USAID's Advancing Youth Project Year 5 Quarter 3 Quarterly Report

The project focuses on increasing institutional capacity, access to relevant basic education and life, work, and technical skills training, and promoting entrepreneurship opportunities for targeted youth. Institutional capacity building is a key component of the project, with the Ministry of Education (MoE) playing a central role. The MoE has been working to develop a comprehensive Alternative Basic Education (ABE) curriculum, which is being implemented in selected local institutions. The project has also supported the development of Program Quality Standards (PQS) for ABE, which will help to ensure consistency and quality in the delivery of ABE instruction. The project has made significant progress in increasing access to education and skills training for out-of-school youth. A total of 25 ABE sites have been participating in the Progress Report Card process, and data has been collected from these sites to assess their progress. The project has also established county alliances to support the implementation of ABE activities at the local level. In addition to education and skills training, the project has also focused on promoting entrepreneurship opportunities for targeted youth. The project has supported the development of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in several counties, which will provide youth with access to financial services and support their entrepreneurial endeavors. The project has also received support from high-level officials, including a visit from First Lady Michelle Obama as part of her Let Girls Learn Initiative. The First Lady participated in a roundtable event with young ladies, including 8 USAID Advancing Youth learners, to discuss the challenges facing girls' education in Liberia. The project has also made progress in developing a chapter on Alternative Education to be included in the revised Education Sector Plan (ESP). This will be the first time Alternative Basic Education will have been included in an ESP, highlighting the progress made by the Division in streamlining a number of issues. At the county level, the Advancing Youth Team has completed reviews with the remaining county offices on progress on their workplans. While limited resources have been cited as a challenge, some innovation has been seen, with Nimba and Lofa counties appointing district level ABE Supervisors to re-prioritize agreed activities. Participation by Education Officers in community transition meetings has also kick-started new interest and understanding of the importance of ABE activities. The project has also supported the implementation of activities by sub-grantees, including the Liberian Youth Network (LIYONET), the National Adult Education Association of Liberia (NAEAL), and the Liberia Initiative for Development Services (LIDS). These sub-grantees have started classes, completed recruitment and enrollment of learners, and rolled out Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in several counties. Overall, the Advancing Youth Project in Liberia has made significant progress in improving access to education and skills training for out-of-school youth, promoting entrepreneurship opportunities, and strengthening institutional capacity. The project's extension until June 15, 2017, will allow for the continuation of selected activities, including those targeted under the Learning Agenda, and will enable a closer monitoring of Alternative Basic Education sites that propose to continue in the new 2016/17 academic year.