Quarterly Progress Report: Expanding Participation of Persons with Disability (EPPD) Follow –on Project

The project has expanded in terms of spatial coverage and depth of activities. Initial project implementation was delayed due to negotiations with the Ministry of Education (MoE), resulting in a focus on preparatory works during the reporting quarter. Preliminary works were carried out by Handicap International (HI) in collaboration with the USAID, MoE, regional education bureaus, and zonal education offices in project sites across Ethiopia. These sites include Amhara region, Oromiya region, Somali region, Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, and Harari region. The project agreement was signed with the MoE on February 26, 2015, and the project team is introducing the project to regional, zonal, and local authorities for implementation. Key preparatory works included fulfilling legal requirements, setting up administration and project management systems, and recruiting project staff. Three project officers were recruited, each with a Master's degree in education and experience in inclusive education and children with disabilities. A project manager and existing project officers for Dire Dawa and Harar sites are also in place. A field visit was conducted to establish relationships with regional education actors, providing firsthand information on schools and woredas to be included in the project. Regional education bureaus in some regions have started selecting schools for the project, with collaboration from zone education offices and HI's project team. The field visit also helped identify potential partners, including Disability People's Organizations (DPOs), to receive micro grants and expand participation of persons with disabilities in education. The project is expected to integrate all selected schools into the project shortly. Implementation of main project activities has been delayed due to the lag in signing the project agreement. As a result, there is no noticeable report on the implementation of project activities to compare with the agreed work plan. The project team is now in the process of formally introducing the project to regional, zonal, and local authorities for implementation.