The TOPS Program is seeking nominations for up to three participants from each PVO in each FFP-funded development or emergency food assistance project in the following countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. TOPS will select 50 final participants to sponsor from the full list of nominations to attend the Technical Capacity Strengthening Workshop, June 4-8, 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This workshop will precede the FSN Network Knowledge Sharing Meeting June 11-13, 2012, which is open to any participants.

These workshops are designed to strengthen knowledge, skills, and implementing capacity of technical specialists working in FFP partner organizations. TOPS invites collaborating PVOs to nominate specialists in M&E, health, nutrition, agriculture and natural resources, social and behavior change, and other technical specialists in your project who may benefit from the training. For more information, on both meetings and the nominating process for the Technical Capacity Strengthening Workshop, click here. All nominations must be submitted by April 15, 2012.   

The TOPS Program has added an amendment to the TOPS Small Grant (Program Improvement Awards) Program. This amendment provides responses to the questions posed during the questioning period.

The PIA small grants program offers the opportunity for Title II and food security/nutrition implementing organizations to access funds to conduct and/or document innovative, best practice-focused activities, operations research, or pilot programs to strengthen the quality and efficient, effective delivery of Title II-supported food security programs (maximum per award $100,000). For more information, and to view the RFA and supplementary materials, please click here. Concept papers are due by March 26 and the full application is due April 23.

Save the Date: TOPS Workshop on Resilience Efforts in the PVO Community, April 25, 2012    

The TOPS Program will host a workshop on April 25, 2012, at 20 F Street, NW, from 1-4 PM to discuss Title II Implementing Partners experiences in dealing with and working towards resilience to prevent and recover from shocks in Sub-Saharan Africa. Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps and World Vision will sit on a panel to set the stage for Q&A for the remainder of the afternoon. If interested in attending, please RSVP to  Sierra Frischknecht at sfrischknecht@dc.mercycorps.org.     

Featured Information Resource: From Conflict to Coping: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia on the Contributions of Peacebuilding to Drought Resilience Among Pastoralist Groups  

This report, created by Mercy Corps, explores the links between conflict and drought resilience among pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia. In mid-2011, Mercy Corps received anecdotal evidence from local officials that drought-affected communities that had benefited from Mercy Corps-supported peace processes were better able to cope in the face of the harsh conditions than other pastoralist groups in southern Ethiopia. The study sheds light on how peacebuilding programming can be done in a way that helps mitigate the effects of severe drought among pastoralists, and likely speed their recovery from them.