AIDE MEMOIRE - 2016 ANNUAL COORDINATION MEETING

program is a joint education initiative between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID/UKAID) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The program aims to improve the academic performance of girls and boys in all public and denominational "included" primary schools of the targeted school sub-provinces. The program is divided into four activities, each implemented by different operational partners. Activity 1, led by USAID and implemented by Chemonics International, focuses on equal access to quality schooling, including enhanced education and quality learning, access to alternative learning programs for children and adolescents who have left the education system, and the development and implementation of education policies. Activity 2, led by DFID and implemented by Cambridge Education, aims to improve the governance and accountability of the education system. Activity 3, led by the USD and IBTCI, is responsible for independently evaluating the other ACCELERE! activities. Activity 4, led by DFID and implemented by UNICEF, focuses on reducing the number of children leaving the school system. The program is monitored through annual coordination meetings, with the aim of monitoring all activities under the joint education program. These meetings are organized and hosted by Activity 1. The purpose of this monitoring is to bring together USAID, DFID, MEPSP, and representatives of the organizational partners to assess progress to date, identify lessons learned, discuss any issues requiring corrective action, and identify next steps. The second annual coordination meeting of the USAID/UKAID ACCELERE! program was held on February 3, 2017. The meeting was moderated by the USAID Director, Mr. Christophe Tocco, and the DFID Head of Mission, Mr. Christian Rogg. The meeting started with the entry of His Excellency, Minister of the MEPSP, Mr. Gaston Musemena Bongala. The Minister thanked ACCELERE! partners for their support and encouraged the holding of technical exchanges to improve school results. The USAID Director presented the content and purpose of the meeting, which included a brief presentation of ACCELERE! results in the DRC and its perspectives. The facilitator reviewed the activities of all ACCELERE! results in the DRC and its perspectives based on improving access, retention, quality, and accountability in schools. The mission of ACCELERE! is to assist and support the priorities of the DRC Government. The meeting consisted of a presentation of Activities 1 and 2, a summary of lessons learned and next steps, as well as a discussion of emerging issues for collaboration and implementation of ACCELERE!. The public session lasted two hours and consisted of the presentation of Activities 1 and 2, a summary of lessons learned and next steps, as well as a discussion of emerging issues for collaboration and implementation of ACCELERE!. This aide-memoire summarizes the process of the public meeting and the decisions and actions required resulting from it. The program USAID/UKAID ACCELERE! is aligned with the national priorities of the DRC Government's, supporting the implementation of the Interim Plan for Education (2013/14-2015/16), the Education and Training Sector Strategy (2016-2025), and the Education Policy Letter (2016-2025). The program aims to improve the academic performance of girls and boys in all public and denominational "included" primary schools of the targeted school sub-provinces. The program is monitored through annual coordination meetings, with the aim of monitoring all activities under the joint education program.