FY 2021 Quarterly Performance Report for USAID Let's Read

The project aims to achieve two major results: IR 1 Public and Community Schools Performance Improved, and IR 2 Ministry of Education Systems Strengthened. The project is managed by the Education Development Center (EDC) in collaboration with VVOB, Resonance, and Kentalis. Implementation progress during the third quarter of 2021 was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with schools closed on June 17, 2021, in accordance with Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) directives. Despite these challenges, the project facilitated several meetings and workshops, including a study-tour/visit to Muchinga Province, Master Trainers (MTs) training for the capacity building of provincial teams, piloting of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) messages, and a meeting with the Permanent Secretary -Technical Services and Provincial Education Officers. The project also facilitated the capacity building of provincial SLA teams in the development of standardised literacy assessments and the development of the 2021 term two weeks 5, 10, and 13 standardised literacy assessments. These activities were held in all provinces and covered all language areas. Additionally, joint monitoring and coaching were conducted in one district of Southern Province, Mazabuka. The project's financial performance is also reported, with planned LOP funding of $48,995,538, mortgage of $16,647,454, obligations as of June 30, 2021, of $32,348,084, and average monthly expenditures of $756,332.88. The accrued expenditures as of June 30, 2021, were $348,399.48, and the pipeline was $1,986,612.31, covering the period from July 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021. The project's geographic coverage includes 935 target beneficiaries, with government and community schools as the primary focus. The project's objectives include Reading Package Intervention, Meet the Metrics, Performance Tracking System, and Increase Parent, Community, and Private Sector Engagement. The project's activity goal is to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary through Grade 3 in Zambian public and community schools. The project's stakeholders include the Ministry of General Education, Zambia, as the major counterpart organization, and VVOB, Resonance, and Kentalis as subcontractors/subawardees. The project's reporting period is from April 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021.