Of the President’s Africa Education Initiative

Results BriefingOctober 8, 2009

Aguirre Division

Four evaluation questions

1. Assess whether AEI has met its objectives and determine outcomes and impacts

2. Identify effective practices and unanticipated outcomes

3. Assess AEI’s alignment with USAID and USG strategies to support education and development

4. Assess AEI’s contributions to host country education sector plans and priorities

Site visits in 8 countries

Teleconferences with additional Missions

AGSP questionnaires for stakeholders in non-presence countries

In-depth, school level research in 3 countries

Over 428,600 AGSP scholarships awarded (78% of goal of 550,0000)

Nearly 922,000 teachers trained (surpassing goal of 920,000)

Nearly 18 million TLMs created (surpassing goal of 15 million)

“When time came to collect my school report card, my mother lifted me up after she heard that I had passed!” (Zambian AGSP scholar)

Program has reached 78% of goal Country programs adapt to local needs Increased awareness of HIV/AIDS Examples of community involvement Positive mentoring and tutoring activities Impact data highly variable

Determine where AGSP interventions can make the greatest impact

Revisit the issue of how to measure success

Look for ways to enhance impact with synergies

Review the mentoring component

“I improved my classroom management and student assessment methods [as a result of BESO training]. It helped me teach difficult math concepts in an easy way.” (Teacher, Ethiopia)

Surpassed goal for teachers trained

Alignment with host country strategies

Examples of positive community involvement

Contextual challenges show need for continuity

Active learning methodologies are commonly part of TT activities

Materials not generally in use in classrooms – assimilating takes time and follow-up

Cascade training has variable success

Counting “trained teachers”

M & E efforts highly variable

Continue to empower Missions

Integrate gains in MoE systems

Build on research-based success

Support cascaded training effectively

Continue school-community activities

“This is the first time we’ve been given the opportunity to write our own materials.” (TLMP project group interview, Ghana)

Surpassed goal for TLMs produced

Capacity building

Development of new materials around national curricula

Coordination with Ministries of Education

Partnership dynamics

Challenges in other components of the cycle

Expand resources dedicated to TT

Plan for and monitor success of distribution

Establish monitoring systems to measure usage and learning outcomes

Foster transparency and equal partnerships

“For a very small investment, we developed a well-received model that works well and “has legs” - that is, it’s drawing interest from other organizations. Just these small $500 to $700 grants go very far in local contexts. “ Psychosocial support for OVCs “wraparound” implementer, Zambia

Funding for experimental activities and programs for disadvantaged groups

Some IAs linked to local needs, and able to leverage

When not Mission-managed, less alignment with country priorities and Mission objectives

Need for greater management of expectations

Coordinate with Mission programming and substantive Mission input

Continue to fund experimental programming and that targeted at particularly disadvantaged populations

Enhance activity-level M & E to determine value added and degree of alignment with USG strategies and goals

Highly visible, impressive outputs

Increased funding streams

New focus on pre-service education

New focus on book production and capacity building

Targeted education access through AGSP

Washington-managed and Mission-managed programming

Alignment with USG strategies and objectives

Contribution to host country efforts

Need for greater attention to M & E

Outputs versus outcomes

Ensure Mission involvement and MoE integration

Coordinate components to improve results

Ensure activities contribute to the acquisition of basic skills

Build in baselines, formative and impact assessments

Use data for program decision-making

Thank you for your time and attention

Questions and Answers