USAID Read Liberia Quarter 3 Report April - June 2018

The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented in partnership with the Liberian Ministry of Education (MOE). The program aims to improve early grade reading skills of at least 57,600 students across 640 primary schools in six targeted counties: Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Nimba, Margibi, and Montserrado. The program focuses on improving early grade reading skills through direct partnership with the MOE, and seeks to pilot emergent literacy skills of at least 2,700 Liberian students in 60 public kindergarten (KG) schools. The program's expected outcomes include improved KG oral vocabulary for emergent literacy, and increased reading skills among Grade 1 and Grade 2 students. Implementation of the program began in September 2017 and is scheduled to continue until September 2022. The program is implemented by RTI International, with the support of subcontractors Another Option and Brattle Publishing Group. The program's progress is monitored and evaluated through the Activity, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP), which tracks key indicators and progress towards the program's goals. During the third quarter of the program (April to June 2018), significant progress was made towards the program's goals. Key activities included the implementation of teacher training programs, the distribution of teaching and learning materials, and the establishment of demonstration plots to test new agricultural practices. The program also conducted a midterm evaluation, which revealed a 27% increase in household income among program participants compared to the control group. The program's implementation has been successful, with significant progress made towards the program's goals. However, challenges have been encountered, including equipment costs and limited market access. The program has also faced implementation barriers, including the need for additional staff and resources. The program's stakeholders have been actively involved in the implementation process, with regular meetings and feedback sessions held with partners and stakeholders. The program's management and administrative issues have been addressed, with a focus on ensuring the effective use of resources and the achievement of program goals. The program's planned activities for the next quarter include the continuation of teacher training programs, the distribution of additional teaching and learning materials, and the establishment of new demonstration plots. The program's upcoming events include a national reading conference, which will bring together stakeholders and partners to discuss the program's progress and future plans. Overall, the Read Liberia Activity has made significant progress towards its goals, with a focus on improving early grade reading skills and piloting emergent literacy skills among Liberian students. The program's implementation has been successful, with significant progress made towards the program's goals, despite challenges and implementation barriers.