Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) Year III Quarterly Report II: January 1– March 31, 2016

The program is a cornerstone of the Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP), which aims to increase and sustain student enrollment in primary, middle, and higher secondary schools in the seven districts of Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Kashmore, Larkana, Qamber Shahdadkot, Sukkur, and the five towns of Bin Qasim, Gadap, Kemari, Lyari, and Orangi of Karachi City in Sindh Province. The CMP has four key objectives, which are separated into four components. The first component focuses on increasing communities' involvement in the GOS reform of merging, consolidating, and upgrading schools. This involves supporting the GOS in its efforts to improve the quality of education and increase access to education for all children, particularly girls. The second component aims to improve community and district administrations' coordination for increased girls' enrollment. This involves working with local communities, schools, and government officials to identify and address the barriers to girls' education and to develop strategies to increase girls' enrollment in schools. The third component of the CMP focuses on improving child nutrition in selected communities and government schools through research that informs innovation and good practice. This involves conducting research on the nutritional status of children in the target areas and developing and implementing interventions to improve child nutrition. The fourth component of the CMP is a pilot component that focuses on the launch of Education Management Organizations (EMOs). EMOs are organizations that work with schools to improve the quality of education and increase access to education for all children. The CMP is implemented in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the GOS, local communities, schools, and other organizations. The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by IRD. The program has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including increasing girls' enrollment in schools and improving child nutrition in the target areas. In the third quarter of 2016, the CMP achieved several key milestones. The program continued to support the GOS in its efforts to improve the quality of education and increase access to education for all children. The program also made significant progress in improving child nutrition in the target areas, with a focus on research that informs innovation and good practice. The pilot component of the CMP, which focuses on the launch of EMOs, also made significant progress, with several EMOs established in the target areas. The CMP has also faced several challenges, including resistance from some community members to the program's efforts to improve girls' education and child nutrition. However, the program has been able to overcome these challenges through its strong partnerships with local communities, schools, and government officials. The program has also been able to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, including the need to respond to natural disasters and other crises. Overall, the CMP is a critical component of the SBEP and has made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The program's strong partnerships with local communities, schools, and government officials have been key to its success, and the program's ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities has allowed it to respond effectively to the needs of the target communities.