DEEP Year 3 Quarter 2 Report

Through DEEP, EnCompass and its partner, MSI, a Tetra Tech company, are working with USAID to improve the quality, relevance, availability, accessibility, and use of education data. The DEEP team uses a multi-pronged approach to address challenges to effective data use, fostering a shift in data culture to further the goal of improved and more equitable education programs. DEEP's five-pronged approach is encapsulated in its theory of change: quality and relevant data are readily available, research is applied and accessible, and there is a better understanding of contributors and barriers to achieving strategic goals. Dissemination is increased, and evidence on education sector priorities is widely disseminated and accessed. Data users are enabled, and demand for and use of data are increased. Coordination in United States Government (USG) basic education programming is increased. During the third year of project technical implementation, DEEP achieved several successes and challenges. The team prepared for its comprehensive review of FY 2022 Performance Plan and Reports (PPRs), which encompasses around 30 education indicators, 80 USAID Operating Units (OUs), and over 160 individual data quality and compliance checks for each OU. DEEP's automation of portions of the data review process reduced the number of staff as well as the time needed to perform these data checks. DEEP continued developing the cost analysis e-learning course, completing drafts of the three largest modules and receiving feedback from user-testers. The team also developed evidence briefs for the Multi-Country Study on Inclusive Education (MCSIE), releasing two briefs that align with the interim findings in Cambodia and Nepal. These briefs will serve as an introduction to the findings and a gateway to the deeper insights found in the report. The DEEP team released "What Works to Integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support into Education Programs in Crisis and Conflict-affected Settings?" This evidence brief provides important evidence in response to the Education in Conflict and Crisis Learning Agenda question: Which education interventions are the most effective in improving student well-being in crisis and conflict contexts? The DEEP team completed the Read Liberia cost analysis report and shared it with the USAID Mission and the implementing partner, RTI, for comments. This analysis identified future considerations for activity scale-up and the report will inform the design of future early grade reading activities in Liberia by helping the Mission understand the cost drivers and cost structure of the Read Liberia activity. The first e-learning course on the Global Proficiency Framework (GPF) and the second e-learning course on policy linking both received approval from USAID. This work supports USAID staff and its partners to gain a better understanding of GPF and policy linking as methods of advancing education priorities and supporting/carrying out policy linking work. The team completed a final stage of data collection for the Learning Agenda revision, holding four consultations with USAID staff between November 16 and December 8. The consultations focused on priority research and learning topics or questions; preferred methods for generating new evidence; and preferred approaches for sharing knowledge and promoting learning about Youth Workforce Development. DEEP provided an orientation for USAID Mission officers to the ALIGN process during USAID's Education Sector Council meeting. The USAID Nigeria Mission immediately expressed interest in conducting an ALIGN application with the Leading through Learning team. The orientation also revealed that USAID countries could benefit from having the GPF E-Module available as they discuss a potential ALIGN process with partners. The team finalized and submitted the Approaches to Increasing Employment and Quality of Employment among Youth with Disabilities report. This is USAID's first major report on the topic and can serve as a resource for education officers and implementing partners designing or implementing activities that seek to increase employment among youth with disabilities. The report has been well received by partners and Mission staff. DEEP expanded its consultation efforts this quarter to focus specifically on three USAID missions currently implementing remedial education and learning recovery activities. Findings from the discussions together with the draft report will serve as a launchpad for workshops with Mission staff and partners that will take place next quarter to exchange ideas about strategies and initiatives for remedial education programming. DEEP successfully launched the SEL/SS Measurement Taskforce with representatives from seven key organizations on the Steering Committee and 100 general members from across the globe. The broad membership will provide a global forum for SEL researchers and practitioners to discuss important issues related to SEL measurement. DEEP also gathered member insights about challenges and priorities in the field through a Visioning activity attended by 75 members and a survey that reached 51 taskforce members representing 21 countries. These data will inform the mapping of SEL measurement activities and other efforts through the end of the year. DEEP completed the revisions to the draft Study Quality Assessment Tool. This version of the tool will be used by volunteers to review