Quarterly Progress Report – Year – V, Quarter – I1 (Sindh Community Mobilization Program)

The program aims to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools in seven districts in northern Sindh, including Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Larkana, Qamber Shahdadkot, Sukkur, and the five towns of Bin Qasim, Gadap, Kemari, Lyari, and Orangi of Karachi City. The program is comprised of four key components: increasing communities' involvement in the Government of Sindh's (GOS) reform campaign of merging, consolidating, and upgrading schools; improving community and district administration coordination for increasing girls' enrollment; improving child nutrition in selected communities and government schools through research that informs innovation and good practices; and the launch of Education Management Organizations (EMOs). Additionally, CMP has three cross-cutting themes: gender, mainstreaming of program activities; water and sanitation (WATSAN), improving facilities, knowledge, and practice; and disaster risk reduction (DRR), improving awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice. CMP's objectives are aligned with the broader Sindh Education Reform Program agenda, which aims to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools. The program is focused on seven districts in northern Sindh, where it is working to improve education outcomes through a range of interventions. One of the key components of CMP is the launch of Education Management Organizations (EMOs), which are pilot organizations that will provide management and administrative support to schools. The program is also providing small grants to neighboring schools to address needs that they identify and prioritize in school improvement plans. In terms of progress, CMP has made significant strides in increasing communities' involvement in GOS's reform campaign, improving community and district administration coordination, and improving child nutrition in selected communities and government schools. The program has also made progress in improving water and sanitation facilities, knowledge, and practice, as well as disaster risk reduction awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice. Overall, CMP is a critical component of the Sindh Education Reform Program, working to improve education outcomes in seven districts in northern Sindh. The program's focus on community mobilization, education management, and child nutrition has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of students and communities in the region. CMP's progress is being monitored and evaluated through a range of indicators, including student enrollment, attendance, and academic performance. The program is also being supported by a range of stakeholders, including the GOS, USAID, and local communities. In the next quarter, CMP plans to continue its efforts to increase communities' involvement in GOS's reform campaign, improve community and district administration coordination, and improve child nutrition in selected communities and government schools. The program will also continue to work on improving water and sanitation facilities, knowledge, and practice, as well as disaster risk reduction awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice.