Performance evaluation of the education support to orphans and vulnerable children in Kwa-ZuluNatal Province program

The EOVC Project was implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI Institute) in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZNDOE), MiET Africa and JET Education Services (JET) from 30 April 2009 to 31 August 2011 and had an assigned budget of US$2,399,016, including cost share of US$631,007.Based on the USAID Education Strategy and the KZNDOEs Inclusive Education policy priorities, the EOVC Project was implemented in Sisonke district of KZN, South Africa to support the improvement of OVCs access, performance and retention within the system of education. RTI Internationals proposal was to address the gap between actually assessed OVC needs and the currently available supply of OVC services to improve learner attainment and retention. The project began with a very comprehensive baseline study which included a household survey and learner testing. From this documentation, a design workshop was held to design interventions. Schools were given a menu of these interventions and conditional grants to address their specific needs. When the USAID evaluation policy was launched, the USAID/Southern Africa eliminated the endline comparative survey and commissioned this external evaluation.