USAID's Strategic Framework for Basic Education in Africa
This paper offers a framework for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners to support the expansion and improvement of basic education in Africa based on recent experience and lessons learned. This paper describes USAID's strategic framework and provides guidelines for designing, implementing, and evaluating basic education programs in Africa over the next decade. This framework is not a blueprint for specific interventions, nor does it provide detailed guidance on substantive elements of a basic education program such as information systems development, textbook procurement and distribution, or the assessment of classroom learning. Rather, it presents a strategic approach for supporting education reform, calling for creative interpretation by USAID Missions in partnership with country governments, stakeholders, and other donors, and articulates the precepts that should inform USAID's investment in education in Africa. It defines parameters and key issues to facilitate analysis and planning. It is a tool for designing, managing, and evaluating specific programs of USAID support.