USAID/Afghanistan Monitoring Support Project (MSP)

The Monitoring Support Project (MSP) was tasked with providing USAID/Afghanistan with data on the implementation of its project portfolio, allowing technical teams to compare information from their own monitoring efforts with additional sources of monitoring and verification (M&V) data, and make evidence-based management decisions on the performance of their activities. MSP utilized a variety of methods and tools to provide the Kabul Mission with sufficient, accurate, and verified information on the progress of its activities.

MSP-E/TO3: QED Group led Task Order 3 (TO3) which focused on carrying out project objectives in the Eastern region, including Bamyan, Daykundi, Ghazni, Kabul, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktya, Panjsheer, Parwan, andWardak provinces.

MSP-E/TO3 was also tasked to develop in monitoring capacity of the local Afghan organizations with whom it worked including the civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private Afghan firms. Best practices included:

• Third-Party Monitoring, developing capacity and mentoring of local field monitors
• Electronic data capture and the use of mobile devices for data collection
• Secure, web-based data management portal/dashboard
• Robust coordination with the two other task orders, MSP-South/West and MSP-North
• Enhanced client collaboration, e.g. special monitoring project with USAID’s Office of Health and Nutrition (OHN)

Results

• Completed a total of 1,080 monitoring and verification activities which included the observation of events and facilities; interviews with event participants, staff, and program beneficiaries; and the recording of stock and supplies.
• Performed monitoring activities on 19 activities, one USAID Office of Health and Nutrition special initiative, and two conferences held in Kabul.
• Trained and mentored 44 Afghan Center for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (ASCOR) field monitors
• Conducted three three special monitoring projects:
  • USAID/Afghanistan Agriculture Extension Project (AAEP) Trainee Survey: MSP-E monitors telephonically interviewed 1,380 AAEP beneficiaries, collecting data on their experiences and satisfaction with AAEP training interventions
  • USAID/Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) Project Trainee Survey: MSP-E monitors telephonically interviewed 85 HSR beneficiaries, collecting data on their experiences and satisfaction with HSR training interventions
  • USAID/OHN Healthcare Beneficiary and Public Health Official Survey: MSP-E monitors interviewed 382 health service beneficiaries, nine NGO representatives, 12 PPHDs, and seven DPHOs, collecting data on healthcare service provision in rural and urban areas across Kabul, Nangarhar, and Parwan