UND-SHARE Y3/Q1 Quarterly Report

The initiative is funded through USAID's Higher Education Leadership, Innovation, and Exchange (HELIX) Annual Program Statement under the USAID New Partnership Initiative (NPI). The primary goal of SHARE is to improve learning outcomes through research and collaboration with higher education and research institutions based in USAID geographic regions around the world. SHARE's core-funded studies and workstreams are a key component of the initiative. These studies focus on various research areas, including language of instruction transitions, socio-emotional learning, and teacher well-being. The studies are conducted in multiple countries, including Ghana, Uganda, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The research aims to identify effective approaches to improving learning outcomes and to develop evidence-based solutions to address education challenges. UND-SHARE learning events are also an essential part of the initiative. These events provide opportunities for the UND team to train on fundamental processes related to SHARE and to facilitate learning. The events focus on aspects such as partnerships, buy-ins, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and gender and inclusion. The team also reviews the Y3 work plan and process documents to ensure that the initiative is on track to meet its goals. SHARE's monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system is a critical component of the initiative. The MEL Director presented SHARE's new Theory of Change and Results Framework diagrams, which are now reflected within the updated Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP). The team also reviewed the performance indicators that UND needs to report on and discussed other areas of learning to track, such as collaboration across ecosystem actors. The initiative also focuses on capacity exchange and building local capacity for research and development. The Capacity Exchange/CBLD-9 plan aims to strengthen the capacity of local partners to conduct research and implement evidence-based solutions. The plan includes activities such as training, mentorship, and technical assistance to support the development of local research capacity. SHARE's dissemination strategy is also an essential part of the initiative. The team reviewed its research dissemination strategy, reviewing what products have already been generated, providing an update on the partner dissemination toolkit that is being developed, and preparing for dissemination of SHARE's core studies and various work streams that will be a priority for Y3. The initiative has made significant progress in its first quarter, with continued advances in SHARE's core-funded multi-country studies. The studies have provided valuable insights into effective approaches to improving learning outcomes, and the research has been disseminated to stakeholders through various channels. The initiative has also made progress in its capacity exchange and building local capacity for research and development, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of local partners to conduct research and implement evidence-based solutions. The SHARE initiative has also made progress in its monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system, with the development of a new Theory of Change and Results Framework diagrams. The team has also reviewed the performance indicators that UND needs to report on and discussed other areas of learning to track, such as collaboration across ecosystem actors. Overall, the SHARE initiative has made significant progress in its first quarter, with a focus on advancing global education learning priorities and improving learning outcomes through research and collaboration with higher education and research institutions based in USAID geographic regions around the world.