Sixth Quarterly Report, February - April 2011 - Eng - Frp2.org

USAID Jordan Fiscal Reform II Project
CROSSCUTTING SUPPORT
In addition to FRP II‟s six component teams, FRP II's core operations include crosscutting specialists in
outreach, training, event management, IT, and monitoring and evaluation to support the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of project activities. This team undertakes a number of activities that
directly support the components – these activities are discussed in detail in the relevant components‟
section. Other activities are undertaken broadly in support the project as a whole. These include staff and
counterpart development, assessments or surveys, outreach efforts and related activities. The major such
activities carried out in the sixth quarter are discussed below.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS/HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 6 TH QUARTER
FRP II Website
This quarter, FRP II developed a project website: www.frp2.org. The website is an important new
communication tool for the project, highlighting project news, accomplishments, and reports. The
website includes an overview of USAID‟s objectives in each of the project‟s technical areas and links to
our Government of Jordan partners. It also provides a vehicle for announcing employment, internship,
and procurement opportunities, improving the transparency and reach of such announcements.
Results Report
An FRP II team led by Technical Backstop, Mr. Steve Rozner, FRP II Monitoring, Evaluation &
Reporting Specialist, Ms. Alison Fahey, STTA Economic Advisor, Dr. Eunice Heredia-Ortiz, and FRP
II Training Advisor, Ms. Nour Moghrabi, prepared the project‟s first Results Report, which assesses the
impact of the project‟s assistance since its inception. In particular, the report focused on analyzing the
outcome of FRP II activities – the impact, to date, of FRP II‟s assistance to the GOJ – and analyzed the
extent to which FRP II has contributed to macroeconomic stability and economic growth in Jordan. The
team met with a broad range of stakeholders, including counterparts, USAID, and FRP II staff, in
addition to collecting data on GOJ and FRP II performance. The final report will be issued in May 2011.
Strategic Outreach and Communications Training
STTA Communications Advisor, Mr. Alan James, and FRP II Outreach Advisor, Ms. Tulin Bakeer,
conducted training in strategic outreach and communications for 25 GOJ counterparts from Ministry of
Finance (MOF), Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MOICT), Ministry of
Public Sector Development (MOPSD), Income and Sales Tax Department (ISTD), Customs, and King
Abdullah Center for Excellence (KACE). The training sought to increase participants‟ knowledge of the
value of strategic communications and provide a road map for essential communications and marketing
skills. Participants were introduced to best practices for advancing an organization‟s agenda, and to
techniques including: developing and leveraging feedback, communicating success stories, developing a
communication strategy, creating clear, consistent and compelling messages, and designing and
implementing an outreach campaign.
Leadership Forum
FRP II sponsored the participation of 16 senior directors from the MOF, Customs, ISTD, Audit Bureau
and MOPSD and four FRP II staff to attend a Leadership Forum organized by Excellence, Inc. The
USAID Fiscal Reform II Project, Quarterly Report – February – April 2011 5