USAID Education Strategy Overview

Agency for International Development (USAID) is responsible for advancing Agency education goals. The Office provides technical leadership and assistance, refines and carries out an evaluation and research agenda, and builds Agency expertise and tools. E3/ED supports implementation of USAID's Education Strategy, alignment of country programs with the new strategy, and helps the Agency make strategic education investments with USAID's $1 billion in education funding. The Office works with technical teams in regional bureaus to support missions, pursues technical innovation and research, and is responsible for global mechanisms, professional development, and collaborating with other international organizations. Regional bureaus, including Africa, Asia and Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Eurasia, play a lead role in regional and country-specific issues involving USG policy and the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies and programs. The Office of Education is led by Director Natasha de Marcken, who provides technical leadership to the implementation of USAID's Education Strategy. Deputy Director Katie Donohoe assists in guiding USAID Washington and field staff in the implementation of the education strategy. Education Advisor John Comings works across all three E3/ED goals, coordinates research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts, and works with partner organizations. Administrative Assistant Georgia Landron supports the Office of Education. The Office of Education has several teams, including Basic Education, Higher Education, Workforce, and Training, and Education Policy and Planning. Senior Education Advisor Christine Beggs focuses on Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, and Knowledge Management for the education sector at USAID. Chief of Engagement Alexis Bonnell plans to focus on "getting people excited about education" and supporting a robust education community within USAID and increasing global engagement. The Office of Education supports various initiatives, including the All Children Reading Grand Challenge, Mobiles for Education Alliance, and the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) in Haiti. The Office also conducts research and evaluation, including assessing early grade reading skills in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Office works with various partners, including AGE Africa, the Academy for Educational Development, and World Education.