USAID READ Community Outreach (READ CO) Quarterly Report (Q2 Y1)

The project's first quarter was marked by challenges, including the need to redesign the project to align with Ministry of Education (MoE) and USAID priorities. In March, USAID formally requested that Save the Children, the project's implementing partner, revise the project description, implementation plan, and budget. The project management team actively recruited new staff during the quarter, with new staff members set to start work in the coming quarter. However, the project plans to modify some staff positions and add short-term technical assistance to better meet the long-term needs of the proposed redesign. The redesign will require more significant capacity building support on a national level, whereas the original project design was primarily regional in focus. The project team is enlisting the help of SCUS program support staff from its Washington, DC office to coordinate the redesign effort and ensure proper alignment of the required documents with the existing Request for Application (RFA). The program specialist is due to arrive in mid-April. The project team expects to complete the redesign process and submit the revised implementation plan and budget to USAID by the end of the quarter. The READ CO Project is pleased to report that management and operations needs were well supported during the quarter. The hiring of the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) prior to the Chief of Party's (COP) arrival helped to ensure that recruitment, office setup, and other startup tasks could begin soon after the signing of the award. Save the Children/Ethiopia has dedicated support staff in education, finance, and awards management who have provided programmatic and systems support to the project. The project began planning for implementation with the organization of a launch workshop in February 2015. However, due to emerging MoE and USAID priorities, USAID asked the project to limit the proposed launch activity to a series of planning exercises with the four NGO implementing partners that READ CO had already identified. The project team is now focused on redesigning the project to meet the changing priorities and requirements of the MoE and USAID. The project team is working closely with the MoE and USAID to ensure that the redesign process is aligned with their priorities and requirements. The project team expects to complete the redesign process and submit the revised implementation plan and budget to USAID by the end of the quarter. The project's ultimate goal remains to improve reading skills among Ethiopian children, and the redesign process is aimed at ensuring that the project is better positioned to achieve this goal. The READ CO Project is committed to working closely with the MoE and USAID to ensure that the project is aligned with their priorities and requirements. The project team is confident that the redesign process will result in a project that is better positioned to achieve its goals and make a meaningful impact in the lives of Ethiopian children.