Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) Quarterly Progress Report Y-V, Q-I

The program is part of the Sindh Education Reform Program, which aims to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools. The seven districts targeted by the program are located in northern Sindh, including Bin Qasim, Gadap, Kemari, Lyari, and Lyari of Karachi City. The CMP has four key components: 1) increasing communities' involvement in the Government of Sindh's (GOS) reform campaign of merging, consolidating, and upgrading schools; 2) improving community and district governments' coordination for increasing girls' enrollment; 3) improving child nutrition in targeted communities and government schools through research that informs good practice; and 4) launching Education Management Organizations (EMOs) as a pilot component. The program also has three cross-cutting themes: 1) gender, which involves the mainstreaming of program activities; 2) water and sanitation (WATSAN), which aims to improve facilities, knowledge, and practice; and 3) disaster risk reduction (DRR), which seeks to improve awareness, knowledge, preparation, and practice. Additionally, CMP provides small grants to neighboring schools to address their needs and priorities in school improvement plans (SIPs). The program tracks and supports the construction, merging, consolidating, and upgrading of schools under the Sindh Education Reform Program. As of the current reporting period, 106 new schools have been constructed, and CMP is working with 303 non-construction schools. The program's focus on community mobilization and community-government coordination is expected to lead to improved education outcomes, particularly for girls. The quarterly progress report highlights the progress made by the program in the first quarter of Year V, from October 1 to December 31, 2017. The report provides an overview of the program's activities, achievements, and challenges during this period. The report also includes annexes that provide additional information on the program's activities, including success stories, indicator-based summary reports, and financial reports. The program's achievements during the first quarter of Year V include the completion of 20 school construction projects, the establishment of 10 School Management Committees (SMCs), and the provision of training to 150 teachers on child nutrition and health. The program also conducted a baseline survey to assess the current status of education in the targeted districts and developed a plan to improve the nutritional status of children in these districts. The program's challenges during the first quarter of Year V include delays in the construction of schools, difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, and challenges in accessing remote areas. The program is working to address these challenges through improved planning, coordination, and communication with stakeholders. Overall, the Sindh Community Mobilization Program is making significant progress in improving education outcomes in Sindh Province. The program's focus on community mobilization, community-government coordination, and child nutrition is expected to lead to improved education outcomes, particularly for girls.