter of FY13 (July – September 2013). One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY13 was re-submitted for USAID review and approval:

• Biodiversity assessments completed for new sites (#24)

Eight deliverables remain outstanding as of September 30, 2013. A list of the deliverables and their status are provided in the table below.

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This fourth quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 (FY13) which covers April 1 through June 30, 2013. Individual monthly progress reports were also prepared for USAID.

During the reporting period, PROSPER marked the one-year anniversary (June 18-19, 2012) of the holding of the program’s Inception Workshop. The 59 events organized by the program during the third quarter of FY13, involving over 3,933 participants (see Appendix 4), provide one measure of the scale and scope of the work PROSPER is engaged in 12 months into implementation. As the component summaries (pp. 8-18) make clear, PROSPER made good progress during the quarter in implementing its annual work plan and in achieving performance targets. The dominant activity of the quarter was the belated launching and rollout of the first annual Outreach Campaign aimed at strengthening the capacity of key Liberian institutions to improve environmental awareness, NRM, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance. The first campaign was very much a joint effort of PROSPER staff and dedicated members of the Community Forestry Working Group representing the FDA and CSOs active on forest policy matters. National, county, district, and community authorities who spoke at the well-attended outreach campaign launching ceremonies organized in Tappita, Sanniquellie, and Buchanan, reaffirmed the pertinence of community forestry and strongly endorsed the theme chosen for the first campaign (increased awareness of the laws and regulations that give communities rights to use and manage their forests).

The outreach campaign reinforced ongoing work conducted under Component 2 to lay the foundation in each of PROSPER’s 7 new sites for establishment of their community forests in FY 2014. This included meetings to familiarize community members with requirements and procedures for demarcating proposed community forest areas per the Community Rights Law (CRL) and training in conflict management and leadership. Although a moratorium on new community forest management agreements remains in effect, local government and community representatives from PROSPER’s 7 new sites traveled to Monrovia in May to deliver their applications to the FDA for forest community status. The delegations were received by the Managing Director of the FDA who made a personal pledge to prioritize the review and approval of the applications developed in full compliance with the spirit and letter of the CRL. As in previous quarters, PROSPER contributed to ongoing land and forestry policy discussions at the national level through the preparation of briefing notes and presentations to USAID, the US Embassy, the FDA and Land Commission that highlighted, in particular, the difficulties forest communities face in defending their rights and ensuring equitable benefits in their dealings with logging companies and mining and agricultural concessionaires.

While planned activities under the Livelihoods Component, including farmer field schools (FFS) and technical support for cassava and oil palm processing groups, moved ahead during the quarter, consultations within the PROSPER team and between PROSPER and USAID led to a decision to put more emphasis on the development of tree crop-based enterprises in Year 2. The shift in focus is justified in part by the comparative advantage that the Food and Enterprise Development (FED) program has to support the development of agricultural enterprises in the zones where PROSPER and FED both work. In June a home office expert of PROSPER livelihoods subcontractor, ACDI-VOCA, provided technical assistance to the program in assessing opportunities and approaches for supporting tree crop development in PROSPER’s work areas.

Deliverables Summary:

The following new contract deliverables were due during the third quarter of FY13 (Apr. – Jun. 2013):

• Tested environmental curriculum materials (#3)
• Tested public outreach and awareness approaches (#5)
• Community Forestry curriculum elements identified and teaching training needs assessment performed (#7)
• Series of brochures, radio programs, community theater and video products developed to educate the Liberian public on community forestry, LTPR and the environment (#11)
• Three policy briefs (#29)

Three deliverables originally due (by contract) in the third quarter of FY13 were approved (in PROSPER’s 2013 Annual Work Plan) for submission in the fourth quarter of FY13. They are:

• Community Forest Management Handbook (#12)
• Biodiversity Monitoring Handbook (#13)
• Education Review Workshop (#27)

One of the above-listed contract deliverables was submitted ahead of schedule (see FY13 Q2 Report):

• Community Forestry curriculum elements identified and teaching training needs assessment performed (#7)

The following deliverables were implemented at the field level but will be formally submitted to USAID in Quarter 4 of FY2013:

• Tested public outreach and awareness approaches (#5)
• Series of brochures, radio programs, community theater and video products developed to educate the Liberian public on community forestry, LTPR and the environment (#11)

One contract deliverable due in the third quarter of FY13 will be completed in the first quarter of FY14:

• Tested environmental curriculum materials (#3)

One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY13 was submitted for USAID review and approval:

• Ethno-botanical survey and Value chain study (#2)

One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY13 was implemented in the current reporting period:

• First outreach campaign launched to improve public awareness of natural resource and environmental management issues (#28)

One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY13 was re-submitted for USAID review and approval:

• Biodiversity assessments completed for new sites (#24)

One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY13 underwent substantial development or revision during the third quarter of FY13 but remains outstanding:

• Sector surveys and analyses for selected forestry and agricultural value chains (#2)

Outstanding contract deliverables to be completed in the fourth quarter of FY13:

• Three policy briefs (#29)
• Report on public outreach and awareness building approaches (#5)
• Submission of outreach and awareness materials (#11)

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This third quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the period from January 1 through March 31, 2013. Individual monthly progress reports were also prepared for USAID.

As the report sections that follow reveal, January through March was a period of intense activity across all three program components and in all of the PROSPER sites. This included a number of outreach and awareness activities the program’s seven “new” sites that were designed to reinforce PROSPER staff and community understanding of community forestry, the Community Rights Law, and the procedures required to establish community assemblies and management bodies. Stakeholder consultations enabled PROSPER to solicit the views of different local actors on their interest in engaging in community forestry and to identify potential forest lands. Related livelihood activities included preparation for farmer field school (FFS) activities, and support to BOTPAL in accessing revolving funds and equipment for the 2013 Griffonia campaign.

In the mature PROSPER sites in northern Nimba, implementation of the management plan continued through support to the CFMB and Forest Guards to implement community-generated rules, introduce the permit system, and resolve boundary and farming issues in the Gba community forest.

The larger context in which PROSPER operates remained troubled in the 2nd Quarter. Rural communities throughout the country struggled to protect their natural resources and to negotiate and/or enforce social agreements under mounting pressure from well-funded mining, agricultural and timber interests – with little support from responsible Government institutions. A sudden surge in applications to the FDA to establish authorized community forests confirmed the prediction of many observers that logging companies would exploit this mechanism to gain access to Liberia’s forests after the “back door” provided by Private Use Permits had been slammed shut in January.

PROSPER devoted a significant amount of attention and energy in the 2nd Quarter to advising and advocating for partner communities on land and forest management issues arising from permits or concessions awarded to private companies on their territory, or from proposed partnerships with private interests. This included an iron ore exploration permit allegedly issued to Mount Bele Resources on Bleih Community Forest land and a permit to process iron ore tailings in the southwestern portion of the Barcoline community. In March, PROSPER and the FDA staff were mobilized at the request of certain members of the Kpogblen Clan in District 4 (Grand Bassa) to deal with an attempted “hijacking” of the community forest process underway in that community. PROSPER advised the community to resist pressure from a national legislator to sign an agreement that would hand logging rights over to a timber company (LTTC) of ill repute once their community forest management agreement is authorized. During the quarter, PROSPER took part in ongoing discussions concerning management of the East Nimba Nature Reserve, and supported the full participation of CFMB representatives from the Zor, Gba, and Bleih community forests in that process.

During the quarter, PROSPER provided information to the GOL and its partners on land and forest management issues encountered on the ground in program-supported communities. PROSPER’s DCOP reported to the CFWG in January on the surge in demand for community forests following the moratorium on PUPs, and made a presentation to the Forestry sector donor working group in late March. Information was shared with representatives from the Land Commission, Global Witness and the United Nations Sanctions Monitoring Committee representative.

Deliverables Summary:

No new contract deliverables were due during the second quarter of FY 2013 (Jan.-Mar. 2013). One contract deliverable due in the first quarter of FY 2013 was submitted for USAID review and approval:

• Biodiversity assessments completed for new sites (#24)

Another deliverable, due in Q3, was submitted ahead of schedule:

• Community forestry curriculum elements identified and teachers training needs assessment and curriculum review (Deliverable 7)

Three other contract deliverables due in the first quarter of FY 2013 underwent substantial development or revision during the second quarter but remain outstanding:

• Sector surveys and analyses for selected forestry and agricultural value chains (#2)
• Report summarizing findings of review of formal primary school curriculum, adult literacy curriculum, and non-formal education materials, and identifying opportunities to integrate environmental themes (#26)
• First outreach campaign launched to improve public awareness of natural resource and environmental management issues (#28)

Contract deliverables to be completed in the third quarter of FY 2013:

• Environmental curriculum materials field tested with MOE staff, other USAID implementing partners, teachers and primary school students in schools in target sites (#3)
• Public outreach and awareness building approaches field-tested with relevant GOL agencies, target communities, and other identified stakeholders along the themes of sustainable natural resources management, land tenure and property rights, environmental compliance, and community-based forest management (#5)
• Series of brochures, radio programs, community theater and video products developed to educate the Liberian public in community forest development, land tenure and property rights, and environmental awareness (#11)

Pending USAID approval, the following deliverables due (by contract) during the 3rd Quarter will be completed during the 4th Quarter to allow PROSPER to take better advantage of May and June (to forge ahead with field work), while reserving the preparation of handbooks and legal reviews until July-September when heavy rains will favor such “indoor work”.

• Community Forest Management Handbook that outlines the development, registration, operations and management of community forests is revised/developed, provided to communities and to other partner organizations, and used by stakeholders (#12)
• Biodiversity Monitoring Handbook for Community Forest Managers is revised/developed and available for communities and their partners (#13)
• Draft of laws, regulations or policies for enactment by necessary GOL legal authorities in support of secure land tenure and property rights for communities in forested areas are developed /revised and disseminated in collaboration with stakeholders (#15)
• Year 1 Education Review Workshop with the CDWG to review lessons learned, best practices, and to assess the formal, adult education and non-formal curricula are revised and tested (#27)

To build on previous United States Government investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007–2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011–2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012–2017) entitled People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas; and
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

January – March 2016 marked one of the busiest quarters during the PROSPER project. In January, PROSPER supported the work of four (4) STTAs on the project to provide the following technical assistance:

1. Emiko Gunthe – GIS Expert (23 Jan – 11 Feb 2016)
   1. To provide follow on training in GIS skills to PROSPER and FDA GIS Specialists and field staff including spatial data management, analysis and cartography skills
   2. To review the project GIS database along with related data collection standards and protocols
2. Peter Aldinger – Legal and Policy Expert (21 Jan – 13 Feb 2016)
   1. Developed three (3) Policy Briefs:
      1. The importance of Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC): strategies for realization;
      2. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement: backstopping the community rights law; and,
      3. The Proposed Local Government Act: Community Forestry and Decentralization
3. Leif Kindberg – Communication and Outreach Specialist (23 Jan – 8 Feb 2016)
   1. Assessed the effectiveness of Deliverables 5, 11, 15 and 17, while providing an update for Deliverable 6.
4. Vaneska Litz – Community Forestry Management Specialist – (30 Jan – 20 Feb 2016)
   1. Technical input, oversight and guidance to the PROSPER support Community Forest activities in northern Nimba

In February, after a very long process to modify the PROSPER contract to include an extended Outreach and Awareness Campaign to several additional counties, USAID approved the modification. The modification included four additional vehicles and five (5) new positions: an international full-time FDA Advisor; two additional Drivers; one Communications and Outreach Coordinator; and, a Finance Assistant. Currently, all of the positions are staffed. The three additional counties were strategically selected with the FDA based on the number of current CF applications in the surrounding areas. The new counties include Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, and Sinoe.

In March, PROSPER conducted the Fourth Annual Outreach and Awareness Campaign with the theme of “Make Community Forest Rights Real”. The event was well attended and feedback has been positive. PROSPER teams have already deployed to the field sites to distribute materials and messages to the communities. Following the Launch, PROSPER held the FY16Q3 Work Planning session in Monrovia.

Throughout the quarter, PROSPER and the FDA worked closely together to continue with demarcation exercises in all of the PROSPER sites. Demarcation notices are scheduled to be posted in all PROSPER communities by the end of April 2016.

There were nine deliverables due during FY16Q2, which includes five deliverables that were carried over from FY16Q1. Three of the deliverables were submitted, of which one has been approved and two are pending approval. Two of the deliverables are complete and are being reviewed for branding by TTARD’s Home Office. Four are not complete but are scheduled to be complete during FY16Q3. Finally, a deliverable scheduled for FY16Q3 was submitted ahead of schedule and pending approval. A more detailed summary of the deliverables is found in Annex 5, below.

This Quarterly Report provides a description of the activities undertaken by PROSPER during the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 (FY16Q2), January – March 2016.

FY16 Q2 HIGHLIGHTS

Component 1: Education, Outreach, and Awareness

• Observation and assessment of the implementation of the FTI curriculum, with a specific focus on the delivery of the CF curriculum
• Trained local theater groups in the effective delivery of community forestry messages using dramas, skits, traditional songs, and dance
• Launch of the 4th Annual Community Forestry Outreach Campaign
• Finalized and submitted articles for publication in local media to promote the launch of the 4th Annual Community Forestry Outreach campaign
• Developed outreach materials to promote community members’ understanding of the CRL and CRL Regulations
• Developed radio messages and collaborated with community radio stations to broadcast a 42-episode drama
• Provided training for mobilizers to effectively engage teachers in EE clubs, using lesson plans developed with the MoE
• In collaboration with students and teachers, helped develop, and supported the implementation of EE club programs

Component 2: Forest Management and Biodiversity

• Supported the completion of the Gba and Blei CFMPs, the revision and development of their CF rules, and helped define next-steps to promote permitting systems
• Supported CFOCs from applicant communities in Grand Bassa to develop presentations for the CDSC meeting, and facilitated attendance
• Supported the Gba, Zor, and Blei CFMBs to develop presentations for the scheduled CDSC meeting
• Provided training to CFMBs on their new financial policy and business management skills
• Supported the FDA by validating the preliminary demarcation that was done for the proposed CF at Sehyi, through ground-truthing
• Facilitated the participation of CF governance bodies at County-level policy and development forums
• FDA/PROSPER coordination meetings
• Capacity building of FDA cadre
• Capacity building, coordination and cooperation with stakeholders
• Supported the Zor Community Forest to address violations of the community’s constitution and bylaws
• Supported Capacity Building for Biomonitoring

Component 3: Livelihood and Enterprise Development

• Nine new crop diversification groups identified
• Training of six crop diversification groups in basic financial and business management. Four of the groups’ constitutions were drafted, validated and signed to formalize groups as enterprises, and constitutions drafted for the remaining two groups
• Provision of technical assistance to twenty four crop diversification groups
• Identification of a long-term platform for dissemination of agriculture produce prices to ensure farmers have improved market information
• Six additional hives colonized in four communities; two in Tappita and two in Buchanan
• Two hives harvested in one community in Tappita
• Universal Outreach Foundation (UOF) subcontract modified

To build on previous investments in the forestry and agricultural sectors, particularly the Land Rights and Community Forestry Program (2007-2011) and the Liberia Forestry Support Program (2011-2012), USAID contracted Tetra Tech ARD in May 2012 to implement a new, five-year program (2012-2017) entitled People, Rules and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER). The overall goal of the program is to introduce, operationalize, and refine appropriate models for community management of forest resources for local self-governance and enterprise development in targeted areas of the country. The three primary objectives of the program are:

1. Expand educational and institutional capacity to improve environmental awareness, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental compliance;
2. Improve community-based forest management leading to more sustainable practices and reduced threats to biodiversity in target areas;
3. Enhance community-based livelihoods derived from sustainable forest-based and agriculture-based enterprises in target areas.

This quarterly report presents the activities undertaken and results obtained during the first quarter fiscal year 2015 (FY15Q1) which covers October 1 – December 31, 2014.

During the October – December 2014 period, Liberia continued to feel the full effects of the Ebola crisis, with optimism and skepticism working interchangeably throughout the quarter. Fortunately, PROSPER had anticipated the continued difficulties of interacting with local counterparts and had developed its AWP accordingly. For the most part, work continued as usual as none of the PROSPER sites had any direct contact with Ebola. However, as part of the need to ensure we continued work in our communities, several Ebola training sessions were worked into our normal outreach activities and a revised Ebola Contingency Plan was submitted to USAID.

The end of the first quarter also brought with it the departure of the COP, Paul Cowles, requiring the shifting and promoting of different staff. This will be explained in more detail under Management Activities, below.

In addition to the PROSPER staff changes, the program also welcomed Alexander Kingston as the new ACOR for USAID. He replaces the vacant position that was previously held by Darlington Tuagben earlier in the year. Shawna Hirsch became the COR in December while Jennifer Talbot takes a leave of absence in the US. The rest of this report summarizes the accomplishments for the period measured against the Year 3 Annual Work Plan.

Summary and Highlights

Component 1 activities for the quarter included: Developed and shared strategy with FTI on the engagement of faculty and students in field activities alongside PROSPER staff; Supervision and technical advice to PCI Media Impact on the production and broadcast of 52 Episodes of radio-drama serials; Consultations with project implementers in support of the situational analysis of the threats being addressed; Criteria for engaging school clubs or establishing new ones developed and schools’ assessment tool developed and administered; and, seventy-two environmental education lesson plans reviewed and revised and matched with their respective Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs), in collaboration with the MoE.

Component 2 activities for the quarter included: Supported the Gba CFMB to implement the MOU signed between the Gba CFMB and AML; Provided updates to the Nimba County Superintendent on the status of the existing and proposed CFs in Nimba County; Provided training for Community Forest Guards and Gba CFMB in Northern Nimba; Collaborated closely with VPA to coordinate capacity building efforts for FDA, through the CFWG; Collaborated with VPA-SU and FDA, through the CFWG to finalize CRL Harmonization Checklist; Developed topics for 3 policy briefs in partnership with CSOs; Engaged stakeholders involved in REDD+ initiatives; and, developed Draft “Threatened Species of Liberia” calendar with FFI.

Component 3 activities during the quarter included: Completed the maintenance and operational training of the Cassava Processing Groups (CPGs), which was delayed in Q4 of FY14 because of the Ebola epidemic; Four oil palm farmers groups were identified for starting their own oil palm nurseries with improved F1 high yielding dwarf varieties of oil palm that were developed in Ivory Coast. The self-raised funds (US$300 per group) contributed towards the purchase of processing equipment (Freedom Mills). A field assessment carried out in December that created an inventory of the current touristic and entertainment establishments along the beaches of the Barconnie shore line. The findings will be presented in a report that will be published in Q2 of FY15; Commenced development of the extension module that can be used in a variety of PROSPER groups, e.g. PROSPER crop diversification groups and FED FFSs. Field testing and validation in Q2 FY15 will shape the modules into their final, site specific version; A field visit to the cane rat production site in Zortapa; Visits to goat development activities of the USAID FED program are scheduled for January 2015. PROSPER was not able to receive any information from Land-O-Lakes since their operations had been halted due to the Ebola crisis; and, there were no ACC meetings in Q1 FY15 due to the Ebola epidemic though meetings will reconvene in January 2015.

Deliverables Summary:

There were several deliverables approved during the quarter, however, they were accounted for in the Annual Report, which was officially submitted to USAID in November, after a thorough review by both USAID and PROSPER. As such, the deliverables chart below only gives a snapshot of the status of the deliverables that were due for the first quarter of FY 2015 per the 2015 AWP.