USAID Let's Read Project: Year 1 Annual Work Plan

The project aims to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary (kindergarten) through to Grades 3 in Zambian public and community schools. The project is managed by the Education Development Center (EDC) in partnership with VVOB, Resonance, and Kentalis. The project is designed to achieve two major results: IR 1 Public and Community Schools Performance Improved and IR 2 Ministry of Education Systems Strengthened. To achieve these results, the project will focus on four key objectives: Objective 1: Reading Package Intervention, Objective 2: Meet the Metrics, Objective 3: Performance Tracking System, and Objective 4: Increase Parent, Community, and Private Sector Engagement. The project will implement various activities to support these objectives, including the development of a reading package intervention, performance tracking system, and parent, community, and private sector engagement. The project will also provide professional development for teachers to support reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools. The project operations and start-up section of the work plan includes staffing recruitment, selection, orientation, office space, procurement, and communications plans. The project will develop a staff orientation package that includes self-study, scheduled interviews, and staff meetings to build a common understanding of the project's goals, approaches, and performance requirements. The project will also develop a performance tracking system to monitor progress towards the project's objectives. This system will include indicators such as reading outcomes, teacher professional development, and parent, community, and private sector engagement. The project will use data from the performance tracking system to inform decision-making and adjust strategies as needed. The project will also engage with the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) to support the implementation of the Zambia MoGE PLP program. This will involve providing technical orientations to project staff and partners on key components of an effective reading program, including pedagogical competence, teaching and learning materials, and data for improved performance. The project will be implemented over a period of five years, from January 7, 2019, to January 6, 2024. The work plan is organized into three sections: Project Operations and Start Up, Project Activities by IR and Objectives, and Monitoring and Evaluation. The project will also develop an Activity Learning Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which will guide the project's monitoring and evaluation activities. The project will have a significant impact on the education sector in Zambia, particularly in the areas of reading outcomes, teacher professional development, and parent, community, and private sector engagement. The project's success will depend on the effective implementation of the project's activities and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The project will be implemented in partnership with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of General Education, VVOB, Resonance, and Kentalis. The project will also engage with local communities and private sector partners to support the implementation of the project's activities. The project's budget for Year 1 is outlined in Annex C: Detailed Cost for Year 1 Workplan. The project will also develop a list of deliverables for Year 1, which will be outlined in Annex E: List of Deliverables for Year 1.