USADF hosted three brown bag discussions in May that covered various topics: 1. A discussion with the head of USAID's Bureau for Food Security about linking smallholder farmers to growing urban markets and ensuring support for food security initiatives. 2. A presentation about project development best practices used by a partner in Burkina Faso, including interactive exercises to get participants to open up and share accurate baseline information. 3. A summary of monitoring and evaluation training for technical partners and upcoming evaluations from the KLD team.

1. Capture a great story or photo in the field? We want to hear from you! Send it to jlingham@usadf.gov
BROWN BAG WRAP-UP
USADF hosted 3 brown bag discussions atUSADF headquarters
in May. Here's a recap:
1. FTF Deputy Director for Development and head of USAID's
Bureau for Food Security Dr. Beth Dunford joined us for the
relaunch of USADF's Speakers Series. The discussion ranged
from the principlemission and objectives of Feed the Future
on to how smallholder farmers will bridgethe growing urban
agricultureneeds for Africans.Some highlights included:
• The needfor Agencieslike USADF to link FTFwithinformation
and best practices directlyvoicedbyour Africanpartners
• The future of the Initiative as the transition ofa new
Administration happens - Congressionalsupport to codifyand
fund foodsecurity
• Steps that canbe takento better coordinate inWashington and
on the continent to advance the needs andsuccesses of
smallholder farmers
2. Kate Ristroph led a brown baglunch to highlightsome of
the best practices sheobserved used by ADF’s partner in
Burkina Faso,ICDE, duringproject development:
• When womenwouldn’ttalk at a screening visit, ICDEfirsthad them
sing a song andwe alldanced. When they stillwouldn’ttalk,Project
Development Officer Aubin Somda pulledoutan envelopeand said
that the personto whom hehandedtheenvelope hadto talk, and then
pass it onto the nextperson,like a "talking stick"
• Identifying andprioritizing problems: Aubin had two women explain
why each oftheirproblems was themostimportant one that the ADF
grant should address. Then allmembers standbehind thewoman they
agree withmost, as a form ofvote. Aubin ensured allmembers stood
up and participated/voted.
• Determining baseline information:How muchland does each member
farm? ICDEstaffasked allthosewith 10 hectares ormorestand, then
9 hectares stand,8 hectares etc.untilall members werestanding.
Another partner member was taking notes. ICDEused this same
process to determine participants yields,based onsacks ofgrain
harvestedperhectare. Forcing every participantto standup ensures
we’re getting morecomplete information.
3. David Blaine,MichelleMcKenzie and Regina Neal presented
a brief summary of KLD Team activities,includingan upcoming
M&E trainingfor technical partners,a multi-country
evaluation and the KLD Work Plan.
Upcoming Opportunities
• 6/16 International Dayof the AfricanChild
• 6/17 World Day to CombatDesertificationand
Drought
• 6/20 World Refugee Day
• 7/15 World YouthSkillsDay
Upcoming Holidays
• Independence Day (Monday, July 4)
Staff Shout Out: Sharon Czarnek
"I would like to acknowledge
Program Analyst Sharon Czarnek
for her hard work and tremendous
dedication to
USADF for the past five years. I
recognize the effort and passion
that you put into every task that
you undertake. You successfully
helped country programs like Burundi and Burkina
Faso to become consistently
better performers indicated by the improvement in
their bi-annual portfolio performance scores. You
used your creativity and problem-solving skills to
help field staff implement solutions that allowed
them rise to their potential and perform at the level
they that they were always capable of. I also want
to recognize your innovative mind and spirit, and
your willingness to experiment with new ideas,
develop tools that help field staff improve work flow
fluidity, increase productivity, and achieve process
improvements in the delivery of technical assistance
to grantees. You are a true team player and keen
worker."
- Michelle McKenzie
From the KLD Team
• KLD trainingto be held in Kigali,Rwanda for East African
technical partners July 25-29,2016
• Solicitation for multi-country evaluation will be submitted
on Tuesday, June 14
GISEL Tip of the Month
Did you see the new Toolkitfacelift? Check ittoday, and send
us your feedback.