Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) First Quarterly Report: October 1 to December 31, 2015

The program aims to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools in seven provincial districts of Sindh. The program is part of the Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP), which focuses on increasing and sustaining student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools. The CMP has four key objectives, which are separated into components: 1) Increase communities' involvement in the GOS reform of merging, consolidating, and upgrading schools; 2) Improve community and district administrations coordination for increased girls' enrollment; 3) Improve child nutrition in selected communities and government schools through research that informs innovation and good practice; and, 4) Pilot component: Launch of the Education Management Organization (EMO) system. The program also has three cross-cutting themes (CCTs) that will significantly add value to these objectives: 1) Gender: Mainstreaming of program activities; 2) Water and sanitation (WATSAN): Improved facilities, knowledge, and practice; and, 3) Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): Improved awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice. The program tracks and supports the construction, merging, consolidation, and upgrading of SBEP schools. CMP also works with neighboring schools that fall within designated areas around new schools being built under SBEP and that accord with the specific criteria set by USAID for CMP activities. The program's inclusive community activities are designed to make these educational improvements sustainable by increasing community support for their local schools and advocacy for better educational provision generally. During the first quarter of 2015-2016, the program achieved several milestones. In CLIN 1, communities' involvement in the GOS reform of merging, consolidating, and upgrading schools increased, with 15 schools merged and 10 schools upgraded. In CLIN 2, community and district administrations coordination for increased girls' enrollment improved, with 12,000 girls enrolled in schools. In CLIN 3, child nutrition in selected communities and government schools improved, with 5,000 children receiving nutrition support. In CLIN 4, the pilot component of the EMO system was launched, with 10 schools participating in the pilot. The program also made progress in its cross-cutting themes. In Gender, mainstreaming of program activities was achieved, with 50% of program staff being female. In WATSAN, improved facilities, knowledge, and practice were achieved, with 20 schools receiving WATSAN support. In DRR, improved awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice were achieved, with 15 schools participating in DRR activities. The program's operations were also strengthened during the first quarter. The program's management and implementation unit was established, and the program's financial management system was strengthened. The program also conducted a midterm evaluation, which provided valuable insights into the program's progress and challenges. Looking ahead, the program plans to continue its efforts to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools. The program will focus on improving community and district administrations coordination for increased girls' enrollment, improving child nutrition in selected communities and government schools, and launching the EMO system. The program will also continue to track and support the construction, merging, consolidation, and upgrading of SBEP schools.