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June 5, 2016

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development.

It was prepared by Tetra Tech DPK.

USAID/JAMAICA COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND TRANSFORMATION PROJECT - PHASE II (COMET II) Monthly Report: May 2016

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USAID/JAMAICA COMET II PROJECT

CONTRACT NO.: AID-OAA-I-13-0036 / AID-532-TO-14-0001

CONTRACTOR: Tetra Tech DPK

DATE: June 5, 2016 The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United

States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

Cover Photo: Police Officers gathered outside Rockfort CRC during visit of Linda McElroy, USAID

Regional Contracting Officer, May 17, 2016.

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

ACP Assistant Commissioner of Police

CBO Community Based Organization

CBP Community Based Policing

CCAP Climate Change Action Plan

CDC Community Development Committee

CEDAR Communities Empowered for Disaster and Adaptive Resilience

COMET II Community Empowerment and Transformation Project II

CRC Community Resource Centres

CSSB Community Safety and Security Branch

DRF Dispute Resolution Foundation

DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

DTC Drug Treatment Court

GCC Global Climate Change

JCF Jamaica Constabulary Force

JRC Jamaica Red Cross

KSAC Kingston and St Andrew Corporation

OSE Office of Social Entrepreneurship

PSA Public Service Announcement

PYC Police Youth Clubs

RFA Request for Application

SDC Social Development Commission

UTECH University of Technology

UWI University of the West Indies

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COMPONENT ONE – COMMUNITY DRIVEN CRIME PREVENTION

Grants Program

In May, the COMET II grants portfolio continued its mandate to deliver small grants to community-

based organizations in support of activities that support youth engagement, economic livelihood,

and social cohesion. Eight grants have been awarded in Year 3 with the most recent award made to

Kitson Town Community Development Committee (CDC).

Outside the future site of the Kitson Town CRC at the launch event held in December 2015 at the Kitson Town Baptist Church

There are currently seven small grants for social enterprises in pre-award phase. The grants

include:

East Kingston Society/Link7teen Entertainment Events and Talent Management Agency (RFA

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Enos Barrett Disabled Group (RFA No. 21)

Knollis Community Benevolent Society (RFA 22)

Barrett Town Police Youth Club (RFA No. 24)

Lilliput Rovers Youth Club (RFA No. 25)

Ramble Hill Citizens Association (RFA No. 26)

Mount Carey Citizen Association (RFA No. 27)

Please note the application from Enos Barrett Disabled Group is currently on hold pending

company registration. The Community Resource Centre (CRC) for the Linstead Community

Development Committee was approved in March but is currently on hold pending the CDC’s

selection of another site to house the CRC as the current site is not suitable without a perimeter

wall being built.

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As reported last month, non-competitive proposals have been received from the Kintyre Citizen

Association and Four Paths CDC Ltd. for their CRC and social enterprise projects in Kintyre and

Four Paths respectively and these proposals are currently in the pre-award phase.

Non-competitive applications for CRC’s from the following organizations are currently being

evaluated or in pre-award phase:

Belle Plain Citizen Association

Bogue Community Development Committee

Brixton Hill Community Development Committee

Chapleton Community Development Committee

Race Community Development Committee

The grants team continues to monitor the implementation of the previous grants issued by

conducting site visits and reviewing reports submitted by the grantees.

Capacity Building and Social Enterprise Workshops and Trainings

Efforts are ongoing in the development and strengthening of CDCs across COMET II target

communities. For example, on May 15, the Bull Bay CDC hosted a meeting focused on constitution

development and strategic planning. The group also discussed the location of the pending CRC and

the status of its submitted permission to use the land.

Social Enterprise Sensitization Session

On May 24 and 26 the University of West Indies (UWI) Office of Social Entrepreneurship,

conducted a social enterprise introductory session for groups in Clarendon, St. Andrew, and St.

Catherine. The team, led by Dr. K’adamawe K’nife reviewed key concepts behind social

entrepreneurship and outlined next steps for the groups prior to the trainings scheduled

between June 2 and 19. The groups that attended this first session include:

1. Bethel

2. Buelah 7 Day

3. Good Hope Partners

4. Mighty Gully

5. Mocho CA

6. Race Course PYC

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File photo of Dr. K’adamawe K’nife facilitating a Social Enterprise session

Global Climate Change (GCC)

The goal of the GCC cross-cutting theme is to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities.

Climate change is the most serious threat to sustainable development facing Jamaica. Therefore,

adaptation is important to enhance safety and security in project communities.

On May 3 and 4, COMET II facilitated an Emergency Telecommunication training for Disaster Risk

Reduction (DRR) for Bull Bay community members and stakeholders at the Church of God of

Prophecy in Bull Bay. The training, led by Abacus, involved theoretical and practical sessions and

topics included (but were not limited to): voice procedure, phonetic alphabet, call signs, correction

and repetition, and introduction to handheld radios.

The 24 participants were provided a handbook summarizing key topics covered in the training. A

number of state agencies and community based organizations (CBO) were represented including

the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), Jamaica Fire Brigade, Bull Bay Seven Miles Police

Youth Club (PYC), Bull Bay Eight Miles PYC, Bull Bay Nine Miles PYC, Bull Bay Football Club (FC),

Passion Garden CBO, and the Bull Bay CDC.

COMET II is also in the process of procuring radio kits to be used by those who have participated

or will participate in the trainings from the five communities. Community members already trained

are from Race Course, Cambridge, Trench Town, and Bull Bay. The fifth community in St.

Catherine will participate in the training before the end of Year 3.

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Left: Officers from the Jamaica Fire Brigade (front, right) participating in the DRR session in Bulls Bay

Right: Participants at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) during the simulation exercise

Above: Participants display their certificates of participation at ther end of the workshop

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Table 1: Registration information for Emergency Telecommunication Training Hosted by COMET II May 3 – 4, 2016

Activity/Occasion

Organization/

Community

represented

Venue COMET-II

Representative

Disaggregation

Component

Activity #

Performance

Indicator Total Gender Age Categories

Emergency

Telecommunication

Training

KSAC

Jamaica Fire

Brigade

Bull Bay

Seven Miles

PYC

Bull Bay Eight

Miles PYC

Bull Bay Nine

Miles PYC

Bull Bay FC

Passion

Garden CBO

Bull Bay

CDC

Church of

God of

Prophecy

Dr. K.

Emmanuel

S. Harvey

J. Maitland

1.4.1

PI #1, PI

#2, PI #8, PI

#9

24 Males 17

Females 7 (a) 16-29 12

(b) 30-60 11

(c) Over 60 1

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On May 18, COMET II continued the series of community engagements to train community

members in disaster mitigation and response with a successful stakeholder meeting at the Brixton

Hill United Church. The objectives of the Community Empowered for Disaster and Adaptive

Resilience (CEDAR) stakeholder meeting were:

1. To present proposed adaptive strategies to potential stakeholders;

2. To solicit comments on identified strategies; and

3. To lobby for support (e.g., resources) for the implementation as part of the Community

Climate Action Plan (CCAP).

The meeting involved the CEDAR Working Group for Brixton Hill. The group presented its

proposed climate adaptation strategies, which it had developed over the course of 5 days during the

month of April. Stakeholder agencies such as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency

Management, Rural Agriculture Development Authority, Jamaica Fire Brigade, National Solid Waste

Management Authority/SPM, Clarendon Health Department, Clarendon Parish Council, Forestry

Department and the SDC participated in the meeting and pledged their support. COMET II GCC

advisor, Dr. Kwame Emmanuel, Community Coordinator John Meeks, and Jamila Maitland were in

attendance

Left: CEDAR working group members presenting to stakeholders

Right: Participants at the CEDAR Stakeholder Meeting in Brixton Hill

Following the presentation earlier in the month, on May 31, COMET II conducted the final CEDAR

meeting in Brixton Hill with members of the Brixton Hill CEDAR working group. The meeting:

1. Summarized achievements made during the CEDAR process, including the drafting of

climate adaptation strategies and the successful hosting of a stakeholder meeting; and

2. Developed the implementation plan for the climate actions identified.

The next steps are to mobilize resources for the implementation of adaptation measures, in

particular, training in safer housing, climate smart farming techniques, rainwater harvesting, and bush

fire prevention. Additionally, the Brixton Hill CEDAR working group prioritized tree planting as an

initial activity.

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Table 2: Registration for CEDAR Stakeholder Meeting Hosted by COMET II on May 18

Activity/Occasion

Organization/

Community

represented

Venue COMET-II

Representative

Disaggregation

Component

Activity #

Performance

Indicator Total Gender Age Categories

CEDAR

engagement and

action planning

ODPEM

RADA

Jamaica Fire

Brigade

NSWMA / SPM

Clarendon

Health

Department

Forestry

Department

Clarendon

Parish Council

SDC

JCF

Goshen PYC

Mocho Citizens

Association

Mocho

Community

Council

Brixton Hill

Citizens

Association

Brixton Hill

Church

Brixton

Hill United

Church

Dr. K.

Emmanuel

J. Meeks

J. Maitland

1.4.2 PI #1, PI #2 44

Males

19

Females

25

(a) 16-29 12

(b) 30-60 21

(c) Over 60 9

2 participants did

not report their

age

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COMPONENT TWO - PUBLIC OUTREACH AND CULTURE OF LAWFULNESS

As one of the ten Culture of Lawfulness-centered activities under Activity 2.1.2, two USAID

COMET II Interns Camrayan Smith and Danae-Gai Williams from the project communities of

Cambridge and Bogue respectively were placed at the MORE-FM Community Radio station in

Glendevon Montego Bay St. James. The interns will showcase Culture of Lawfulness issues in their

communities in a professional pre-recorded program that will be broadcast every 2 weeks on

MORE. The first 15 minute program showcasing Culture of Lawfulness issues will be broadcasted at

the end of June.

Smith and Williams have embraced the internship with enthusiasm and in addition to developing

their Culture of Lawfulness program they are now hosting the morning drive time show “More

Solutions”, which is a segment on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10AM to 1PM.

Their tasks during the morning show include:

Handle the studio console

Field telephone calls

Conduct interviews live on air

On the Thursday program called “Young Thursday” they are responsible for choosing guests and

handling program and production duties.

Left to Right: Danae-Gai Williams at the microphone during the “More Solutions” program on MORE-FM

Camrayan Smith at the Controls! USAID COMET Community Journalist mans the console at the MORE-FM Community Radio Station

under the COMET II sponsored internship program

On Sunday May 15, Smith hosted a live outside broadcast from the Community Forum/Blood Drive

and Fun day held in the Roosevelt Community in Montego Bay.

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As part of Activity 2.2.1 and the initiative to promote a Culture of Lawfulness through journalism,

COMET II continued to work with journalists from the communities of Cambridge and Barrett

Town on newsletter development.

Participants from Cambridge and Barrett Town were invited to display the newsletters they have

been producing following the Microsoft Desktop Publishing skills workshop facilitated by COMET II

and in collaboration with the UTECH Western Campus in Montego Bay at the end of February

2016. UTECH (under the auspices of lecturer Ms. Alicia Williams) invited community journalists to

be part of the 2nd Annual Exhibition “Streaming Imagination Reloaded” on the UTECH Campus

on May 26 and 27. Not only has this training allowed the participants to highlight important issues

in their communities, but it has become a stepping stone for professional job skills. Through the

production of the newsletters they have proven that they have the skills to contribute to the

workforce

Under Activity 2.2.2 of the USAID COMET II project at least two public service announcements

(PSAs) are to be developed that promote integrity in society and a Culture of Lawfulness. In year

three the decision was taken to produce two 30-second Crime Prevention PSAs focusing on crime

prevention messaging that is driven by and targeted at the 15 – 29 age group. The messages will

reflect the perspective and views of this age cohort. The messaging will be informed by data

gathered during a Crime Prevention Workshop for Police Youth Club members and other youth

groups in St. James that was held at the Sunspree Beach Resort and Spa in Montego Bay on Saturday

April 9.

The behavior change communications consultant was contracted to do the following:

Review the material that was developed by the youth at the workshop and use it as the basis of

a communication strategy that will be used to inform the PSAs.

Develop and implement a workshop with the youth who attended the event on April 9th and

work with them to fine tune and finalize the messaging that will inform the Radio, TV, Social

Media, and Print messages/ PSAs. This workshop will also help in the identification of possible

talent for the PSAs. Previously trained youth journalists will also be included in this next workshop.

The workshop designed by the behavior change communications consultant was held on May 21, in

the Council Chambers of the St. James Parish Council with 17 participants from:

Barrett Town PYC

St. James Parish Council Junior Council

Flanker CDC

Rose Heights

Paradise Crescent

Mount Salem

UWI Western Campus

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Participants in the PSA Development workshop

A production house will also be contracted to work with the behavior change communications

consultant to produce the industry standard PSAs based on the information provided by young

people during their consultations. USAID COMET II will purchase airtime to showcase the PSAs in

the mass media. At the time of writing this report the script was being written and the production

house was being contracted. The PSAs are scheduled to be launched at a function in Montego Bay

on June 14.

DATE MEDIA COVERAGE

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May 18,

2016

USAID COMET II and project grantee Bull Bay Football Club were featured on the CVM

“Community Beat” feature during the Sportscast. USAID Mission Director Ms. Denise Herbol, ACP

the Rev. Dr. Gary Welsh, SDC’s Alicia Bowen and Bull Bay Football Club President Paul Hibbert

were interviewed.

USAID Mission Director to Jamaica Ms. Denise Herbol makes a point during an interview for the CVM TV program "Community

Beat" on the grounds of the Bull Bay Football Club.

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COMPONENT THREE: ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK YOUTH

As part of Activity 3.1 under Preventing Youth from Coming into Conflict with the Law, the

Dispute Resolution foundation (DRF) facilitated 12 In-School Rap Sessions across COMET II target

parishes in May. The purpose of these In-School Rap Sessions is to get Student Resource Officers,

Deans of Discipline, and other school-based professionals and students engaged in open dialogue

about issues that will help to improve the outlook of each group and ultimately the National Safe

School Program.

The In-School Rap Sessions schedule is below:

Service Points Venue Address Date Time

Kingston & St

Andrew

Papine High Gordon Town Road Wednesday May 18,

2016

11:15 a.m.

Kingston & St

Andrew

Norman Gardens

Primary & Junior

High

25 Norman Avenue Tuesday May 17, 2016 10:00 a.m.

Kingston & St

Andrew

Rennock Lodge All-

Age

Water Road, Kingston 2 Tuesday May 24, 2016 10:00 a.m.

Kingston & St

Andrew

Donald Quarrie High Caribbean Terrace,

Kingston 17

Wednesday May 25.

2016

1:00 p.m.

St James Barrett Town All Age Little River P.O. Tuesday May 17, 2016 10:00 a.m.

St Catherine Jonathan Grant 1A White Church

Street, Spanish Town

Thursday May 26,

2016

1:00 p.m.

St Catherine St. Jago High 33 Monk Street Thursday May 12,

2016

1:00 p.m.

St Catherine YWCA 19 Barrett Street,

Spanish Town

Tuesday May 24, 2016 1:00 p.m.

St Catherine Spanish Town High Corner of Young & Ellis

Street, Spanish Town

Wednesday May 18,

2016

1:00 p.m.

Clarendon Lennon High Mocho, Clarendon Wednesday May 18,

2016

1:30 p.m.

Clarendon Porus High Porus, Manchester Thursday May 19,

2016

1:30 p.m.

The DRF also conducted its regular five-day program at its Kingston and St. Andrew Peace and

Justice Centre, to equip target students with conflict resolution management techniques, anger

management, and self-awareness. As a result of this training, students will have the skills to better

manage their behavior and attitude in school, and ultimately at home and within the community.

Some of the sessions were attended by the Alternative Programs Coordinator, Community

Coordinators and the Tetra Tech DPK Global Law and Development Fellow, Mr. David Hopper.

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Students and teachers engaged during In-School rap session held at Norman Gardens Primary and Junior High

In May, COMET II continued to support the Ministry of Justice’s Drug Treatment Court (DTC)

program with the first participant in the Workforce Development Program. Through Activity 3.2,

Alternative Sentencing through DTC Program, Richard Nesbeth, a phase three participant of the

Corporate Area DTC Program commenced a one –year Commercial Food Preparation program at

B&E Catering and Training Institute in Kingston on May 10. Nesbeth was invited to the COMET II

office on May 9 to meet with the COP, Alternative Programs Coordinator, and other members of

staff. A very excited Nesbeth was encouraged to do his very best in the program.

Mr. Richard Nesbeth, first DTC program participant enrolled in the USAID COMET II Workforce Development Program

Additional participants are being contacted and encouraged to submit applications or take entrance

exams for various academic and technical institutions. The majority of courses at these institutions

have a commencement date between May and July. For example, plans have already been made for

two other phase two participants in the DTC program to pursue a one-year automotive course in

“Motor Vehicle Repairs (Car and Light Trucks) Level 2” in June. That curriculum will also allow the

participants to become instructors at the end of the program. Other programs being pursued

include: hairdressing and barbering at HEART College of Beauty Services, animation at the

Professional Development Institute, truck driving lessons at Grennell’s Driving School, skills training

at Operation Friendship in plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work as well as literacy classes at

Jamaica for Life-Long Learning.

Under this component, a two-day workshop in each parish is being planned for the summer. This

will cover social work-related topics such as personal development and culture of lawfulness and

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entrepreneurial skills such as business plan writing. The expected results from this workshop are

that participants will be better able to contribute to their communities as informed citizens.

Alternative Program for at-risk youth in St. Catherine and Clarendon (Jamaica Red

Cross - JRC)

On Friday May 20, the Alternative Programs Coordinator and the Global Law and Development

Fellow visited both locations of the JRC in St. Catherine and Clarendon, to observe the existing

remedial classes and to monitor the progress of the vocational training sessions for 200 at-risk

youth.

The JRC is now moving towards receiving its second tranche totaling JMD350, 000.00 which will

procure equipment for the various vocational training programs, such as barber chairs for the

Barbering Program.

COMPONENT FOUR -COMMUNITY POLICING

There are two remaining community-based policing (CBP) trainings for Year Three, scheduled for

May 31 and June 1 and June 15 and16. In preparation for these trainings, COMET II staff spent the

last few weeks planning the trainings including identifying participants who were from the Police

Divisions, already vetted, and could be released for the training period. Fifty police officers from

across varied branches of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be engaged in the two training

sessions. The training is designed to support the Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB) in

its continued effort to integrate the CBP practices across the Force and in keeping with the strategy

to maintain presence in communities in a bid to increase access to the police and restore citizen

confidence.

The Proximity Policing trainings will be administered to four groups at the end of the final CBP

training on June 16.

The training content is comprehensive and mirrors previous trainings delivered on the topic. The

team of facilitators for the training series includes:

Dr. Gary Welsh; Assistant Commissioner of Police at the CSSB Branch will deliver two

sessions: (1) The Economic Value of Community Based Policing and (2) Policing a Changing Society

Senior Superintendent Karina Powell Hood, Deputy Commander CSSB - Proximity Policing:

The Effectiveness of the Strategy in Reducing Crime and Increasing a Sense of Security in

Communities

Dr. Kadamawe K’nife - the Social Return on Investment (SROI)

Donaree Muirhead, COMET II Community Police Coordinator - Community Engagement:

Accessing legitimate Community Based Organizations and forming Partnerships for Good

Governance

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Through Activity 4.1.3, Support the Police Youth Club (St. James) to Implement Community Crime

Reduction Activity, the USAID COMET II Project in supporting the JCF through the CSSB is making

a concerted effort to engage young people in activities that provide a platform for their contribution

to create positive change. COMET II Component Three lead, Jennifer Grant and Component Four

lead, Donaree Muirhead, facilitated a follow-up session with the participants who attended the

Youth Crime Reduction Activity in April. Ms. Grant and a behavior change communications

consultant worked with the participants to perfect the peer-to-peer PSAs on crime reduction. This

event was held on May 21at the St. James Parish Council. Ms. Muirhead, held the session in

partnership with the St. James Parish Council which allowed its facilities to be used for no cost.

USAID COMET II has developed a strong partnership with the St. James Parish Council which is

responsible for local governance in the parish. This activity was also reported on in Component

Two.

The continuation of the Youth Crime Reduction Activity will continue under Component Four as

outlined in the concept note and report of April 2016.

Meeting with Kingston West Police

A meeting between COMET II and members of the Kingston West Police Division was held on May

17, at the Denham Town Police Station. The meeting served to formally introduce the COMET II

team to the fairly new leadership team in the division. Superintendent Chambers and his team

shared their vision for the communities under their charge and extended invitation to COMET II to

join in the efforts. The strategy outlined is very much in line with the objectives of the Project. In

the short term COMET II will work with the CSSB Team to implement the youth summer camp,

parenting sessions as well as the sports activities to engage the wider community.

Summer Camps

Through Component Four the Project will be supporting summer camps in the five parishes

receiving COMET II intervention. The support for the camps will be through training and

certification in varied skills. Preliminary discussions have taken place with potential

organizations/institutions to facilitate the training and certification of the youth participants at the

camps. It is estimated that approximately 800 young people will be engaged through these activities.

CBP Manual

Based on discussions with the consultant the CBP Manual is on track for production and handover

to the JCF on June 16 in an event culminating with the closing ceremony for the CBP training.

Administrative Updates

1. COMET II performance audit and site visits: A team from the USAID Regional Inspector

General (RIG) visited Jamaica to audit the CBSI programs and during that time they

successfully conducted a performance audit of the COMET II project. From April 25 to May

13 auditors Kartik Srinivasa and Ryan Truxton held meetings with COMET II staff,

stakeholders, and grantees and also conducted visits to various sites across target parishes

and communities.

Grantees visited included:

Bull Bay Football Club

Buelah Church Central Jamaica

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Gregory Park CDC/CRC

Forward Step Foundation

Race Course

Rockfort Development Council

Rockfort Football Club

St. Michael Steppers Marching Band

Kartik Srinivasan (right, holding Cocoa pod) and Ryan Truxton (2nd left) pose with Clive Hawthorne (centre) and SDC Officer Marcia

Sadler (left) in Mt. Luna, St. Andrew

2. On May 17, 2016 the Kingston team was abuzz with the visit of Linda McElroy, USAID

Regional Contracting Officer who visited sections of East Kingston on an orientation trip in

her new role as regional contracting officer. Ms. McElroy was able to observe COMET II

community interventions and meet the COMET II Management Team and its project

partners.

Below are some highlights of those visits:

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3. Senior Operation Manager: Kacee Ballew’s appointment as Senior Operations Manager

ended on May 31, 2016. In the period immediately preceding her departure Kacee assisted

the incoming Senior Operations Manager Adrienne Stone with handover and orientation.

4. Tetra Tech DPK’s Global Law and Development Fellowship 2016: On May 17, David

Hopper began his 12-week summer internship with the COMET II team in Kingston. David

is a second-year law student and is enrolled in a 3-year concurrent program to earn his

JD/LLM in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law from the Pettit College of Law at Ohio

Northern University. After law school, David hopes to leverage his knowledge, skills, and

experiences to continue his work in legal and political reform in post-conflict countries.

David will be primarily supporting COMET II’s Alternative Programs Component Lead Jhana

Harris with assistance to the DTC and livelihood initiatives conducted by DRF and JRC. A

portion of his time will also be allocated to Culture of Lawfulness Component Lead Jennifer

Grant’s initiatives with youth journalists and radio programming. Other administrative and

operational tasks could include COMET II success stories, articles for the Tt DPK, and

organization of and participation in events and trainings.