USAID at the CIES Annual Conference
The 2023 Comparative International Education Society Conference (CIES) is being conducted online from February 14-15, 2023 and on-site in Washington D.C., from February 18-22, 2023. This year’s theme is Improving Education for a More Equitable World. USAID colleagues from across the Center for Education and Missions are presenting and participating in the sessions addressing critical issues related to the education sector. Here are summaries of sessions led by USAID staff.
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2023
Climate awareness and action for all ages and stages: findings and recommendations from studies at the children and youth
Time: 7:45 AM to 9:15 AM EST
Location: Online: Zoom Room 106
Session Description: This panel presentation provides findings and recommendations that deepens the evidence and suggests how to more intentionally and impactfully program for the intersection of climate change and the spectrum of childhood and youth development.
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Highlighted Session: Screening children for disabilities: a review of tools, evidence, and implementation practices
Time: 7:45 to 9:15am EST
Location: On-Line: Zoom Room 105
Session Description: This panel will offer evidence and insight from four organizations and institutions working to answer key questions and challenges around screening and identifying learners with disabilities within education systems.
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Saturday, Feb 18, 2023
Providing high-quality pre-primary for all: USAID's approach to engagement in pre-primary
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Penn Quarter A
Session Description: The purpose of the pre-conference workshop is to familiarize participants with USAID’s Guidance for How to Develop High Quality Pre-Primary Programs. Participants will learn how to examine pre-primary systems and policy landscape, identify relevant stakeholders, and analyze opportunities to engage in the pre-primary sector.
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Conducting Cost Analysis for USAID: Practical Steps and Tools
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Declaration B
Session Description: This professional development workshop, designed for cost analysts, researchers, and evaluators in the international education sector, provides an overview of USAID’s guidance on cost measurement and engages participants in a guided practice of conducting cost analyses using real anonymized cost data sets from USAID activities and USAID templates for conducting cost-economy, cost-efficiency, and cost-effectiveness analyses of education interventions in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
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Strategies to Model, Practice, and Integrate SEL and Soft Skills across the Education Continuum
Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Arlington
Session Description: This in-person, activity-based workshop will be an interactive space for practitioners to learn and practice techniques that foster self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making through mindfulness, creativity, and dialogue.
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Applying implementation research in education – good practices, tools and case studies based on a Building Evidence in Education (BE2) guidance note
Time: 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Declaration A
Session Description: In this session, BE2 members (FCDO, UNHCR, UNICEF and USAID) and a representative from NORRAG will use the forthcoming BE2 guidance note as a basis for presentations, share recommendations and practice examples on how implementation research in education can be used effectively and efficiently in education projects. The session will also provide an opportunity for open discussion about successes and challenges among workshop participants.
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Sunday, Feb 19, 2023
Every child deserves books: How the Global Book Alliance gets books into children’s hands
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Penn Quarter A
Session Description: This panel seeks to address the growing problem of the global book gap. Around the world, the book supply chain is often not strong enough to adequately supply books to learners. This session will explore reasons for the gap and how the Global Book Alliance is a part of the solution.
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Comparing Costs: Methods for and Examples of Analyzing Activity Cost Data to Build Evidence
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Roosevelt
Session Description: This panel will present the approach to cost measurement developed by USAID Center for Education, showcase the results of a new cross-country cost study of basic education programs commissioned by the Center for Education, and show results of a cross-country study of costs of coaching implemented in crisis and conflict-affected settings.
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Highlighted Session: How behavioral science transforms caregiver and community engagement in children’s literacy
Time: 9:45 AM to 11:15 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Lafayette Park
Session Description: In this session panelists will discuss the various ways they are partnering with families and communities by addressing norms and behaviors to improve literacy through equitable and inclusive learning in homes and communities ranging from emergency to more stable contexts across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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How does an EdTech innovation fund support innovators to promote reading for children? What lies ahead?
Time: 2:45 AM to 4:15 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence F
Session Description: Panelists will share contrasting perspectives on how a leading EdTech innovation fund - like All Children Reading - brings together government funders, social entrepreneurs, application developers, and reading experts to the table to foster new solutions or scale those that prove to be most useful to support literacy for the most marginalized in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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Reimagining teacher professional development in the new normal: Alternative modalities and technology use
Time: 2:45 to 4:15pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), McPherson Square
Session Description: This panel will elaborate on large-scale programs across five countries on three continents that, while sharing many common challenges, have developed distinct and highly contextualized responses.
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Monday, February 20, 2023
Highlighted Session: How youth-led research surfaces gaps and influences policy in local youth workforce development systems
Time: 9:30 AM to 11 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Penn Quarter A
Session Description: In this panel presentation, we will share four specific examples where youth-led research uncovered important gaps in local and global bodies of knowledge around youth workforce development systems. We will also explore what changes to policy or practice were made as a result of the findings and what ripple effects have occurred based on these findings to date.
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Equity in assessments: How to design appropriate learning assessments to ensure greater inclusion of children with disabilities
Time: 2:45 PM to 4:15 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Penn Quarter B
Session Description: In this panel, attendees will learn why including children with disabilities in learning assessments is imperative. Attendees will also learn about how to take concrete actions towards inclusion, and how including children with disabilities in learning assessments can benefit project implementation.
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Reading in Motion: Book Supply, Book Use and Assessment of Habit of Reading
Time: 4:45 PM to 6:15pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence I
Session Description: This panel pulls from both applied and theoretical research to contribute to the literature on the provision and use of books, especially for children who may be most vulnerable, and in this way, directly addresses the CIES 2023 conference theme of improving education for a more equitable world.
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Education system strengthening across Asia: a systematic review of USAID activities and critical discussion
Time: 4:45 PM to 6:15 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence B
Session Description: The purpose of this formal group panel presentation is to discuss USAID’s investments into system strengthening across Asia over the past decade and how these efforts can focus more intentionally and coherently on education system strengthening.
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Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023
Sustainability: Conceptual Frameworks, evaluating progress and exemplars of it all in action
Time: 2:45 to 4:15pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Roosevelt
Session Description: The panel seeks to push the sustainability (and scalability) conversations forward by making space for the critical local education voices that rightfully must lead these conversations.
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Progress on Measuring SDG 4 – Improved Methodology, Community of Practice, and New Results for Policy Linking on SDG Indicator 4.1.1.
Time: 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence E
Session Description: The panel aligns with CIES 2023’s second sub-theme on environmental sustainability and progress related to SDG 4. The panel will present the activities and outcomes of the policy linking the community of practice to support its ongoing work around the world, a case example of implementation and results of policy linking workshops applied within a country context, and the revision of the technical guidance for policy linking.
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Optimizing Public-Private Partnerships, Blended Finance and Private Sector Investment in the Education Sector Amidst Turbulent Times: Initial Lessons from the USAID CATALYZE EduFinance Program
Time: 4:45 to 6:15 pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Bulfinch
Session description: Session participants will discuss lessons learned from the USAID CATALYZE EduFinance program around capital mobilization; private capital and improvement of learning and educational outcomes in DRC, across the five countries in LAC where EduFinance is implementing activities.
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Quality in USAID-Funded Education Research and Evaluation
Time: 4:45 PM to 6:15 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Roosevelt
Session Description: The presentations in this panel session will share updated guidance on principles of quality in education research and evaluation based upon international best practices and the USAID evaluation policy, provide the participants with an overview of the state of quality in USAID-funded education research and evaluations, and identify ways to address gaps in research and evaluation quality.
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Inclusive Education: Reflections from the Cambodian Context
Time: 4:45 PM to 6:15 PM
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Tiber Creek B
Session Description: In this panel presentation, discussions of ACR-Cambodia implementation will help to shed light on strategies that have helped ensure implementation of inclusive early grade literacy programming for children with and without disabilities in Cambodia.
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Improving Effectiveness and Sustainability by Localizing Evidence: Models for Testing, Scaling, and Institutionalizing What Works
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Roosevelt
Session Description: The global body of evidence on effective educational practices continues to grow and evolve. We know from global evidence that certain approaches are generally effective, but how can the design elements be best applied in a local context to maximize effectiveness, and ensure that benefits accrue equitably? This session will showcase several testing interventions to promote effective evidence-based practice.
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In Memory of Rebecca Rhodes
Time: 4:45 to 6:15 pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Burnham
Group Submission Type: Special Session
Description of Session: Rebecca Rhodes, Senior Education Specialist at USAID Center for Education following a long career at Education Development Center (EDC), was an outspoken champion for improving foundational learning for children and youth. She provided technical guidance on the design, implementation, and evaluation of reading, literacy, and numeracy programs in over 40 countries, and was instrumental in shaping USAID's focus on learning outcomes, particularly in early grade reading. Rebecca worked tirelessly to ensure that all children and youth should have equal access to education opportunities, including girls, children and youth with disabilities, LGBTI and other marginalized groups. She was a mentor, colleague, and friend who supported the professional development of countless education professionals around the globe. The passion she brought to each team with whom she worked reflected not only her technical expertise, but also her deep understanding of and love for each of the countries they represented. Rebecca’s dedication to education and energy for her work were legendary, and her impact on the global education sector is monumental. Colleagues and friends are invited to gather at this session to remember Rebecca, honor the incredible legacy she leaves behind, and share about the impact she had and continues to have on our work in international education.
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023
USAID Global Reading Network (GRN) – Global problems that require local solutions: localized approaches to addressing pandemic learning loss
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence G
Session Description: The USAID Global Reading Network (GRN) organized this panel to discuss global, regional, and local efforts to address today’s unprecedented levels of learning loss and ways to prepare for future challenges together.
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Problematising ‘Girls' Education' and what is needed to progress the debate
Time: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Douglass
Session Description: Panelists will discuss the overarching priorities and pathways that they and their organizations are taking towards improving educational opportunities for girls. However, they will also critically reflect on how and to what degree girls' education has been problematic at a discursive, conceptual, and practical level. Finally, the panelists will also reflect on how these problems and issues can be addressed.
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Turning on the LITES: Sparking Change through the Language of Instruction Transition in Education Systems (LITES) Study
Time: 9:45 to 11:15am EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Penn Quarter A
Session Description: The panel will provide an overview of the LITES study and share emergent findings from Kenya and Mozambique. Recommendations and implications for policy and practice in bi- and multilingual contexts will also be drawn.
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The Positive Youth Development (PYD) Measurement Toolkit: Revisions Based on New Learnings in Application of PYD to Program Measurement
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Declaration Level (1B), Cabinet
Session Description: This roundtable will provide highlights from the process of revising the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Measurement Toolkit, including lessons, learned related to inclusion and accessibility. It will also describe key learnings from the finished product, contributing to the knowledge base in PYD measurement.
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Starting Early, Starting Strong: Pre-primary Education for All
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Burnham
Session Description: Speakers, in this roundtable discussion, will highlight programs and research focused on increasing access to high-quality pre-primary education for the most marginalized and vulnerable learners in a number of contexts. There also will be discussion of research gaps regarding designing and implementing effective pre-primary programs in low and middle- income countries (LMICs).
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Uptake and quality implementation of social and emotional learning programs: evidence & lessons from contexts of crisis
Time: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Independence Level (5B), Independence H
Session Description: This panel seeks to address the knowledge gap in understanding social and emotional learning (SEL) program implementation and presents evidence and lessons learnt from a range of SEL programs and studies across multiple low-resource and emergency settings in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
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Social Emotional Learning and Soft Skills Measurement: Where We Are, and Where We Want to be
Time: 3:15 to 4:45pm EST
Location: Grand Hyatt Washington, Floor: Constitution Level (3B), Constitution A
Session Description: Panelists will share findings, reflections, challenges and promising practices on how to continue improving work on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Soft Skills (SS) measurement within the education sector.
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