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The purpose of this contract was to provide USAID with short-term advisory and technical assistance in the areas of education, training, and human resources development. DevTech performed the following work under delivery orders:
- DevTech performed an institutional evaluation of the ability of the Catholic University of Bolivia to sustain two master's degree programs -- one in public policy, one in auditing -- after the end of USAID assistance. In particular, the evaluation determined whether the contractor providing assistance in establishing the programs was successful in instilling in the University itself the ability to continue. The evaluation encompassed determining the value of the programs relative to the country's needs; assessing the status of the contractor's assistance relative to its contractual obligations; and assessing the University's administrative and technical capability in relation to the programs. A copy of the evaluation is available at : Catholic University of Bolivia: Institutional Assessment.
- A two-person DevTech team was tasked with conducting a formative midterm evaluation of the Primary Education Project in the Dominican Republic to determine the effectiveness of the overall project design and EDUCA's (Action for Basic Education) capabilities and to assist the Mission in making further decisions regarding the project. A Spanish version of the report can be accessed at: Evaluación del Proyecto Educa Iniciativa Privada en la Educación Primaria (PIPE).
- DevTech fielded a three-person team of technical experts to assist USAID/Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Education in designing a series of activities to support increased participation of girls in quality education in targeted areas (USAID/Cairo's Strategic Objective 2). The team was tasked with designing technical interventions in such areas as in-service training, training of trainers, distance education, literacy programs for young women, and NGO strengthening in support of girls' education at the community level -- for example, applying the lessons learned with the UNICEF Community School Model's pilot program and adapting and expanding them to reach under-served areas. The team assisted in the design of a monitoring plan to measure progress towards project objectives.
- DevTech fielded a two-person team to evaluate the personnel management systems of the Ministry of Education of Ghana. The work involved analyzing the personnel management systems, including the organizational structure, legal framework, and decision-making process for recruiting, hiring, posting, promoting, paying, and firing teaching and non-teaching personnel; developing a plan for improving and streamlining these systems; developing a workplan for personnel redeployment in selected districts; and identifying critical policy and organizational/management issues required for implementation of an improved personnel management system. The report can be downloaded at: Short-Term Technical Assistance to Improve MOE Personnel Management Systems.
- For the Ministry of Education of Guatemala, DevTech developed a negotiated proposal for restructuring the Ministry to ensure that bilingual/inter-cultural education is an integral part of the national education program, as mandated by the Peace Accords. The proposal was well-received by officials at all levels of the Ministry and will be implemented over the next several years.
- DevTech prepared and delivered four separate presentations at a national education conference in Honduras and met with education leaders in both the public and private sectors. The conference was oriented to the Alternative Basic Education Delivery System (EDUCATODOS). The program had been mandated to encourage students in the 7th and 9th grades to continue their education to higher levels and to equip them with skills needed to join the workforce. The conference and meetings focused on workforce development, curriculum reform, educational technology, and the development of a new national education policy for the 21st century.
- DevTech performed a midterm evaluation of the US$20 million Girls' Attainment in Basic Literacy and Education (GABLE) project in Malawi. The team was charged with examination of policy reform implementation under the non-project assistance component and technical support under the project component so that present reforms and technical assistance could be made more effective during the second half of the program. DevTech was also assigned to point out previously overlooked areas that could contribute to the education of girls in Malawi.
- DevTech performed a midterm evaluation of the Nicaragua Basic Education Project (BASE). The three-person team evaluated the design, management, and implementation of the project under three major components: institutional strengthening, teacher training, and curriculum and instructional materials design. Among the recommendations made for the second phase of BASE were a move towards more student-oriented curricula and instructional methods and increased community participation in support of ongoing decentralization. Click here for the evaluation report: Mid-Term Evaluation of Nicaragua Basic Education Project BASE.
- A five-person DevTech team analyzed the general status of basic education in South Africa, identifying the key policy constraints, outlining donor activities and bilateral arrangement opportunities, and making conclusions regarding this project and recommendations to be considered in future USAID funding strategies. For the final report, click: Basic Education Sector Assessment. A five-person DevTech team performed the following tasks related to the Support to Tertiary Education Project (STEP), South Africa: summarized project obligations and expenditures to date; commented on the appropriations and cost-effectiveness of the funding mix; reviewed the selection process and performance on nongovernmental organization (NGO) grantees; and assessed the quality and effectiveness of the technical assistance through the Tertiary Education Support Program. A four-person DevTech team conducted a midterm evaluation of the strategies implemented in managing the South Africa Basic Education Reconstruction (SABER) project, assessing the effectiveness, summarizing the achievements, and making recommendations for ways to improve the quality of education in various sub-sectors. The SABER report is available here: South Africa Basic Education Reconstruction (SABER) Project.
- A two-person DevTech team conducted a formative evaluation to determine the Support to Uganda Primary Education Reform (SUPER) program's effectiveness in achieving its goals of improving students' mastery of literacy, numeracy, and other basic skills; improving school administration; and reducing inequities in persistence among different groups of children. The final report is: Support for Ugandan Primary Education Reform: A Formative Evaluation.
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