Through Request for Application (RfA), review of proposals and design clinic and Due Diligence Act! identified and awarded seven Lead CSOs to lead program implementation in Nyeri; Foundation for Dialogue (FFD). Isiolo; Community Empowerment and Environmental Development (CEED), Garissa; WomenKind Kenya (WOKIOKE Wajir; Worthy Vision, Nairobi; Pamoja for Transformation Trust (P4T), Youth Arts. Mombasa; Coast, Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) and Lamu; Kiunga Youth Bonge (KYBI). The two-day workshop held on 19th to 20th May brought together 20 participants from the 7 ARIVE Lead SCOs. The objectives were to provide detailed understanding of:

• Key monitoring and evaluation concepts
• ARIVE Results Framework contribution
• Reporting tools, templates and schedules
• The need for Bi-Weekly Reporting and Quarterly Reports
• DQA (Data Quality Audits)
• Importance of Success stories
• Procurement procedures
• Capacity development key areas.

The purpose of the induction forum conducted during this period was thus to introduce the Lead CSOs to the program’s expectations including contractual obligation, grants and finance procedures, reporting and capacity development. The anticipated outcome was that there will be enhanced Lead CSO capacity in program management and reporting – that includes all possible strategies and pre-conditions, short term, medium term and long term outcomes of a program. During the workshop the participants noted that a majority were well conversant with the online monitoring and evaluation tools. At the end of the workshop the teams had a Clear understanding of financial procedures including placing financial request, liquidation, financial report and timelines   and that of Act! capacity development component among other items on the agenda. More to that, the Act! team developed and digitized a standardized event documentation tool that would be used across the ARIVE program in collaboration with the other Lead SCOs all the project sites. Action steps from the workshop included: Follow up on commitments made by the Lead CSOs to share knowledge and cross learn with other implementing partners and a scheduled OCA exercise to commence in within a month. In conclusion it was evident that there is need to focus on impact/outcome based reporting by undertaking focus group discussions and key informant interviews at the community level on what significant changes are happening.