FRONTLINES www.USAID.gov SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

TWO SUDANS THE SEPARATION OF AFRICA’S LARGEST COUNTRY AND THE ROAD AHEAD > A GLOBAL EDUCATION FOOTPRINT TAKES SHAPE > EGYPT SHAKES UP THE CLASSROOM > Q&A WITH REP. NITA LOWEY

Sudan & South Sudan/Education Edition INSIGHTS From Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah

A few weeks before South Sudan’s skills, making it more likely they will day of independence, I had the oppor- eventually drop out. tunity to visit the region and meet a These failures leave developing na- HE WORLD welcomed its group of children who were learning tions without the human and social newest nation when South English and math in a USAID-supported capital needed to advance and sustain Sudan officially gained its primary education program. The stu- development. They deprive too many inde­pendence on July 9. After dents ranged in ages from 4 to 14. individuals of the skills they need as Tover two decades of war and suffering, Many of the older students have lived productive members of their commu- a peace agree­ment between north and through a period of displacement, vio- nities and providers for their families. south Sudan paved the way for South lence, and trauma. This was likely the Across the world, our education pro- Sudanese to fulfill their dreams of self- very first opportunity they had to re- grams emphasize a special focus on determination. The United States played ceive even a basic education. disadvantaged groups such as women an important role in helping make this When you see American taxpayer and girls and those living in remote moment possible, and today we remain money being effectively used to provide areas. In rural Liberia—where less than committed to support- education in a way that 2 percent of people have electricity— ing the people and Gov- improves the lives of new solar-powered classrooms enable ernment of South Sudan Our goal is these children and con- teens and mothers to study at night build a peaceful, prosperous to improve tributes to the peaceful after finishing a day’s work. nation. equitable access founding of a new na- In Afghanistan, we have assisted the Also on July 9, we opened tion, you get a genuine government to dramatically expand the a full USAID mission in to quality sense for the signifi- number of children enrolled in primary Juba, the capital of South education, cance and long-term school—from 750,000 boys enrolled Sudan, to strengthen the particularly in im­pact of this work. under the Taliban in 2001 to approxi- progress we have made crisis and conflict Our goal is to im- mately 7 million children today, nearly across the region in part- prove equitable access 35 percent of whom are girls. nership with local com- environments. to quality education, There is no more powerful tool for munities. We have helped The challenge particularly in crisis creating healthy, prosperous, stable so- provide a million people is steep. and conflict environ- cieties than education. We need to con- access to clean water, and ments. The challenge tinue to seek evidence-based approaches financed the construction of roads, is steep. An estimated 70 million chil- and innovative solutions to providing bridges, and health clinics. Perhaps dren—more than half of whom are engaging learning opportunities for the most important, we have helped ex- girls—are not enrolled in school. world’s most vulnerable children. ■ pand school enrollment rates from 25 Many of those children who do at- percent to 68 percent. tend school are not achieving basic www.usaid.gov/frontlines “I realize that there are among us those who are weary of sustaining this continual INSIDE THIS ISSUE effort to help other nations. But I would ask them to look at a map and recognize that many of those whom we help live on the ‘front lines’ of the long twilight struggle for freedom—that others are new nations posed between order and chaos— and the rest are older nations now undergoing a turbulent transition of new Two Sudans: expectations. Our efforts to help them help The Separation of themselves, to demonstrate and to Africa’s Largest strengthen the vitality of free institutions, 2 Country and are small in cost compared to our military Early Education outlays for the defense of freedom.” the Road Ahead Sets Nicaraguans —John F. Kennedy, Special Message to the on Path to Success 10 Reinforcing a Tenuous Peace as 32 Congress on Foreign Aid, March 13, 1962 South Sudan Rises to Statehood FrontLines is published by the Bureau 28 Message from USAID’s for Legislative and Public Affairs 14 Darfur’s Window of Opportunity Education Chief U.S. Agency for International Development 30 USAID’s Global Education David Barth, Acting Deputy Assistant 16 South Sudan’s Greenbelt Footprint Takes Shape Administrator for Public Affairs 18 Q&A with Bill Hammink, FRONTLINES STAFF: Former Mission Director 36 Egypt Shakes Up the Classroom Kelly Ramundo, Managing Editor to Sudan 38 Mobile Phones, eBooks Claire McIntyre, Production Editor 20 Baby Steps in One of the Turning the Page on Education Angela Rucker, Writer/Editor Patricia Adams, Photo Librarian Worst Places for Mothers 40 Higher Education Partnerships Marquita Wise-Williams, Human Resources Coordinator and Employee Liaison 22 Centuries-Old Wildlife Migration 42 Q&A with Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) Alexandra Wise, Intern Untouched by Decades of War Taylor Nelson, Intern 44 Talent Broker CORRESPONDENTS: 46 In a New Nation, AFGE – Willy Hardin; AFR – Susan Quinn, See the online version of FrontLines for Building the Education Basics Diana Harper; AFSA – Francisco Zamora; links to additional reading and videos. ASIA – Jan Cartwright; CFBCI – Heather MacLean; DCHA – Rebecca Gustafson, Sven Lindholm; EGAT – Jane Stanley, E&E – Elisa Walton, Ranta Russell; Michael www.usaid.gov/frontlines Hathaway; OCRD – Gloria Blackwell; GC – Harmony Wade; ODP – Todd Kirkbride; GH – Sandra Jordan, Chris Thomas, Jessica DiRocco; IG – Debra Scott; LAC – Maxine Hillary; LPA – Barbara Bennett; M – Lauren Gabler; ME – Hope Bryer, Jan Cartwright; Cover: National Anthem singers at the SEC – Dwayne Moore, Lorraine Meehan Dr. John Garang memorial site in Juba, South Submit notices, story ideas, feedback to Sudan, celebrate Independence Day, July 9. FrontLines articles, and requests to be added to the mailing list to [email protected]. Go to www.usaid.gov/frontlines Photo by Jenn Warren

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

TWO SUDANS THE SEPARATION OF AFRICA’S LARGEST COUNTRY AND THE ROAD AHEAD By Angela Stephens

South Sudan Independence Day celebrations, July 9

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TWO SUDANS THE SEPARATION OF AFRICA’S LARGEST COUNTRY AND THE ROAD AHEAD By Angela Stephens N JULY 9, after decades of more somber in Khartoum, where The division of Sudan has brought civil war and the loss of the feeling among many was uncer- changes for the U.S. Government as more than 2 million lives, tainty about their suddenly smaller well. USAID’s Sudan mission, which South Sudan seceded from country’s economic future, since was reopened in 2006—14 years OSudan and became the world’s new- most of Sudan’s oil—the lifeblood of after USAID’s international staff had est nation—a peaceful and demo- the economy—is in the south. evacuated Juba and four Sudanese cratic breaking-in-two of what was Because of the severe human toll USAID staff were executed by Suda- Africa’s largest country. and destabilizing consequences of nese military intelligence—became The event brought joy to the streets conflict in Sudan—not only the the USAID mission in South Sudan and dusty roads of South Sudan, north-south conflict, but also the on July 9, and the U.S. Consulate where nearly 99 percent of citizens tragedy of the Darfur conflict that became a U.S. Embassy. who voted in the USAID-assisted ref- began in 2003—Sudan has for years Despite the pride and exhilaration erendum on self-determination chose been the U.S. Government’s highest Southern Sudanese felt in achieving

secession last January. The mood was priority in Africa. independence, the challenges their Warren Jenn Photo by

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new nation faces are daunting. A land- reconstruction, but in South Sudan, South Sudan also faces the chal- locked country with oil resources but you’re really talking about construc- lenge of integrating into productive without its own pipeline to transport tion. They had very little to start with,” employment hundreds of thousands of and export the oil, South Sudan is still said William Hammink, who was recent returnees who have come back negotiating with Sudan on revenue USAID mission director in Sudan from to their ancestral home areas after sharing or fees Juba would pay Khar- 2009 to 2011. years or decades living in northern toum to enable export of oil through “In 2005, Juba was still a garrison Sudan. Since October 30, 2010, more Port Sudan. town that armed forces of the north than 370,000 Sudanese have returned controlled. All the various infrastruc- to South Sudan and the Three Areas— SOUTH SUDAN’S ECONOMY is ture, such as sewers, electricity, roads— the Abyei Area and Southern Kordo- exceedingly oil-dependent. As the dated to the British colonial days of the fan and Blue Nile states. country approached independence, 98 1950s. So not only is South Sudan When the CPA was signed in 2005, percent of Government of South Sudan starting from scratch in terms of gov- it created the autonomous sub-national revenues came from oil, as part of reve- ernment institutions, but also its infra- Government of Southern Sudan—an nue sharing agreed to in the 2005 structure,” he said. institution on paper only—with no Comprehensive Peace Agreement South Sudan also faces a severe chal- buildings, equipment, or personnel. (CPA) that ended the north-south civil lenge in terms of human capital— USAID helped transform the concept war. This almost total reliance on a sin- shortfalls in the number of educated of this institution into a functioning gle revenue stream makes the country and trained workers needed to run the government, with ministries, transpar- vulnerable to economic shock from government of the new country, where ent budget systems, a tax administra- fluctuations in the price of oil or any the literacy rate is only 27 percent, one tion, and a central bank. disruptions in production. of the world’s lowest. The rate is even Additionally, the severe lack of infra- lower among women, so USAID is pro- SINCE 2005, USAID’s strategy for structure in South Sudan has hindered viding scholarships to help girls enroll assisting Sudan had been based on economic growth. and remain in school, and training implementing the CPA, which expired “In most developing countries that opportunities for women, including with South Sudan’s independence. come out of conflict, you talk about teacher training. In June, USAID released a two-year transition strategy for the new nation with the overall goal of making it more stable in the post- CPA period. “In developing our strategy for assistance to South Sudan during this critical transitional period, we built on four key objectives—miti- gating the whole range of potential conflicts in South Sudan; building a sound system of governance for the new state; ensuring the provi- sion and further development of basic services; and helping South

Photo by Jenn Warren Jenn Photo by Sudan expand its opportunities in agriculture,” said Jim Parys, super- The South Sudanese National Guard greets VIPs on July 9 as they arrive in Juba for visory program officer, who led the celebrations of independence for the new Republic of South Sudan. team that drafted the strategy.

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One of the goals of agriculture development is to reduce the vulnera- bility that comes with overreliance on oil by diversifying the economy and tapping one of South Sudan’s most valuable resources—fertile land (see article on page 16). While the new strategy guides how U.S. Government funding will be invested to help stabilize South Sudan, USAID is also providing leadership in the international community by secur- ing commitments from the Republic of South Sudan in four key pillar areas critical to the new nation’s long-term viability—creating an environment that enables promotion of private For larger image, go to www.usaid.gov/frontlines. investment; bolstering the agriculture sector to become the engine for South SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN FACTS Sudan’s economic growth; developing Sudan South Sudan Population: 30.9 million (Source: 2008 Population: 8.26 million (Source: 2008 a common platform and institutional Sudan Population and Housing Sudan Population and Housing structure for the international com- Census) Census) munity to invest in South Sudan; and Land size: 1,861,484 square Land size: 644,329 square building the human capital necessary kilometers – 16th largest kilometers – 42nd in the world largest in the world to govern and deliver services. Literacy: 77.5 percent of adults Literacy: 27 percent of adults “South Sudan is unusual among our (Source: UNICEF) (Source: South Sudan Center development partners,” explained Dep- for Census, Statistics, and Evaluation) uty Assistant Administrator for Africa Raja Jandhyala. “In the short term, it will be financially vulnerable as it puts in place macroeconomic systems and resources, as the foreign assistance fund- help the Republic of South Sudan, as reaches agreement with the Government ing levels for the United States and other well as the Government of Sudan, to of Sudan on sharing of oil revenues or major donors are under significant pres- make sound choices in the public inter- user fee arrangements. In the medium- sure. Considering this new economic est with the resources they have, and to to-long term, it will have national reve- dynamic, our role is to use our leader- help facilitate investments from others, nue from oil that exceeds development ship, political capital, and experience to particularly the private sector.” ■

ne of USAID’s key efforts to help South Sudan engage with Bank, as well as private sector organizations including Citibank Othe international community, including the private sector, and the Corporate Council on Africa. on its development priorities is an International Engagement The conference will allow the new nation to present its Conference to be held in Washington later this year. development vision to the international community and to The U.S. Government will sponsor the conference with the present its key policy commitments over the next two years African Union and Turkey, and with the participation of bilateral while reaching consensus with the international community on a and multilateral government partners, including the European framework for coordination of development initiatives. Union, United Nations, African Development Bank, and World

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 5 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN USAID ACCOMPLISHMENTS participation, and domestic and interna- IN SOUTH SUDAN 2005–11 tional observation) for the April 2010 s part of its efforts to strengthen peace in Sudan and support the nationwide elections, Sudan’s first mul- A2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which the United tiparty contests since 1986 and a States helped negotiate to end the north-south war, the U.S. Government requirement of the CPA. provided nearly $10 billion in humanitarian and development assistance to Sudan during the CPA, from 2005-2011. Major achievements during this Referendum period include: USAID provided comprehensive assis- tance for the January 2011 Referendum Government of Southern Sudan of Southern Sudan to draft the Interim on Self-Determination for Southern USAID provided technical and func- Constitution of Southern Sudan (which Sudan, through which the southern tional support that helped transform was in place 2005-2011), and provided Sudanese people voted to secede from the autonomous Government of South- technical assistance for drafting of, and Sudan and form an independent nation. ern Sudan from a concept to a function- public outreach on, the South Sudan ing government. USAID was the lead Transitional Constitution, which was Combating Corruption donor in establishing the Ministry of approved July 7, ahead of South Sudan’s USAID assisted in implementing transpar- Finance and Economic Planning, which independence, and will be in place until ent and accountable systems in Ministry included instituting transparent budget a permanent constitution is adopted. of Finance and Economic Planning func- systems and a tax administration. tions, including modern tax collection USAID assistance is creating a fully func- Census processes and a Financial Management tioning Central Bank, including advice USAID helped the Southern Sudan Information System for public budget and on issuing a new currency. Strategic Center for Census, Statistics, and Evalu- expenditure (also implemented in Minis- assistance to several other key govern- ation conduct its portion of the 2008 tries of Finance in all 10 states). ment institutions has been critical to its nationwide census required by the CPA. readiness for independence. New Currency Elections USAID provided technical support to Constitution USAID provided comprehensive assis- help South Sudan successfully launch a USAID worked with the Government tance (election administration, civic new currency shortly after independence.

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1. A southern Sudanese woman registers last November to take part in January’s USAID-supported referendum (Photo by Tim McKulka, AFP). 2. Southern Sudanese rally on the streets of the southern capital Juba on Dec. 9, 2010, marking the one-month countdown until the landmark independence referendum (Photo by Peter Martell, AFP).

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Infrastructure electrification in 2011 to Kapoeta in 45,000 borrowers to launch or expand USAID has removed landmines, Eastern Equatoria and Maridi in West- businesses. repaired dilapidated and dangerous ern Equatoria. USAID has also funded bridges, and improved hundreds of technical training for staff of the Minis- Increased School Enrollment kilometers of roads, including the cru- try of Energy and Mining, South Sudan With USAID assistance, primary school cial paved 192-kilometer Juba-Nimule Electrification Corporation, and the enrollment in South Sudan increased road that connects South Sudan to Yei, Kapoeta, and Maridi utilities. from approximately 20 percent of chil- Uganda, a key trade partner; and the dren in 2005 to 68 percent in 2010. gravel-surfaced 262-kilometer Yam- Land Policy bio-Tambura and Diabio-Ezo roads in USAID assisted in drafting South Built and Rehabilitated Schools Western Equatoria state. These road Sudan’s first comprehensive land policy USAID built or rehabilitated 140 pri- improvements enhance transporta- to facilitate equitable access to land for mary schools and four secondary tion, economic opportunity, delivery agricultural development; encourage schools, improving the learning environ- of government services, and security. long-term, economically sustainable ment for more than 80,000 students, USAID provided more than 75 per- land use; prevent land grabbing; and aid and supported the rehabilitation of five cent of funding for emergency road the return of internally displaced per- regional teacher training institutes. repairs implemented by the World sons to their areas of origin or other Food Program between 2005 and areas of secure settlement. Improved Learning 2007, opening 1,500 kilometers of USAID provided literacy instruction roads in southern Sudan to facilitate Microfinance through radio, reaching nearly 100,000 humanitarian support in areas where In 2003, when there were no financial students and 445,000 youth and adults food deliveries were previously made services in South Sudan following who did not have access to regular by airplane. decades of war, USAID launched the school instruction because of conflict region’s microfinance sector so that and displacement. USAID helped to Electricity entrepreneurs could access credit to revise and unify the teaching curricu- USAID developed South Sudan’s first start and expand enterprises. Microfi- lum and supplied 36,089 textbooks and electrical cooperative in Yei, benefiting nance services have since spread materials to enhance school instruction. more than 16,000 people, and expanded throughout the south, enabling some >>

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3. Sudanese singer Mary Boyoi holds a flag of southern Sudan on December 19, 2010, at the Keyz recording studio in Juba while recording songs for her new album, which focuses on referendum issues and was funded by USAID (Photo by Trevor Snapp, AFP). 4. Traditional dancers in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state (Photo by Jenn Warren).

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Better Access to Health Food and Other UNRESOLVED ISSUES Services, Clean Water, Emergency Relief and Sanitation USAID provided more than $648 mil- Border Demarcation More than 2 million South Sudanese have lion in food aid in Southern Sudan and The north-south border is not yet improved access to high-impact maternal, the Three Areas (Abyei, Blue Nile, and demarcated, with five areas along the child, and family planning services as a Southern Kordofan) and approximately border other than Abyei in dispute. The result of USAID efforts since 2005. $355 million in non-food assistance two sides have agreed in principle to USAID has improved access to potable (including basic hygiene, cooking, and soft border arrangements, including no water in southern Sudan through the con- shelter materials and livelihood activi- required visas for the movement of struction of boreholes and urban water ties) in Southern Sudan to people people, facilitation of grazing rights, and treatment facilities, and the distribution of affected by emergencies including con- joint efforts to promote cross-border chlorine tablets for household-level puri- flict, floods, and drought between 2005 trade and development. However, they fication. As a result, more than a million and July 2011. have yet to reach agreement on the spe- southerners now have access to safe cific details and mechanisms for these water. Support for Returnees soft border arrangements. They have and Displaced Persons agreed to a demilitarized zone along the Disease Prevention USAID is providing life-saving assistance border and requested that the United USAID has collaborated with the to tens of thousands of Southern Suda- Nations provide monitors and force Government of South Sudan and other nese displaced and impacted by conflict, protection to monitor the zone. partners on polio immunization cam- including the Abyei crisis, helping Suda- paigns and, by 2010, helped immunize nese of southern origin returning from Abyei 99 percent of children. USAID also northern Sudan to reach their home The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agree- increased routine childhood immuniza- areas and begin new lives in the south ment provided that the residents tion from less than 20 percent to 71 with livelihoods support, and providing of Abyei—a resource-rich and con- percent. essential services, including food secu- tested area 4,000 square miles—vote rity, shelter, water, health, and sanita- in a referendum on whether they tion in states with the highest returns would remain part of northern Sudan, of southerners. or become part of southern Sudan,

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1. National Anthem singers at the ceremony marking the Declaration of the Independence of the Republic of South Sudan, in Juba, South Sudan, July 9 (Photo by Jenn Warren). 2. The USAID-funded Granville-Abbas Girls’ Secondary School in Kurmuk, Blue Nile state, includes classrooms, dormitories, a library, theater, cafeteria, and learning center with computer training and Internet access (Photo by Rebecca Dobbins, USAID).

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UNRESOLVED ISSUES force, and on June 27, the U.N. Security USAID has been helping the two Council established the United Nations states prepare for the popular consul- irrespective of the results of the January Interim Security Force for Abyei tations since 2008, with a broad range 2011 referendum on self-determination, (UNISFA). Deployment of Ethiopian of technical and logistical support, which resulted in South Sudan’s seces- peacekeepers to Abyei is underway. An including civic education campaigns to sion and nationhood. The CPA stipu- early setback occurred Aug. 2 as four inform citizens about the process and lated that the two referenda were to peacekeepers were killed and seven their rights. Earlier this year, in one of happen simultaneously, but the CPA injured when their vehicles detonated the most impressive displays of demo- parties—the Government of Sudan and a landmine. cratic participation ever seen in Blue the Sudan People’s Liberation Move- Nile state, more than 70,000 citizens ment—were unable to agree on Abyei Popular Consultations attended public hearings in communi- residency requirements. USAID pro- Popular consultation is a political pro- ties across the state to voice their opin- vided comprehensive assistance to the cess under the CPA that gives the ions about the CPA and many aired CPA parties to implement the southern people of Southern Kordofan and Blue grievances. referendum, and stands ready to pro- Nile states—areas in Sudan bordering The Southern Kordofan process was vide similar assistance for a referendum South Sudan that suffered heavy fight- far behind schedule because a dispute on Abyei if an agreement can be reached ing during the civil war, with control over the state census delayed elections to hold the referendum and name a of their territory divided between needed before the popular consultation commission to oversee the process. northern and southern military process could begin. After violence On May 21, Sudanese Armed Forces forces—the right to express their erupted in Southern Kordofan in June, (SAF) took control of Abyei following opinions about whether the CPA has insecurity has prevented any progress on an outbreak of fighting between the met their aspirations. The process popular consultations. Sudan’s National Sudan People’s Liberation Army and also empowers their democratically Assembly extended the Popular Consul- SAF. An estimated 100,000 people have elected state legislatures to negotiate tation Act beyond the CPA interim been displaced from Abyei as a result of with the central government in Khar- period, giving the two states additional fighting. On June 20, the parties signed a toum on any shortcomings in the con- time to complete this key political pro- temporary arrangement in which the stitutional, political, and administrative cess. USAID continues to support the U.N. would deploy a peacekeeping arrangements of the CPA. process as conditions allow. ■

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3. A flag raising ceremony takes place in Washington, D.C., July 9 as the Government of South Sudan rededicated its mission to the United States to an official embassy Photo( by Susan Quinn, USAID). 4. A photo released by the U.N. mission in Sudan (UNMIS) shows homes burning in Abyei on May 23 (Photo by Stuart Price, UNMIS/AFP). 5. Amid their belongings, a Southern Sudanese woman and her children await transport from Khartoum to Bentiu, Unity state, April 14 (Photo by Christy Forster, USAID).

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REINFORCING A TENUOUS PEACE AS SOUTH SUDAN RISES TO STATEHOOD By Jennifer Shaw

A Southern Sudanese woman in Khartoum tells USAID staff she is eager USAID ChristyPhoto by Forster, to return to Bentiu, Unity state, April 14.

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N 2005, THE Government of War-affected communities in these County authorities to counter margin- Sudan and the Sudan People’s areas have been skeptical of peace, alization in the southernmost part of Liberation Movement (SPLM) posing one of the greatest threats to its the state. The town of Kurmuk, in par- ended nearly 22 years of civil war consolidation. ticular, was widely viewed as one of Iwith the Comprehensive Peace Agree- “The way we started,” explained the border areas most likely to derail ment (CPA). But the peace that has Ken Spear, the head of USAID/ the peace process. The state govern- held between northern and southern Sudan’s Office of Transition and Con- ment’s presence was nonexistent, signs Sudan remains fragile. flict Mitigation in Khartoum, “was to of peace and development were absent, Violence engulfed the disputed, identify local, reform-minded actors and communities were heavily armed resource-rich Abyei Area on the north- who, with just a few additional and disillusioned by the outcome of south border and the northern state of resources, would be able to make sig- the CPA. Southern Kordofan in the weeks ahead nificant progress in addressing histori- USAID helped authorities extend of South Sudan’s July 9 independence, cal grievances in areas most prone to essential services including health and raising fears of renewed north-south return to violent conflict.” education to Kurmuk and other conflict. Internal strife also continues In 2006, USAID helped turn the underserved areas of southern Blue to affect large parts of both countries tide away from renewed conflict in Nile. In 2010, USAID opened the outside the state capitals, denying com- Blue Nile by empowering the state Granville-Abbas Girls’ Secondary munities the security and development minister for health and Kurmuk School in Kurmuk, which is named in envisioned in the CPA. honor of USAID employ- Since 2005, USAID ees John Granville and has been working with Abdelrahman Abbas local government and Rahama, who were killed civil society leaders to in Khartoum in 2008. confront the country’s The school is a model for legacy of political conflict, girls’ education in the violence, and instability. region. USAID-spon- Through this conflict mit- sored health training igation program, the facilities in Kurmuk and Agency is working to Bau are helping to build a counter threats to stability cadre of trained local and seize opportunities to health-care professionals. consolidate peace in “It is important that South Sudan and along productive change agents the volatile north-south are given credit for such border. transformations,” said The “Three Areas”— Spear. “It strengthens Blue Nile and Southern their legitimacy, and that Kordofan states and is what we want.” Abyei—are located along the political, ethnic, reli- USAID’S ACHIEVE- gious, and geographic MENTS in helping miti- fault lines of the civil war, gate conflict in the

and to this day are strate- USAID ChristyPhoto by Foster, transitional areas have gically important to the been matched by an array

Photo by Christy Forster, USAID ChristyPhoto by Forster, CPA’s signatories. A boy from Abyei at Eyat camp outside Wau town, June 2011 of challenges and setbacks.

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 11 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN Photo by AECOM International Sudan Photo by

USAID is supporting training in Debab, Southern Kordofan, including how to cultivate with donkey plows, to help this largely Misseriya town improve livelihoods and reduce conflict on the Sudan-South Sudan border.

Efforts to stabilize Abyei, including, essential grazing land and water in ACROSS THE BORDER in the new for example, establishing an office com- Abyei and South Sudan. Republic of South Sudan, USAID plex for the nascent Abyei Area admin- In response, USAID helped construct launched a conflict-reduction initia- istration, have been frustrated by or rehabilitate 17 water yards—elevated tive in 2009 following a worrisome repeated outbreaks of violence in the water-storage reservoirs—along key spike in inter-ethnic conflict. area. Fierce fighting between forces migration corridors to reduce the Mis- Through this effort, local government loyal to the Government of Sudan and seriya’s movement into South Sudan, bodies are working to improve commu- the SPLM recently forced the suspen- and lessen the likelihood of resource- nity security in some of South Sudan’s sion of conflict-mitigation activities in driven conflict. The Agency is now most remote and volatile areas such as much of Southern Kordofan and Abyei. creating opportunities for the Mis- Akobo, Pibor, Mayom, and Panyijar The violence here is of particular seriya to improve their livelihoods by counties. U.S. aid helped the municipal- concern to pastoralist groups who rely involving youth in marketable activi- ities purchase highly visible office spaces on a cross-border existence, such as the ties, rehabilitating the meat and vege- and communication and transportation Misseriya of Southern Kordofan. table market in Muglad, and providing equipment, which in turn has enabled Without clear arrangements on the households with agricultural assistance county and payam officials, as well as movement of goods and people across such as training in the use of donkey traditional authorities, to communicate this new international boundary, the plows, which can potentially double the and coordinate responses when there is Misseriya fear they will lose access to amount of land a family is able to till. tension or an outbreak of hostilities.

12 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN Photo by Christy Forster, USAID ChristyPhoto by Forster,

Internally displaced persons from Abyei receive government-donated food rations at Eyat camp, June 2011.

The change is striking. have witnessed few positive changes in “The sense of pride is palpable,” “From a place like Panyijar, which their communities during their short O’Brien said. “When you visit a can’t be accessed by road for about half lives. Many young people living in place like Akobo, the people say, the year, we’re suddenly getting e-mails zones of high conflict remain caught ‘We built this ourselves!’” from the county commissioner,” said in a culture of war, accustomed to cat- At a ceremony launching the Adam O’Brien, who was field program tle looting and banditry to earn money. refurbished Akobo County head- analyst for AECOM International, a With USAID support, youth have quarters in October 2010, Commis- USAID partner in the initiative. received block-making training in sioner Goi Jooyul Yol said, “[This] In 2011, at least three potential con- Akobo and Pibor in Jonglei state, is not only a sign of stability, but a flicts were averted in Unity, Warrap, Nasir in Upper Nile state, Panyijar sign of hope for many youth who and Jonglei states when local authori- and Mayendit in Unity state, Tonj used their energy to mold blocks ties learned about planned cattle raids East in Warrap state, and Rumbek rather than engaging in cattle rus- and were able to thwart the attacks North in Lakes state. In addition to tling.” using USAID-funded communica- providing the youth with equipment “We are really digging deep into tions equipment. to start their own businesses, they have our soil,” said one young man who been hired to produce blocks for worked on the project, “and build- THE INITIATIVE IS also providing USAID-funded infrastructure proj- ing peace in Akobo now.” ■ activities and training for youth who ects in the region.

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 13 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

others has allowed the Agency to expand DARFUR’S WINDOW support to community-led, early-recov- ery programs. Defined as the stage between humanitarian relief and long- OF OPPORTUNITY term recovery, early-recovery activi- By Angela Stephens ties—in agriculture and food security; shelter; economic recovery; and water, Eight years ago, Darfur was one of the most unstable corners sanitation, and hygiene—help Darfuris of Sudan—and the world. Though insecurity continues in some rebuild livelihoods by giving them the areas, USAID is now capitalizing on pockets of opportunity where tools they need to increase their eco- nomic independence. security and access permit its partners to support a wide array “Armed clashes, generalized insecu- of community-led, early-recovery activities to help Darfuris rebuild rity, and bureaucratic impediments con- their lives. tinue to restrict access to parts of Darfur,” said Tahir Ali, USAID’s senior humanitarian adviser in Sudan. “But INCE CONFLICT erupted to help us rebuild our shelters and help there are other areas, including in and in Darfur in 2003, between us build our own latrines.” around the major urban centers, where 1.9 million and 2.7 million As a leading donor, USAID has pro- the great majority of internally displaced people have been forced to flee vided more than $2.7 billion in emer- persons are located, that are stable, Stheir homes. Now, in some areas, gency food and other lifesaving secure, and accessible for humanitarian many are returning home. assistance in Darfur since the conflict and development workers. We can make Individuals displaced from Nyoro, began in 2003. And although insecurity a real difference by seizing opportunities West Darfur, began voluntarily and violence continue in parts of Sudan’s in these parts of Darfur to assist people returning in early 2011. To assist their vast western region, relative stability in to re-establish productive and self-suffi- reintegration into their communities, cient lives, helping them recover from USAID, since early April, has sup- the negative impacts of conflict, and ported returnees with building materi- avoid dependency on relief aid.” als for shelters and household latrines, while educating the community about TO IMPROVE food security while proper hygiene. supporting the development of a local The Agency is also supporting train- seed market, USAID partners have ing for returnees to acquire skills such moved from direct distribution of as masonry—providing valuable seeds to the promotion of seed fairs, expertise that can be used immedi- where farmers use vouchers to buy ately in rebuilding the war-torn region. from local vendors. This allows them “Life as a displaced person is diffi- to obtain seeds for planting while sup- cult, we brought nothing,” said one porting the local economy. mother of five children. “We were Through humanitarian partners, the forced to depend on others for food Agency stimulates markets by rehabili-

and other necessities for survival. Now USAID Oumar M’bareck, Photo by tating critical transport roads and pro- we have returned back to our village, viding support to micro-entrepreneurs. Nyoro, and everything has been A woman carries water in Abu Shook This includes vocational training in destroyed.” USAID’s partner organi- camp for internally displaced persons computer and mechanic skills that are in zation, she explained, “has been here near El Fasher. high demand in the area.

14 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

To increase the resiliency of Darfuri taps, and troughs—providing individ- that produce gum arabic, annual livestock owners and improve the uals and livestock access to safe water. crops, and livestock can be financially health of their herds, USAID partners Communities are taught how to and environmentally sustainable fam- train community animal-health work- harvest rainwater, and how to repair, ily enterprises. The report derived from ers and help them build water troughs rehabilitate, and maintain boreholes, a request by the governor of South for animals. hand-dug wells, and hand pumps. Darfur, who was seeking ways to reha- USAID is exploring a variety of ways Other partners have connected urban bilitate the gum arabic production in to support water projects in Darfur. At water systems to outlying rural areas in his jurisdiction—the center of the the United Nations-sponsored Darfur need of a regular source of clean water. Darfur region’s gum arabic industry. International Conference on Water for It is initiatives like this that com- Sustainable Peace in Khartoum in late USAID IS ALSO exploring possibili- prise a new USAID focus on commu- June, Ambassador Dane Smith, the U.S. ties for boosting the gum arabic indus- nity-led, early-recovery programs and senior adviser for Darfur, announced that try in Darfur. Gum arabic, the dried activities for the region, where pockets USAID intends to contribute a further sap of the Acacia senegal tree, is used in of stability, and hence, opportunity, $2 million for water proj- have begun to appear. ects in the region on top They come eight years of approximately $14.9 after war between million in fiscal year 2011 armed opposition funding for programs groups and Sudanese supporting improved government forces and access to clean water. allied militia created a While water has been humanitarian crisis a significant source of affecting more than conflict and contributes 4.7 million people. to population move- “While USAID ment in Darfur, experts remains committed to stress that the problem providing basic ser- is not a lack of water, vices and goods to but rather that water is Darfuris tragically

often not where people USAID Oumar M’bareck, Photo by affected by fighting need it. Conflict dis- and conflict, we are placed much of Dar- A woman uses a hand pump in a Kassab camp for internally displaced also actively pursuing fur’s rural population, persons near Kutum. the growing windows shifting thousands of people to towns pharmaceutical, industrial, and food of opportunity to help jumpstart live- where water demand is now concen- products, including soft drinks and lihoods and invigorate markets, where trated, but where there is too little confections. It keeps sugar uniformly security conditions and the capacity of water for the people’s basic needs. suspended in carbonated drinks, binds humanitarian partners to support USAID has helped construct hand- newspaper ink to paper, and is used as community efforts are strong,” said dug wells as water sources for house- a coating on medications. Christa Capozzola, USAID deputy hold and livestock use, hafirs(reservoirs) On June 26 in Khartoum, USAID, assistant administrator in the Bureau for agricultural use, and sub-surface the World Bank, and South Darfur’s for Democracy, Conflict, and Human- dams where access to safe drinking Ministry of Agriculture and Forests itarian Assistance. “We want to focus water through boreholes or hand-dug held a workshop to discuss a new these efforts to help the people of Dar- wells is limited. USAID is also rehabili- report financed by USAID and the fur to lay the foundation for sustain- tating water yards—organized, fenced World Bank, which concludes that able peace and development.” ■ locations with boreholes, pumps, tanks, medium-sized farms in South Darfur

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 15 By Astrid R.N. Haas and Sarah Armstrong

ESPITE SOUTH Sudan’s severe poverty, lack of infra- structure, almost total eco- nomic reliance on the oil Dsector, and a nearly complete absence of private sector employment, the new nation has a very important and promis- ing asset—vast amounts of uncultivated, arable land with excellent potential for agricultural productivity. Though larger in land mass than France, only 4 percent of South Sudan is currently being cultivated, according to Anne Itto, South Sudan’s caretaker minister of agriculture and forestry. Agricultural yield per hectare for cereals (maize, sorghum, millet, and rice) averages only approximately 0.5 metric tons in South Sudan. In com- parison, the average yield in Africa is more than 1 ton per hectare, and more than 2.3 tons per hectare in South Africa and South Asia. By improving productivity and ex­panding the area under cultivation, SOUTH SUDAN’S GREENBELT Can tapping agriculture assets become the new nation’s economic elixir?

the new government aims to raise annual staple-food crop production from 700,000 metric tons to more than Esther Dima Kidden, an agriculture 1 million metric tons by 2013, which extension officer in Yei County, South would enable South Sudan to reach Sudan, uses her foot to measure correct near self-sufficiency. Neighboring spacing between newly planted maize crops for the Ngakoyi Farmers Group. Uganda produced 1.3 million metric Photo by Redento Tombe Redento Photo by tons of maize and 0.5 million metric tons of sorghum in 2009.

16 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

Both the South Sudan Government (approximately $262 million), half of economic growth team leader, “are to and USAID see agriculture as one of which was fresh vegetables that could begin laying the groundwork for a trans- the keys to diversifying South Sudan’s be grown locally. formation in agricultural practices. Cur- economy, raising household incomes, The agriculture sector’s potential has rent practices are extremely rudimentary. and improving food security. And the not been fully harnessed for several Many farmers do not even have access to agriculture sector is one of the Agen- reasons. an ox plow, and very few have any expe- cy’s priorities for investment and col- Farmers often had to flee their homes rience with quality seeds, soil fertility laboration with the South Sudanese, during the nearly quarter century of practices, or pest management. This is other donors, and the private sector. fighting, so traditional farming knowl- due in part to a near-complete lack of a “Agriculture will increasingly be a edge that would have been passed functional agricultural private sector. focus of USAID assistance to South down to the next generation was lost. “We therefore hope to first introduce Sudan going forward,” said USAID/ Moreover, large-scale or commercial the concept of utilizing commercial South Sudan Mission Director Kevin farm­ing never took root. farming inputs, then work to facilitate Mullally. “The potential is great for The 2005 Comprehensive Peace the establishment of seed companies, this assistance to transform South Agree­ment that officially ended the agro-dealers, commercial famer-based Sudan’s economy and bring many peo- war between northern and southern organizations, and consolidators who ple out of poverty because South Sudan Sudan brought more than 2 million can both provide inputs to improve pro- remains an agrarian society, with the South Sudanese refugees home, but ductivity and serve as extension agents.” vast majority of the population engaged uncertainty about security and the To do so, the program is training in agriculture to some extent.” investment climate continued to ham- farmers and working with farmer asso- What’s more, he says, is that agri- per investment in agriculture. Addi- ciations and agriculture extension offi- culture assistance can ensure a sustain- tionally, the vast majority of South cers. In addition, in February 2011, able domestic food supply, reducing Sudanese farmers who are growing USAID distributed 75 metric tons of the need for expensive imports and only enough food for their own fami- improved maize and sorghum seeds to international aid. lies lack quality seeds and tools and 132 of these farmers’ groups, benefiting have limited knowledge about farming 19,000 people. APPROXIMATELY 85 percent of techniques, irrigation methods, and “This is just the first small step in a South Sudanese rely on agriculture for how to reduce post-harvest losses. much broader program that we hope SOUTH SUDAN’S GREENBELT Can tapping agriculture assets become the new nation’s economic elixir?

their livelihood, yet almost all are In May 2010, USAID launched will help address issues ranging from subsistence farmers. Hence, much of a program to revitalize South Sudan’s key policy reform, development of the food found in South Sudan’s urban “greenbelt” zone of the three Equatoria needed research and human capacity, markets is imported from Uganda, states—Western, Central, and Eastern­ establishment of agribusiness, and out- Kenya, and other countries, resulting Equatoria. These states have high agri- reach to farmers,” Gosney says. in higher food prices for the popula- culture potential with two reliable rainy USAID will help lay the platform for tion. In the last three years, South seasons and fertile soil. transforming the agriculture sector and Sudan imports of agricultural produce “The goals of the program,” said increasing agricultural trade, which in averaged 700 million Sudanese pounds David Gosney, USAID/South Sudan’s continued on p. 26

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 17 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

Q&A with Bill Hammink, Former Mission Director to Sudan

Bill Hammink was USAID’s last mission director to a unified Sudan. He held the post from March 2009 to July 2011, just after South Sudan became the world’s newest country. Hammink is a career Senior Foreign Service Officer with more than 30 years at USAID working on international development and humanitarian programs. His previous posts include stints in USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade as deputy assistant administrator and in the Office of Food for Peace as its director. He also served as mission director in Ethiopia from 2003 to 2006. In late August, he began a new post as mission director to India. Photo by USAID Photo by

FRONTLINES: What makes Sudan the same time, we were working closely accepted referendum for the people of unique from the other places you’ve with the government in the north on South Sudan. lived and worked? implementing the Darfur peace agree- And the main instrument in the ment and trying to find ways to support peace accord, the Comprehensive BILL HAMMINK: Sudan, which is, a peaceful settlement in Darfur and Peace Agreement, was in fact the right of course, now two countries, was a expand our assistance from solely of the people of Southern Sudan to truly unique experience because you humanitarian to recovery programs. decide what their future would be. It had a situation where after almost What made Sudan especially unique was a process of self-determination. three decades of civil war, there was an was the fact that, under the CPA, there That was a true highlight. internationally accepted Comprehen- were two governments and two sys- At the same time, USAID managed a sive Peace Agreement [CPA] signed tems within one country. There was major development program in the and approved by both sides, the north one USAID mission, although we had South since the CPA was signed in and the south in 2005. The CPA, wit- two big offices working with two sepa- 2005, and we had some really exciting nessed by major international powers rate governments. accomplishments as an agency. One was and international organizations, laid in building the capacity of the Govern- the framework for all of the processes FL: Looking back on your more than ment of Southern Sudan, which basi- leading up to the elections and the two years as mission director in Sudan, cally started from scratch in 2005. southern referendum, and the out- what do you see as USAID’s main In 2011, when the CPA came to an come of the referendum, which was an accomplishments there? end and the referendum was held, it independent South Sudan. was a government with ministries with And so it was a situation where we Hammink: I would say the major a legal framework and procedures— were working both diplomacy and devel- accomplishment for USAID was a very nascent, but which had started opment to implement the CPA. And at peaceful, on-time, and internationally from scratch.

18 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

USAID contributed a lot in capacity Unfortunately, the north and south people in camps, even though ensur- building, institutional development, could not agree on who could vote. So ing that internally displaced people in building procedures, all working toward after the referendum in the south, the camps have the necessary humanitar- international standards. For example, situation in Abyei had gotten worse ian, life-saving support is still a focus. USAID supported the Ministry of due to uncertainty. There were a few Finance to establish a Financial Man- unfortunate incidents between the FL: Could you just give a few brief agement Information System, which militaries of the two sides. The Sudan examples of what type of recovery pro- allowed accountability and transpar- armed forces sent their forces into grams we are talking about? ency across the board for their budget. Abyei, and the people of Abyei fled to the south, leaving a very large number Hammink: Yes, we’re talking about FL: What do you think it means for of internally displaced people, or IDPs, agriculture; talking about seeds; talk- the United States and for Africa that in Southern Sudan. ing about support for new technology; this referendum went through so There wasn’t a lot of fighting, but fixing schools and water points. Where peacefully? the population was hugely affected. it makes sense and is the right thing to USAID quickly mobilized and pro- do, we’re talking about supporting Hammink: In the ‘70s and in the vided support to the U.N. agencies local reconciliation and local groups ‘80s in Sudan, there were peace agree- and to local and international NGOs that want to work together. We’re talk- ments that were signed between the working in support of those IDPs. ing about fixing local clinics so that south and the north, but each time Luckily, those actors had preposi- people can have access to health care. they broke down. So for the United tioned a lot of emergency assistance in So it’s a broad range of recovery devel- States and for Africa, this was both an that general area, including food aid, opment programs, but it’s still very end of a decades-long process, not only tents, tarps, and other types of emer- basic because there’s just very little of civil war but of a peace process. It gency assistance. So within a week, there now. was also the end of six years of work- they had gotten out there, and a lot of ing together under the CPA and reach- that assistance came from USAID. FL: Along those lines, can you ing a point where you not only had the describe the base line at which we are peaceful and on-time referendum, but FL: Some people have expressed developing in South Sudan? agreement by all sides and the interna- concern that with South Sudan’s tional community on the outcome and independence, attention has been Hammink: There’s a major need for legitimacy of the referendum. lost on Darfur, where conflict con- infrastructure across the board in tinues more than eight years after it South Sudan. Most countries, when FL: How has USAID responded to began. Does South Sudan’s indepen- they come out of conflict or post-con- conflict that erupted in Abyei in May, dence change the situation for Dar- flict, you talk about reconstruction, and in Southern Kordofan in June, fur, and is USAID’s approach to whereas in South Sudan, you’re really displacing tens of thousands of people? Darfur changing? talking about construction. There was so little investment there over the Hammink: First a little background: Hammink: Darfur presents to the decades since independence, that they As part of the Comprehensive Peace United States a very complex and dif- have almost nothing. Agreement, it was agreed that there ficult situation and USAID’s position USAID is building the first major would be a similar referendum for self- vis-a-vis Darfur is definitely changing. tarmac road in all of South Sudan. determination that would happen Since last year, I think there’s more South Sudan is about the size of concurrently in Abyei—a small area emphasis on supporting recovery-type France, and if you can imagine no tar- right between the north and the south programming in Darfur (see article on mac roads outside of a few of the that has been under dispute for page 14) and not solely humanitarian cities… The road we’re building is 192 decades, even under the British. assistance or life-saving support for continued on p. 27

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 19 BABY STEPS IN ONE OF THE WORST PLACES FOR MOTHERS

The most critical intervention for safe deliveries in South Sudan is ensuring a competent health worker is present at every birth. Pictured: a South Sudanese midwife. Photo by Cliff Lubitz, USAID USAID Cliff Lubitz, Photo by

By Erin Polich well. A contracted pelvis often results in nation, which represents little change obstructed labor, fistula, postpartum from the years before South Sudan UZANNA ILE is a 26-year- hemorrhage, or the death of the infant gained independence in July. The sin- old woman from Lokiliri Payam or mother. gle most critical intervention for safe in South Sudan. She lost her Labor complications like Ile’s are motherhood is ensuring a competent first two babies in childbirth. common throughout South Sudan, health worker is present at every birth. SDuring her third pregnancy, a com- which is one of the world’s most dan- Yet, many midwives and other mater- munity midwife at the Lokiliri Pri- gerous places to become a mother. nal and neonatal care providers in mary Health Care Centre, a facility With 2,056 maternal deaths per every South Sudan lack the training required supported by USAID, diagnosed her 100,000 live births, according to the to identify high-risk pregnancies and high-risk pregnancy after identifying 2006 Sudan Household Health Sur- to perform simple lifesaving proce- her contracted pelvis. vey, South Sudan’s maternal mortality dures at the time of delivery. Without access to emergency services ratio is among the highest in the world. The next most critical intervention and a facility capable of performing a Few pregnant women have access to is the supply of appropriate drugs. Caesarean section, the midwife knew adequate antenatal care and labor- Shortages of essential medicines and Ile would likely lose her third child as and-delivery services in the fledgling health supplies are common at South

20 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

Sudanese health facilities, including which is defined as death within the maternal health services are among drugs for antenatal care and for con- first 28 days after birth. their reasons for not going to health trolling bleeding during and after Recognizing this challenge as particu- facilities,” said Cliff Lubitz, USAID/ delivery. Having emergency obstetric larly stubborn, the new Republic of South South Sudan’s health team leader. care in place and the transport to get Sudan has made reducing maternal and “Lack of transportation is also a huge there are the final steps to saving lives. neonatal mortality one of its top priorities barrier to obtaining antenatal check- However, in South Sudan, only the with a new focus on a basic package of ups and emergency obstetric care.” most fortunate women are able to primary health-care services—those that On the ground, USAID and its part- reach emergency obstetric care services have the highest impact. ners are working specifically to address due to the country’s dearth of good Responding to this new focused women’s concerns. This includes roads and public transportation. Be­cause approach, USAID is partnering with reducing cost concerns by promoting basic and emergency obstetric care is the Ministry of Health and coordinat- free health services; reducing percep- so lacking, less than one-half of one ing closely with other health develop- tions of poor service quality by train- percent of pregnancies are delivered ment partners to address the root ing health-care providers and ensuring via Caesarean section—the lowest rate causes of maternal mortality and new- drug availability; and mobilizing and in Africa. born deaths. There has been modest educating the community by enabling Without skilled birth attendants, progress. By delivering equipment for community leaders and health officials life-saving drugs, transportation, or labor and delivery wards, improving to take the lead in generating demand accessible emergency obstetric care, availability of essential antenatal care for more and better health services. many women have no options if their and maternal health drugs, training In practice, it works like this: Wor- deliveries become perilous. health-care providers in detecting high- ried about losing a third baby, Suzanna risk pregnancies and other danger Ile learns about alternative delivery ALTHOUGH DECADES of civil signs, and strengthening the quality of options during an antenatal care visit to war badly degraded much of South care in health facilities like Lokiliri, a USAID-trained midwife working at Sudan’s health care services, efforts in USAID is working on behalf of women the Lokiliri Centre. Acting on the the past six years by the Ministry of like Ile to build the capacity of South advice of the midwife, she chooses to Health and its health development Sudan’s health system. deliver by Caesarean section at Juba partners such as USAID have improved “Furthering the recent gains made in Teaching and Referral Hospital, and her infant and child survival rates. child health while addressing the root son, Modi, is now a healthy 2-year-old. Even before independence, over the causes impeding improvement of sur- Offering advice to other women in past five years USAID/South Sudan’s vival rates of pregnant women and her community, Ile says: “To the ones health programs concentrated on a mothers is the top objective of the Health who prefer delivery on their own, [a small set of high-impact maternal and Office of USAID/South Sudan, as it is hospital delivery] is their chance [for a child health services using simple, cost- for the new Republic of South Sudan,” safe delivery if complications arise].” effective prevention and treatment said USAID/South Sudan Senior Health USAID/South Sudan now intends measures to counter the most common Adviser Pamela Teichman. to intensify its use of high-impact, illnesses or causes of deaths. The high- One of those impediments is a wary low-cost, evidence-based interventions impact child health services translated population’s skepticism of such ser- for better maternal, neonatal, and infant into significant gains. The under-5 child vices. In South Sudan, a hospital visit health outcomes. mortality rate declined by roughly 22 to give birth is an anomaly. Over 85 The Agency is joining with the percent between 2006 and 2010. percent of women deliver their babies South Sudan Ministry of Health to Sadly, during the same time period, at home. And of this great majority, meet its goal of reducing maternal and the best efforts of the South Sudanese only 10 percent are cared for by skilled under-5 mortality by 20 percent within public health sector and its partners did health personnel. the first three years of statehood by not result in the same strides in reduc- “Women’s concerns about quality, more aggressively addressing the main ing maternal and newborn mortality, cleanliness, lack of privacy and cost of killers of mothers and newborns. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 21 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

A herd of white-eared kob runs across an expanse of what is now South Sudan. Photo by Paul Elkan, Wildlife ConservationWildlife Society Elkan, Paul Photo by

22 www.USAID.gov Centuries-Old Wildlife Migration Untouched by Decades of War By Angela Rucker

Elephants, giraffe, buffalo, . HILE THE people whose results were published in 2010— and the white-eared kob have around them battled in that anyone knew for certain that those roamed South Sudan’s bucolic Sudan’s 22-year war, the animals survived a war that killed an white-eared kob followed estimated 2 million people. regions in vast numbers for years. Wthe seasonal migration corridors that Many did. Now the challenge is Last year, a USAID-backed their ancestors likely pounded for keeping them alive. mapping project revealed that centuries. And that is what saved their “The irony is that, during the lives. war, some of the animal natural their centuries-old migration was Elephants, giraffe, buffalo, and ante- resources actually fared OK,” said untouched by 22 years of war. lope species like the white-eared kob David Gosney, team leader for eco- The finding has also helped to have roamed South Sudan’s bucolic nomic growth at USAID/South dramatically raise the country’s regions in vast numbers for years. But Sudan. “But as South Sudan starts it wasn’t until a USAID-backed map- to develop, the threats are going to wildlife profile. ping project—that began in 2007 and increase.”

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 23 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

Now that South Sudan is a newly The three-year, $14 million effort agenda. This will help us achieve peace independent country, it is facing mon- documented the numbers and types dividends and long-lasting benefits for umental challenges. And while pro- of wildlife in the Boma-Jonglei land- the people of South Sudan.” tecting wildlife may not seem like a scape —first with men in trucks, then WCS’s Deutsch agreed that South top priority compared with other airplanes, and eventually satellites Sudan’s wildlife and natural resources weighty issues, the subject has none- and GPS tracking equipment—creat- are “vital” to the country’s future, theless attracted high-level interest – ing a road map for conservation and but added that the risks to those nat- and support. land use. ural resources are “significant and “South Sudan relies almost entirely The region is home to what many increasing.” on oil revenue to fund its budget and believe is the world’s greatest mam- Oil and timber companies are eager all its expenditures,” Gosney said. mal migrations. Many feared war to come into the country and exploit “Over time they really need to capture would decimate this age-old cycle, the natural resources. Not only would and develop their resources in other but the project estimates that today they extract or cut the products they areas, and this includes South Sudan’s there are 1.2 million white-eared kob, need, the companies would need to rich biodiversity.” tiang, Mongalla gazelle, reedbuck, build roads and other infrastructure in On July 6, just three days before the and other animals and birds roaming or near the landscape. country celebrated its independence, the region. “Across Africa we have seen an USAID, the Wild­life Conservation The USAID-funded Boma-Jonglei- escalation in the illegal international Society, and the South Sudan gov­ Equatoria Landscape Program now is trade in ivory over the past few years, ernment opened new head­­quarters for turning its focus to find the best ways and this has escalated the poaching Badingilo National Park in Central to protect the region’s plant and ani- threat to elephants immensely,” and Eastern Equatoria, just two hours’ mal life, and to provide for as many as Deutsch added. “Meanwhile, the drive from the capital of 17 ethnic groups that rehabilitation of Southern Sudan’s Juba, which will serve as rely on the region for infrastructure, returning of dis- a showcase for South MORE ONLINE their livelihoods. It is placed people, combined with prolif- Sudanese wildlife. It See the National looking at ways to eration of small arms, has increased was just late last year Geographic series strengthen national and the threat.” that wildlife and devel- and a USAID blog local government offices, That could bring the kind of trouble opment experts along at www.usaid.gov/ civil society organiza- to South Sudan’s white-eared kob that with South Sudanese frontlines. tions, and local commu- it and its animal brothers and sisters officials discovered just nity groups to manage were able to avoid for two decades. how impressive that the landscape sustain- The white-eared kob was among the habitat remains. ably, reduce conflict, and improve featured animals in National Geo- WCS calls the 200,000-square- security. graphic Channel’s Great Migrations, a kilometer Boma-Jonglei landscape in “This is a great window of opportu- seven-part series that showed the jour- South Sudan the largest, substantially nity to address the root causes of many neys of a variety of creatures as they fol- intact wildlife habitat in East Africa. of the threats to land, security, natural low patterns that ensure their species In addition to animals, the region resources, and biodiversity,” said Dan- will survive. The shows first aired in fall includes high altitude plateaus, iel Wani, South Sudan’s undersecre- 2010 and clips remain available online. wooded and grassland savannas, and tary for the Ministry of Wildlife The TV series and article inNational wetlands. It has the potential to rival Con­servation and Tourism. Geographic magazine that talked about the famed Serengeti of East Africa, “It is critical,” he added, “that prag- Sudan raised the profile of the coun- says James Deutsch, executive director matic conservation, land-use planning, try’s wildlife. for Africa Programs for WCS. and sustainable development objectives “It was largely due to this project,” WCS partnered with USAID and and approaches be integrated into the said USAID’s Gosney, who calls the South Sudan on the mapping project. reconstruction and development reams of data the project generated

24 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN Photo by Julie Larsen Maher, Wildlife ConservationWildlife Society Julie LarsenPhoto by Maher,

critical to its success. “The discovery (of enthusiastic about conserving their In addition to agricultural develop- animals untouched by war) by the proj- natural resources and telling the world ment, ecotourism is the income- ect in a sense really began the process of about their wildlife even before the generating idea that is moving the putting us back on the radar screen.” signing of the Comprehensive Peace fastest. Some high-end tour com­ Land-use plans developed by the Agreement in 2005,” said Deutsch. panies are already making plans to project will help guide the government Gosney tells the story of a USAID come into South Sudan. in its next steps to manage the sensi- colleague who took a flight over Boma- Such efforts have proved successful tive areas with care. The project con- Jonglei with a colleague from South in other African nations, including in tinues to document wildlife in the Sudan. The Sudanese man broke into Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, landscape as well as provide training tears. “It was such a sense of pride and and Namibia, said Deutsch. to rangers and build necessary infra­ ownership in seeing it that it really “The challenge of balancing livestock structure such as ranger housing and affected him. It was an area that he and agricultural development, petro- training centers. grew up in,” Gosney said. leum and mineral development, and Another key to protecting the “The idea,” he said, “is to work with landscape and wildlife conservation is region—the people who call it home— the communities around the park to substantial in South Sudan,” he added, already appears to be in place. feel real ownership and benefit from “but we are confident that this … new “The people and leaders of South its creation. There’s a real desire to do nation can learn valuable lessons from Sudan… have been supportive and the right thing.” the past 20 years in Africa.” ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 25 SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

South Sudan’s Greenbelt continued from p. 17 than 300 farmers in her county, and productivity and income, they need a has cultivated at least half a feddan commercial structure to link to. turn should lead to higher rural incomes, with other farmers to help them prac- In May, USAID, the Netherlands, improved food security, and better tice the new techniques and best prac- the Alliance for a Green Revolution in economic opportunities for the poor. tices she teaches them. Africa, and the International Fertilizer James Sworo, chairman of the Julu- Women are a particular focus of Development Center signed a commu- kita farmer association in Kajo Keji, USAID’s agriculture efforts as they niqué agreeing to help develop South Central Equatoria state, participated in produce most of Africa’s food. “It is Sudan’s commercial agriculture sector one of the USAID-funded train- in collaboration with the gov- ing workshops. When he ernment. arrived, he was like most other Workshops have already been South Sudanese farmers who held to craft an outline for a traditionally plant numerous national program to promote seeds—as many as 10 in each commercialization of agriculture hole—due to their low germina- and enhanced food security. tion rates. During the training Plans are in the works to launch workshop, however, Sworo a campaign to highlight agricul- learned the seeds from USAID tural opportunities for small- were of higher quality. They also holder farmers and to roll out a had been treated with insecti- voucher program to provide up cides and fungicides. to 200,000 farmers with high- Sworo set aside half a feddan yielding seeds and fertilizers. (0.42 hectares) to test the seeds A U.S.-South Sudan partner- and follow the instructions from ship in higher education will pro- the training. Two months later, duce graduates trained in the difference was clear—the agriculture, support and develop maize planted from improved knowledge through research seeds was growing higher and Tombe Redento Photo by and testing, and create a quality healthier than in the other fed- Farmer James Sworo with the maize he planted two university-based outreach pro- dans. The results convinced Sworo months previously in Kajo Keji County, South Sudan. gram that addresses South Sudan’s to fully adopt the one-seed-per-hole long-term agricultural and natu- rule next season. the smallholder farmers, most of ral resource-management needs. Par- “We can stop importing food from whom are women, who will deter- ticipating schools are the University Uganda by increasing the food we pro- mine whether or not this effort suc- of Juba, Virginia State University, Vir- duce,” Sworo said. “Then we can start ceeds,” USAID Administrator Rajiv ginia Polytechnic Institute and State selling food to them.” Shah said during a visit to South University (Virginia Tech), and Catho- Esther Dima Kidden, an agriculture Sudan in May. lic University of Sudan. extension officer in Yei County, Central USAID is promoting women’s live- “Higher education in agriculture in Equatoria state, arrived at a USAID- lihoods through training and the for- South Sudan is experiencing tremen- sponsored training with a newborn mation of women’s farmer organiza- dous challenges, including lack of baby on her back. Despite the responsi- tions—there are now 10. USAID is equipment and laboratories for soil and bilities of motherhood, Kidden has also tracking how training is benefit- water sciences, lack of qualified instruc- become one of the most successful ing women. tors, and no collaborative research with extension workers in the program. In But for smallholder farmers, includ- international and regional partner insti- the past year, she has worked with more ing women, to improve their tutions,” said Ambassador R. Barrie

26 www.USAID.gov SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN

Walkley, the U.S. consul general in South products to be marketed. We put in local officials, and the minister of Sudan. “We must all work together three electrical systems in three differ- agriculture, making it clear the high to help address some of these issues, ent market towns and we contributed level of interest USAID had in sup- including post-conflict reconstruction significantly to the water system in porting agriculture to improve food and development.” Juba itself. security but also to diversify the USAID is also working with Citi­ Juba, which is now a nation’s capi- economy and make a transforma- bank, the International Finance Cor- tal, was basically still a garrison town tional change in agriculture. He poration, the Corporate Council on in 2005, meaning the armed forces made it clear to the government and Africa, and others to help the new from the north still controlled Juba. people of Southern Sudan that nation market and attract private capi- And it didn’t change hands to the USAID intended to be a major and tal and investors in key sectors, includ- Sudan People’s Liberation Army transformational partner to expand ing agriculture. The Agency will partner (SPLA) until after the peace agree- agriculture in Southern Sudan, which with the World Bank, African Devel- ment was signed in 2005. At that time, has so much potential. opment Bank, European Union, and nearly all the infrastructure—the Japan to organize sector-specific private sewer system, the electrical system, the FL: Are you optimistic for the future investor conferences, including one on water system, and the road system— of Sudan and South Sudan? agriculture. dated back to pre-independence days “Developing a vibrant agriculture before 1956. During the time of the Hammink: I’m cautiously optimis- industry in South Sudan is critical to wars and between the wars, there was tic. Clearly, change is going to take moving this war-decimated country very little investment there. time, especially when only 15 or 20 down the path toward recovery and, So again, not only is South Sudan percent of the population are liter- eventually, prosperity,” said David starting from scratch in terms of the ate, especially when they have some Hughes, chief of party of the USAID- institutions and new government and of the worst health—maternal and funded Food, Agribusiness, and Rural a new legal framework, but also in child mortality—statistics in the Markets (FARM) Project. “Agricul- terms of infrastructure. world. tural revitalization does not entail any But the Sudanese people are single project, but encompasses every- FL: What are some of the most affect- incredibly gracious. They’re incredi- thing from building farming skills, to ing memories or experiences you take bly interested in improving their securing high-quality tools and mate- away from your time in Sudan? livelihoods, improving their situa- rials, to working with the private sec- tion, and I think the excitement tor to develop markets, to cultivating a Hammink: I’d definitely say it was from the whole referendum, the knowledge base and infrastructure to Independence Day when I was up on independence, will now lead over in ensure that progress is sustained.” ■ the stands with other diplomats and the south to doing the right thing in VIPs and looking out and seeing over terms of the policies for health care Hammink a hundred thousand South Sudanese. and for education, for accountability continued from p. 19 When the flag was raised on South and transparency, for anti-corrup- Sudan for the first time, you could just tion. But clearly the jury’s out. kilometers between Juba, the new cap- feel the earth trembling. People were It’s a brand-new country, and ital of South Sudan, and the Ugandan clapping and shaking and jumping they’ve only had five years of trying border. around. And, you know, there was just to put in systems and institutions The Agency also constructed about this palpable excitement in the air. and procedures, and train people to 262 kilometers of all-weather road in Another important memory was make it work. And so it’s going to Western Equatoria state which has when Administrator [Rajiv] Shah take a lot of continued partnership made a huge impact on the security came and visited some agriculture and support from the international there, as well as allowing agriculture fields. He was talking to the farmers, community and from USAID. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 27 EDUCATION

MESSAGE FROM USAID’s Education Chief READY TO ENGAGE: Agency Education Strategy Set to Take Off

By RICHARD WHELDEN

FTER 30 YEARS at Additionally, the upcoming USAID, one gets the launch of the Education Grand opportunity to par- Challenge and the Mobiles for ticipate in dozens of Education Coalition (see article Aincredible ventures. But it is on page 38), are two new critical my newest role as director of USAID programs that will chal­ education for which I have the lenge us to innovate, coordi- highest hopes. nate, and champion education With USAID’s 50th anniver- at USAID. sary soon approaching, it is We will also be concentrating exciting to look back at all of on the creation of an Education the amazing education programs Community of Practice both that have been completed, and inside USAID and through even more exciting to look for- USAID Photo by external opportunities, linking ward to the ones we have us closer to the global education planned. Richard Whelden is director of the Agency’s Office of community, enabling us to work The ability to change a life Education. smarter and more effectively through education is one of the with other donors, the private most critical skills that USAID education for all—are the three goals sector, governments, higher edu- can support. Reading is the single of USAID’s new Education Strategy. I cation, education NGOs, implement- most important skill in early educa- am proud of the strategy ers, students, teachers, tion and provides a child with an and the hard work done parents and others to cre- MORE ONLINE opening to a world of knowledge and by USAID’s education ate a community that greater economic and developmental staff across the Agency For more on USAID’s stimulates thought-lead- opportunities. Education doesn’t stop who made it come to work in education ership, that celebrates with literacy: preparing our students life. The strategy pro- and to read the new inno­vation, that creates for success in the workforce is equally vides us with three criti- strategy see: www. sustainable solutions, and important, as is ensuring that every- cal goals with measurable usaid.gov/our_work/ that ultimately helps us one, even those in remote parts of the deliverables expected by education_and_ reach the ambitious goals world or places affected by conflict, 2015. My focus, and universities/ we have set for education. have access to education. that of all the USAID This edition of Front­ In fact, these three ideas—literacy, education community, will be to reach Lines was an excellent opportunity for workforce development, and access to these goals. us to showcase just a few of the

28 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION

projects and activities that highlight grade reading in Egypt and Nicaragua. articles on education available in the our new strategy, where it will lead us, For Goal 2, workforce development online edition of FrontLines, includ- and the lives we are impacting along and higher education, we explore pro- ing articles on: Green Schools in the way. Some of the topics include ­jects in Algeria, El Salvador, and Mexico Kosovo, workforce skills-building pro- higher education, mobile technology, (see articles on pages 40 and 44). grams in Armenia and Macedonia, and school safety. For Goal 3, ensuring access to edu- and overcoming disabilities in Uganda. For Goal 1, increasing literacy and cation in conflict and crisis countries, Thanks for taking the time to engage reading of 100 million children in pri- we highlight work in South Sudan. in education! ■ mary school by 2015, we look at early Don’t miss the amazing additional Photo by Hugo González, ACME Producciones ACME Hugo González, Photo by

A young student at his school in Santa Cruz del Quiché in Quiché, Guatemala. USAID works with the country’s Ministry of Education to improve educational quality, particularly for rural, indigenous students.

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 29 EDUCATION

Richard Whelden, the new director of USAID’s Global Education USAID’s Education Office within the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agri- Footprint Takes Shape culture and Trade. “The new Educa- tion Strategy challenges USAID and By Mitch Kirby and Garth Willis the donor community to focus not on inputs to school systems,” Whelden said, “but on the key outcomes educa- HILDREN IN THE devel- took a more broad-brush approach to tion investments are meant to pro- oping world often go to great education programming. In particular, duce. This principle guides our new lengths just to go to school, it provides for measurable, time-bound strategy as well as the rest of USAID’s often commuting miles on targets. development agenda.” Cfoot. Dilapidated schoolhouses, tents, Rather than focus on getting stu- the shade of a tree, or even open fields THREE GOALS ANCHOR the new dents to class, the first goal of the strat- frequently serve as classrooms. They strategy. The first goal aims to improve egy addresses the quality of the lessons struggle to finish homework by candle- reading skills for 100 million children those children receive as measured by light—hoping they can find the paper in the primary grades by 2015; the sec- student achievement. and pencil to finish assignments. Other ond goal supports higher education “At the end of the day, to achieve the children cannot attend school due to and workforce development to gener- first goal, the number of teachers we armed conflict or natural disasters. ate workforce skills relevant to a coun- train, the classrooms that get renovated, So it stands to reason that these cou- try’s development; and the third goal and the textbooks that get delivered are rageous efforts to obtain an education seeks to provide equitable access to inconsequential if they cannot be shown should result in becoming literate and education for 15 million children and to result in children learning,” said having more opportunities. But, the young adults by 2015. David Barth, the former director of evidence often shows otherwise. Im­- Today, more than 70 million chil- USAID’s Office of Education who prov­ing access alone does not neces- dren do not go to school. But there are helped design the new strategy. sarily lead to improved learning, future many millions more who attend school The second strategic goal supports opportunities, and career but are not learning the higher education and workforce devel- success. basic education skills they opment, ensuring that students obtain MORE ONLINE USAID’s new Educa- need to survive in a mod- relevant skills as they become adults tion Strategy, released in For more on USAID’s ern, globalized world. and go in search of work and careers. February 2011, commits work in education The statistics are jarring. As globalization creates an increasing the Agency to ensuring and to read the new Recent studies found that demand for higher-level skills, a grow- that its education pro- strategy see: www. more than 70 percent of ing number of young people in devel- grams deliver measurable usaid.gov/our_work/ primary school children oping countries find themselves without and sustainable results education_and_ in Mali, Pakistan, and the relevant assets to realize their poten- and focus squarely on universities/ Peru still cannot read at tial and fully participate in and contrib- measureable achievement grade level after having ute to economic development. in the early grades, access to education regularly attended classes. Studies in USAID wants to expand student that has been disrupted due to conflict Mali and Uganda revealed that more access to the kinds of skills they will and crisis, and support for higher edu- than 50 percent of students at the end need, particularly by strengthening cation and workforce development. of grade two could not read even a host-country institutions; improving The five-year strategy lays out a way single word. the relevance of education, training, forward for USAID’s education activi- “Such problems need to be identi- and applied research; fostering strate- ties that depart from past efforts that fied and corrected far earlier,” said gic partnerships between U.S. and host

30 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION Photo by USAID Photo by

A teacher in Nicaragua gets involved in the work of a group. She uses materials created by students and hung on the walls of the classroom. country institutions; and promoting Working directly with these children environments. Overall, the new USAID public-private collaborations. at the primary or even secondary level Education Strategy directly responds to The third goal focuses on providing of their educations—even in the midst the principles of USAID Forward by equitable access to education in envi- of dire circumstances—has been shown providing clear focus areas based on ronments affected by conflict and cri- to reduce the likelihood of future con- evidence of effectiveness. sis for as many as 15 million children flicts. A growing body of research look- “USAID’s efforts to assess and and young adults by 2015. Nearly 40 ing at Rwanda, Kosovo, Nepal, and reshape its education strategy required million children do not attend school other countries suggests the inverse— that we make a number of hard choices because they live in countries affected that poor quality education is a contrib- regarding program focus. However, I by armed conflict. Millions more have uting factor to outbreaks of conflict. am confident that this more focused been displaced by either fighting or Improving equitable access represents strategy, with its increased emphasis natural disasters like the flooding that the commitment of USAID to reach on the quality of learning outcomes, decimated large swaths of Pakistan in learners in the most challenging and dif- equitable access in conflict and crisis the summer of 2010 or the devastat- ficult environments and the understand- contexts, and support for higher edu- ing earthquake that struck Haiti ear- ing that it may serve as a first step towards cation and workforce development lier that same year. Children who live achieving stability. In total, a significant will advance the Agency’s overall mis- in lawless and crime-plagued commu- portion of USAID’s education programs sion to help the next generation in the nities also often cannot attend school. take place in conflict and crisis-affected developing world,” said Whelden. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 31 EDUCATION

Early Education Sets Despite gender equality in access to schooling in Nicaragua, boys have higher drop-out rates than girls. Because YOUNG NICARAGUANS ON of economic reasons, especially in rural areas, the chances of a dropout returning to school are minimal. THE PATH TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS By Jordi Icaza and Michael Lisman

IGHT-Y E A R-OLD Roberto Rodríguez is trying to read a story about Mary’s lost cat. While many of the other kids atE his rural school in Nicaragua can easily get through the story and answer questions, Roberto feels like giving up. The other kids can tell the teacher all about the plot—where the cat was, how they found her, how many kittens she was protecting. Roberto cannot. Unfortunately, Roberto’s reading prob- lems are not unique. While Nicaragua, along with much of Latin America, has made tremen- dous gains in getting parents to enroll children in school—for example, pri- mary enrollment increased from 75 percent to 87 percent between 2000 and 2009—keeping them there and assuring they learn remain difficult challenges. The Central American country loses millions of dollars every year due to grade repetition and drop-outs; recent indicators suggest nearly one-third of all Nicaraguan students either repeat or quit the first grade. Research also indi- cates that illiteracy is closely correlated with these trends. Almost half of Nicara- guan third-graders scored at the lowest levels—earning a 0 or 1 out of a possi- ble 4—on the most recent UNESCO regional literacy achievement test. Both USAID and the Government Early Education Sets of Nicaragua share a commitment to improving reading outcomes in the early grades of primary school. YOUNG NICARAGUANS ON “Identifying problems in reading and promoting early grade reading is crucial THE PATH TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS for further educational development,” said Richard Whelden, the director of

Photo by USAID Photo by 33 EDUCATION

another; it is key to continue learning and have fun and to understand other classes in school.” Over the course of the three-year project, almost 7,000 students in sec- ond, third, and fourth grades were tested in Spanish in 126 schools throughout the country using the EGRA tool. While it’s not appropriate to directly attribute prevented drop- outs to EGRA, the hundreds of Nica- raguans trained in the methodology agree that it provides a critical tool for early identification of children most at risk for falling behind or dropping out.

Photo by USAID Photo by The Nicaraguan Government also agrees. Throughout the implementa- A girl in school writes out the words, then draws the concepts. Through fun tion of EGRA, the Nicaragua Minis- activities, learning can be made easier. try of Education worked to integrate its survey tools into its own operations. USAID’s Office of Education. “And 2007 to 2010, supported Nicaraguan This included commissioning EGRA- identifying children who have problems efforts to improve the quality of pri- related teacher training workshops in reading and getting them help before mary education by helping to detect and best-practice videos to ensure that they drop out or fail is the best way to and correct early grade reading prob- primary school teachers used EGRA ensure academic success and keep them lems that could follow students through in the classroom. These tools will help inside the education system.” school and beyond. provide an educational safety net to As outlined in the new USAID EGRA used a simple written thousands of young Nicaraguan stu- Edu­cation Strategy, early grade read- and oral test to assess the extent to dents moving forward. ing competency is a fundamental build­ which young students learn to read. The Nicaraguan Government has a ing block for retention of students and The assessment identified specific long tradition of promoting reading success in future grades. This is critical reading challenges—from identify- improvement at all levels and has for children from poor communities ing letters of the alphabet to reading recently prioritized early grade reading where basic reading skills may be and listening comprehension—and in its strategic plans and long-term particularly lacking. indicated remedial work necessary goals, including with its Batalla por el According to the strategy, “Early before the end of the school year. Primer Grado, or Battle for First Grade, grade reading competency is critical This, in turn, made the crucial differ- a campaign designed to have all chil- for continued retention and success in ence in learning to read at grade level dren reading at grade level by the end future grades…. Children who do not and helped minimize the risk for rep- of their first year of primary school. attain reading skills at the primary etition or dropout. At the 2010 International All Chil- level are on a lifetime trajectory of lim- Vanessa Castro from Centro de dren Reading by 2015 workshop held in ited educational progress and therefore Investigación y Acción Educativa Social, Washington, D.C., the Nicaragua Min- limited economic and developmental or CIASES, a USAID implementer on istry of Education unveiled plans to opportunity.” education projects, explained: “Reading make EGRA a part of the national assess- USAID’s Early Grade Reading Assess­ is key in the learning process; it is key as ment system and to train all first-grade ment (EGRA) project, which ran from a social tool to communicate with one teachers to conduct and use EGRA.

34 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION

Even earlier than EGRA, in 2005, by visiting a local river, or improv- The private sector is also helping USAID/Nicaragua launched the four- ing math skills by simulating market convert children to early and success- year EXCELENCIA program. The proj- visits. ful readers. In December 2009, several ect stressed modern teaching practices, The project, which worked with over private companies kicked off the read- child-centered educational techniques, 3,000 grade schools and covered nearly ing campaign Todos a Leer, or “Every- and community participation to increase half of grade school students—estab- one, Let’s Read.” student retention and promotion rates at lished a mentoring program whereby Inspired by EGRA, the campaign nearly 3,000 schools. At least one school schools successfully implementing the developed reading contests for first in every municipality in the country, program were paired with non-partici- graders and awarded prizes to students including 100 schools in the under- pating schools to assist them in apply- and teachers who met certain reading served, multiethnic autonomous regions ing the same methodologies. benchmarks. A second campaign in on the Atlantic Coast, participated in According to the closing report 2011 attracted participation from six the project. from the EXCELENCIA Project, data NGOs and private companies, includ- Rather than focusing on repetition suggest notable gains in cognitive abil- ing Save the Children and communi- as a learning base, as is common in ity amongst children enrolled in cations giant Telefonica. many schools in Nicaragua, the EXCELENCIA schools, as well as an USAID is currently working with EXCELENCIA program used the increase in primary completion rates 190 Nicaraguan schools through its “Learn, Practice and Apply” method— compared to national averages: An 2010 Alliances 2 project, with plans to APA in Spanish, which relies on build- estimated 62 percent of students in expand that figure to 350 by engaging ing students’ competencies through well-established EXCELENCIA men- the private sector. The project aims applied learning rather than memori- tor schools, who started primary to expand access to quality education zation. On any given day, children in school in 2002, graduated from sixth and health services—including work EXCELENCIA schools might be con- grade in 2007. This compares with an in nutrition, maternal and child ducting experiments with household average of only 40 percent for students health, and HIV/AIDS—by leveraging goods, learning about the environment in primary schools nationwide. private investment, and will focus on increasing reading with fluency and comprehension. “USAID/Nicaragua, through its innovative and targeted education projects, has laid the groundwork for students’ successful schooling careers,” said Kirk Dahlgren, acting mission director. “The challenge ahead is to ensure that the knowledge and skills gained by teachers and administrators in the EGRA and EXCELENCIA proj- ects continues to benefit the children of Nicaragua.” That could mean students like Roberto Rodríguez will have a better

Photo by USAID Photo by chance of catching up to their better- read classmates, giving them an early Kids in the EXCELENCIA schools are encouraged to work together. The smiling start on a lifetime of reading, learning, boy, center, was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. “An honest man” and preparing them to contribute to was his answer. the global economy. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 35 Phonemic awareness—the ability to identify letter sounds—is a key to decoding and reading new words, and became the focus of a USAID- Photo by USAID Photo by supported reading instructional package for Egyptian teachers.

EGYPT SHAKES UP THE CLASSROOM

With one revolution on its shaking off stodgy practices and gen- challenges and how they affect enroll- streets, another is transforming der stereotypes—and both girls and ment, attendance, and achievement— its schools. A USAID-supported boys are reaping the benefits. particularly for girls—in grades one “I started teaching Arabic 12 years through nine in underserved, rural education program is helping ago,” said Ibrahim Salah, a preparatory parts of the country. teachers replace antiquated school teacher in Beni Suef governorate. To assist the Ministry of Education in learning methods with active “I simply followed the same teaching responding to these challenges, USAID patterns that I grew up seeing teachers is working to re-energize thousands of methodologies. Early results are apply; mostly depending on inculca- teachers like Salah in their pursuit of extremely promising. tion, without giving students much educational excellence by injecting an opportunity to actually participate and active-learning approach and enhanced By Peter Cvelich to express themselves inside the class.” reading instruction into the classroom. Many of Egypt’s schools have pro- The flagship initiative, dubbed the Girls’ P THE NILE RIVER and moted the same techniques, with pre- Improved Learning Outcomes (GILO) far from Tahrir Square, a dictable results: disinterested students, project, is currently active in four Upper quiet revolution is stirring frustrated teachers, and low levels of Egypt governorates. the schools of rural Egypt. learning, particularly in Arabic reading. Since its inception in 2008, the proj- UThousands of teachers, intent on The Egyptian Ministry of Educa- ect has trained nearly 9,000 teachers in invigorating their classrooms, are tion has recognized such classroom 340 schools in instructional methods

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such as dialogue, brainstorming, and supervisors in the same teaching tech- biggest deficits in Egypt’s schools: poor role-playing—active learning meth- niques and has empowered the most performance in Arabic reading. ods—that move beyond the traditional successful teachers to become coaches “We have a lot of evidence that our lecture style to truly engage students. or trainers for their peers. kids in grades one, two, and three—even Training has included enhanced class- “I was one of the teachers objecting grade four—are illiterate,” said Reda room management methods such as to active learning at the beginning,” Abou Serie, first deputy to the minister arranging the classroom to facilitate said Asharf Samir, an Arabic language of education. “It is a huge complaint all group work, developing a code of con- teacher in Beni Suef. “But I’m now one across the country that students are not duct with students to promote a colle- of the vocal advocates of these strate- able to read and write properly.” gial atmosphere, and creating a safe gies after applying it in my classes and In 2010, the GILO project conducted learning environment for girls. witnessing the impact on students.” an early grade reading assessment in Students have responded. Samir joined the first corps of peer Arabic in grades two through four in “Most notably, those who had been trainers in active learning techniques. Upper Egypt. The oral assessment, con- performing really poorly—cases I had “The local community, realizing ducted one-on-one with individual stu- thought hopeless—their participation the change in the attitudes of teach- dents, revealed that while nearly half of increased and their interaction signifi- ers, students and administrators, has second graders met the benchmark for cantly improved,” said Salah. developed respect for the school,” he identifying letter names, 50 percent of He noted the case of Salima, a very said. those tested could not identify a single EGYPT timid, disengaged 14-year-old girl who A little fun and games can go a long letter sound. he nudged to take part in role play. way in transforming the learning Identifying letter sounds is more cru- “She responded very positively to my experience. But, within the active learn- cial to decoding words than knowing the SHAKES UP encouragement and prepared her role ing framework, the Ministry of Educa- letter names. Consequently, more than [so] well that she astonished her class tion still has to address one of the continued on p. 48 and me with her performance,” he said. THE CLASSROOM A 2010 assessment showed the USAID-sponsored training had im- proved teachers’ application of active- learning practices and classroom man- agement by 68 percent in schools supported by the project over an 18-month period. These practices, in turn, have translated into a livelier learn- ing atmosphere and better attendance— particularly for female students. Ninth-grade Arabic teacher Attia Awad immediately noticed a differ- ence: “The number of girls attending my class increased notably. Students and I spend the class time in a very energetic and fun atmosphere. The students discover by themselves the new words and their meaning, the

ideas in the passage.” USAID Photo by In support of the work GILO has done with teachers over three years, it Nearly 9,000 Egyptian teachers received training from USAID to promote active has also trained nearly 2,300 school learning and a respectful atmosphere in their classrooms.

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 37 EDUCATION

A recent m4Ed4Dev seminar high- Mobile Phones, eBooks lighted the iRead project being imple- mented by Worldreader in several Turning the Page schools in Ghana. More than 500 stu- dents of various ages in six primary and secondary schools in Kade and on Education Adeiso are already using their Amazon By Scott Kipp Kindle 3s in the iRead project. These eReader devices, available in schools N THE DEVELOPING world, Development Alliance), which will and for students to check out to share a quiet revolution is taking place serve an important role in the exchange with their families, are provided with in education: mobile devices are of knowledge regarding mobiles for approximately 80 reading titles already multiplying by the minute and education in developing countries for loaded; through cellular networks and Ibringing with them unprecedented project implementers, researchers, and wireless systems, students can down- access to educational resources. leading thinkers. The actors will share load more than 1,000 additional titles. Students in rural Africa are down- practices in the use of mobile technolo- Children are also provided with read- loading eBooks while sitting in class- gies for education, discuss the successes ing lights so they can use their Kindles rooms that scarcely have electricity. and lessons learned from these proj- after the sun goes down. Newly literate girls in Pakistan’s dis- ects, consider the future of mobiles in “The Worldreader (iRead) students tant Punjab districts are stretching the evolving education panorama, and are reading more than in our wildest their reading and writing skills by par- provide an opportunity for USAID dreams,” said David Risher, president ticipating in text message-based dis- staff to explore potential projects that and co-founder of Worldreader, a cussion forums. As network coverage align with the goals of the Agency’s charitable organization whose mission continues to expand and reach more of new education sector strategy. is to bring books, and thus promote the world’s population, the possibili- “At USAID, we’re enormously excited literacy and a culture of reading, to ties seem endless for delivering truly by the opportunities that mobile tech- children and families in the develop- incredible volumes of rich academic nologies and devices can provide for ing world. content. supporting quality education out- The current cost is just over $200 This revolution is upending history, comes,” says Anthony Bloome, an edu- per Kindle, which includes the e-reader, where progress is often hinged on the cation technology specialist with case, light, and loaded textbooks and availability and affordability of re- USAID’s Office of Education who is storybooks (and access to many more.) sources. Over the last decade, how- coordinating the creation of the m4Ed- The per-student cost is coming down ever, mobile technologies have helped 4Dev Alliance, and symposiums, research quickly: e-readers cost $400 two years people living in the most resource- roundtables, and monthly seminars on ago, and the price is expected to halve starved environments leapfrog over the topic. again in a year. Students often share old barriers. “There is perhaps no more single the e-reader with friends and family, Entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, important development intervention increasing the cost effectiveness even and field practitioners are on the look- that has taken hold over the last 15 years more. out for the best and most cost-effective than the mobile phone,” said Adminis- “If we can figure out how to put in ways to take advantage of the new trator Rajiv Shah at an August sympo- the hands of every single child every- mobile environments. So is USAID. sium in Washington, D.C. where around the world the capacity In collaboration with a diverse in- Broadly defined, the range of mobile to have all the information they need ternational stakeholders group, the technologies includes cellphones, tab- to learn and grow, at no or low cost, we Agency is launching the m4Ed4Dev lets, PDA devices, micro-projectors, and will have created a breakthrough that Alliance (Mobiles for Education for eReaders, among other technologies. will last for generations,” said Shah.

38 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION

Today, USAID/Ghana is working with the USAID-supported Bridgeit threats to project sustainability. In to evaluate and more thoroughly initiative now using mobile technolo- spite of these challenges, tumbling understand the impacts of the iRead gies to provide educational content to device costs and stronger mobile net- project as it progresses. For example, teachers in places like the Philippines works everywhere are two key factors the mission is looking at reading and Tanzania. that represent the unprecedented improvements and the relative costs of The Bridgeit program in Tanzania opportunities for public sector leaders, supplying and using reading materials brings together the Tanzanian Minis- private sector operators, and project in print versus electronic media. Offi- try of Education and Vocational Train- implementers to come together and cials admit they are pleased with what ing, USAID, Nokia, The Pearson make substantial progress on educa- they see so far, calling it a shining Foundation, and The International tion in the developing world. example. “By exploring appropri- ate, accessible, and scalable THE ISSUE OF access to models for mobile technol- resources is particularly ogy use in education, we critical in places like the can make profound improve­ rural districts of Paki- ments on the administrative stan’s Punjab province, end of the educational pro- where UNESCO and local cess,” says Bloome. “For mobile network operator example, quickly and effi- Mobilink are supporting a ciently tracking student literacy project run by the progress and teacher atten- Bunyad Foundation. This dance, or using text mes- award-winning initiative sages for administrative provides girls and young alerts and updates to im- women with cell phones, prove parental involvement which are used to link the in the educational process girls into reading compre- would be valuable resources hension and discussion Photo courtesy ofWorldreader for promoting greater trans- forums, all of which takes parency and accountability.” place through text mes- An iRead student at a primary school in Ghana gets to know Many countries across sages paid for by Mobilink. his new Kindle and the dozens of books that come with it. the developing world are “The cell phone holds the also now using mobile tech- key to social development by its very Youth Foundation. By providing pri- nologies to increase and improve com- nature and we want to make sure that mary school teachers with cell phones munication and monitoring that women are part of this revolution,” says and a rich catalog of educational titles take place between a school and its Rashid Khan, president and CEO of for download, the program offers local government. This is especially Mobilink. locally relevant educational videos and valuable for rural and isolated schools The text messages are delivered in other media for schools that would with only one teacher, but also for over- the local Urdu language—implement- otherwise have extremely limited access crowded urban schools facing diffi- ers learned from previous efforts that to such material. culties in monitoring vulnerable English content is neither as accessible There still remain, of course, many children. nor as engaging. challenges to making mobile education “The more projects in this field Indeed, education projects using projects successful. Concerns over the emerge, the more the possibilities seem mobile technologies are evolving costs of electricity, costs of network use, endless for using mobile technologies quickly and learning from each other and the constant risks of theft and dam- to improve many aspects of the educa- all over the globe, as has been the case age to mobile devices are all reasonable tional process,” says Bloome. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 39 Higher Education Partnerships Lift up Students, Small Businesses

By Kellee Edmonds, Lynn Simmonds, and Julia Sobel

ILEL BOUTADJINE had big dreams of working as an engineer in his native Alge- ria following graduation Bfrom the University of Mentouri, Constantine (UMC). But as his matric- ulation ended, Boutadjine knew his employment outlook was bleak. Gainful employment doesn’t come easy in his home country, which has an unemployment rate of 10 percent, and where 23 percent of the popula- tion lives below the poverty line. Boutadjine decided that enrolling in the new Career Center at his school would help him improve a number of basic skills, make him more market- able to potential employers, and even- tually secure him a good job. Created in 2009, the Career Center is the result of a USAID-supported university partnership between the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan and UMC. Also known as RESUME (Recruiting Employable Students at the University with Management Education), this partnership aims to make a difference in the lives of more than 4,000 Alge- rian college students who, like Bout- adjine, have earned a bachelor’s degree and are in need of career counseling. Bilel Boutadjine, an engineer and former During his time at the center, Bout- University of Mentouri Constantine adjine strengthened his public speak- (UMC) student, is pictured at his job at ing and networking skills; attended KIS Co. Bilel credits the UMC Career Center for helping him find the job. career fairs that put him in direct con- tact with potential employers; and

Photo by Maellem Dekhil Photo by gained access to resources that shaped

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his career plan. Armed with those education strategy, namely, improving Mexican SBDCs that engaged higher- skills—as well as a healthy dose of the ability of host-country higher-edu- education institutions throughout confidence, he found his dream job at cation institutions and workforce- Mexico and leveraged federal govern- an industrial construction company development programs to produce a ment resources. As a result, more than soon after graduation. skilled workforce that will facilitate 4,000 Mexican business owners “I [now] work as an engineer [at] their country’s development. Improved received professional training, and KIS company, one of the Career Cen- career counseling and mentoring are more than 1,000 SBDC professionals ter’s partners; an interesting and stim- seen as important steps in achieving from every Mexican state have gradu- ulating job which I would not have this goal. ated from its Counselor and Director been able to find without the help of Several other higher-education Diplomado Training Program. The the center,” Boutadjine said. partnerships are working to advance network now has 101 centers through- His is not the partnership’s only suc- entrepreneurism and small-business out Mexico. cess. In less than two years, that one development, including two separate A key factor in its success has been center has helped more than 230 stu- efforts between U.S. and Mexican an online, multi-lingual trade plat- dents secure internships, and nearly 60 universities: one between the Univer- form that assists small businesses from students secure permanent full-time sity of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) both Mexican and U.S. SBDC net- positions. Because of its success, the and Universidad Autónoma de Gua- works to connect and make deals. Algerian Ministry of Higher Educa- dalajara (UAG), followed by another Launched in 2010, SBDCGlobal.com tion has announced plans to establish between UTSA and Universidad enables clients to find pre-qualified 18 more throughout Algeria based on Veracruzana. international suppliers and buyers to the UMC model. “These higher education partner- create sales and growth. The partnership is one of 69 man- ships with funding support from “Small businesses have had a diffi- aged by Higher Education for Devel- USAID are connecting small-business cult time benefiting from globaliza- opment (HED), an organization that owners to the global marketplace— tion,” said Cliff Paredes, director of works closely with USAID and the helping small- and micro-entrepre- the UTSA International Trade Center. six major U.S. presidential higher neurs create jobs, and improving the “This will help tens of thousands of education associations overall competitiveness businesses by connecting them to one (American Council on of the Mexican econ- another and by providing online tools MORE ONLINE Education, American omy,” says Robert and information that they need to Association of Commu- For more information McKinley, UTSA’s asso- grow their businesses.” nity Colleges, Ameri- on Pathways to ciate vice president for Gabriela Esparza is the owner of one can Association of State Prosperity, see economic development. such business. Her printing and design Colleges and Universi- www.pathways- Back in 2003, the company is benefitting from this ties, Association of caminos.org. UTSA/UAG partner- online tool. Esparza says with the sup- American Universities, ship, supported under port of the university, she’s learning Association of Public and Land-grant the U.S.-Mexico Training, Intern- the importance of having a business Universities, and the National Asso- ships, Exchanges and Scholarships plan and making smarter decisions ciation of Independent Colleges and program, created more than 40 small about her investment strategy. “We are Universities) to support U.S. univer- business development centers (SBDCs) certain to succeed,” she added. sity and other higher-education insti- located throughout Mexico based on a All told, since the start of the pro- tutions’ involvement in international successful U.S. model. gram, more than 750,000 U.S. SBDC development. Subsequently, the UTSA/Veracru- clients have had the opportunity to The HED partnership program sup- zana partnership expanded the ini- connect with Mexican businesses to ports a key component of USAID’s tial effort by creating a network of continued on p. 43

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 41 EDUCATION

Q&A with Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.)

Rep. Nita Lowey is a 12-term congresswoman from New York, and among her many leadership roles, holds that of ranking Democrat of the House Appropriations Committees’ State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. A stalwart champion of education both at home and abroad, she also serves on the Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security Subcommittee, and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee.

FRONTLINES: With all the chal- times, it is so important that we con- policy that includes working with lenges the world faces, how does sup- tinue investing in education through- other countries, international orga- port for education in developing out the world. nizations, and civil society to help countries fit with our country’s strate- developing countries strengthen gic goals? FL: What is your vision their educational for U.S. support for USAID systems; to assist REP. NITA LOWEY: Education is education programming in Young people NGOs and multi- not just a building block, but the cor- the future? face all kinds lateral organiza- nerstone of free societies. No country tions that work to has reached sustained economic Lowey: Throughout my of pressures to expand access and growth without achieving near univer- time on the State and For- leave school, quality; and to pro- sal primary education. Education lays eign Operations Appropria- and one of mote education as the foundation for sound governance tions Subcommittee, I have the foundation for and strong institutions, and gives the worked to increase the fund- our biggest community devel- next generation the power to harness ing for USAID’s educa- challenges is opment. Schools new ideas and spur economic growth. tion programming because empowering can serve as the Today more than ever before, educa- these programs are abso- them to centers of commu- tion is also a national security issue. lutely essential. nities, bringing Education can turn back the disrup- I also recently intro- overcome together parents, tive forces of violence, disease, and duced the Education for those pressures. students, teachers, poverty. It is one of the easiest ways we All Act, which would bol- and government can counter terrorism and make soci- ster the United States’ leadership role officials through services that sup- eties less vulnerable to fanaticism. This in the march for access to education port and lift up families and societ- is why, even in these tough economic worldwide. The bill lays out U.S. ies. Sustainable and lasting change

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Higher Education requires the resolve of the U.S. Gov- singularly on getting married and continued from p. 41 ernment to centralize and coordi- starting a family upon graduation. nate our efforts. create bilateral trade opportunities. FL: Investing in education, home “This mutually beneficial net- FL: What would you say to a young and abroad, is a long-term project. work will enhance our U.S. small person in a developing country fac- As a legislator, how do you reconcile business sector, creating jobs here at ing multi-faceted pressures to drop that in a climate that often demands home by strengthening professional out of school early? immediate gains? connections to neighboring coun- tries and their communities in one Lowey: Young people face all kinds Lowey: Slow and steady wins the of the highest and best uses of for- of pressures to leave school, and one race. Real, effective change takes eign assistance funding,” said Tully of our biggest challenges is empow- time, but gradual gains are both pos- Cornick, HED’s executive director. ering them to overcome those pres- sible and essential to sustain invest- Several other Latin American sures. I would tell a student she is ments in education. All kinds of countries have expressed interest in not alone and urge her to get a men- measures should be used to deter- adopting the SBDC model in their tor—a teacher, a relative, a friend, a mine effectiveness including tradi- countries. El Salvador, a country faith leader—to help find ways for tional test scores and literacy rates, that was recently announced as a her to stay in school or continue edu- or more progressive measures like focus of a new economic growth cation in an alternative setting. Chil- community and parental involve- partnership in Latin America, dren faced with the choice of staying ment and enrollment of girls in already has eight centers in opera- in school or entering the workforce school. We must also be vigilant in tion, with a total of 14 slated to be to support their families, or working expanding successful strategies and in operation by year’s end. Three on the family farm in order to feed scaling back those that don’t show centers are planned for Colombia. their siblings, should not have to strong results over time. Development of an SBDC net- face those choices alone. work in Central America, set to FL: Do you prefer e-books or print? launch in late 2011, will be a key FL: It wasn’t too long ago that How can USAID and the U.S. Gov- action item in the Pathways to women were not expected to work or ernment use technology/classroom Prosperity in the Americas Initia- go to college. Do you have any mem- alternatives to expand education tive as it will help create jobs and ories of your grandmother, mother, options in developing countries? promote greater regional economic or other female relatives breaking integration and stability. Pathways through this ceiling? How were they Lowey: I’m still learning to use my is a State Department-led, policy- able to do this? iPad! But I guarantee my grandkids level dialogue that allows countries know how. New technologies may to share ideas and initiatives for Lowey: My mother was very provide effective and efficient ways economic growth to more broadly forward-thinking in her parenting of reaching young people and can benefit all citizens. approach. She made sure I had a be used both in traditional school “An SBDC expansion of such good education and exposure to the settings as well as in classroom alter- size and scope would solidify the many options available to women, natives. Working with local com- role of U.S. higher education and including through my internship in munities and governments to ensure its host-country institution part- college at the Democratic Senate that whatever tools we utilize are ners in providing the resources Campaign Committee. She laid a accepted and effective in each set- needed to empower thousands of solid foundation for me to explore ting and aimed at that nation’s plan individuals to become full par- opportunities at a time when most of for achieving education for all is ticipants in the global economy,” my college classmates were focused paramount. ■ Cornick added. ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 43 Photo by Saul Vasquez Saul Photo by

Talent Broker USAID Links Youth to Skills and Jobs, Providing a Lifeline in El Salvador

Nineteen-year-old Hugo Ruiz poses for a photo at Transactel, where he has worked as an IT customer support representative in the videogame industry.

By María Teresa Dávila, education had to wait. His family was that the call-center industry was Patricia Guardado, and in debt, and Ruiz had to join the work- poised to hire thousands of workers Cynthia Almansi force to make sure his two younger sis- but couldn’t find people with sufficient ters could stay in school. skills in English, computers, and cus- Despite his English studies, the tomer service. . HILE IN high school 19-year-old failed the language Yet job applications are plentiful, in Santa Tecla, El Sal- entrance exam for the job he wanted: particularly from youth. The Face- vador, not far from the assisting online video gamers at Trans- book page for USAID’s Improving capital city, Hugo Ruiz actel, one of many new call centers in Access to Employment Program was Wexcelled in his studies—even earning a El Salvador. Ruiz’s case was hardly full of comments explaining that call three-year scholarship to learn Eng- unique—while analyzing emerging centers are desirable employment lish. But when he graduated, higher fields in El Salvador, USAID found because they offer flexible hours,

44 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION

built-in training, money for college, thing that frustrates me is that I have The White House has said the pilot and proximity to other young people. to wake up at 4 a.m.,” he jokes. program would bring private invest- Luckily for Ruiz and thousands of Ruiz’s initial difficulties underscore ment, provide jobs, and increase trade other unemployed Salvadorans, USAID a painful problem in El Salvador, in the country. Job stimulation would is stepping into the labor force breach where traditional education and train- allow Salvadorans—of which, roughly with a new market-driven approach. ing often fail to prepare new workers one of four resides in the United After selected businesses identify the for today’s jobs, and where youth need States—to remain with their families skills they need to fill their positions, particular attention to find sustainable in their homeland. the USAID program partners with work. Unemployment in this group, “Instead of the old donor-recipient them to develop relevant training defined as age 15 to 24, is just under model, we’re working as partners, with courses. The firms share the costs of the 14 percent, almost double the national El Salvador in the lead, to confront the trainings and then hire the graduates. average. hurdles to growth and development. USAID, in this sense, acts as an In response, USAID is also rolling As El Salvador’s largest trading part- unbiased broker, matching eager out initiatives like Youth360—a Web- ner, we’ll help identify reforms that young job seekers first with the skills based platform that acts as a virtual can mobilize private investment, and then with the companies looking marketplace for interns and busi- increase trade, and create opportuni- for talent. The Agency is demonstrat- nesses. It brings together students who ties for the Salvadoran people. And ing an approach better suited to mar- want to intern after college graduation one of the most important steps is to ket realities, uniting employers and and companies that need interns for foster collaborations between govern- schools to craft courses combining particular projects. The USAID pro- ment and the private sector, because technical and practical skills lacking gram is conducting a broad outreach to both have so much to gain when peo- in El Salvador’s highest-demand industry and educational institutions ple are lifted out of poverty and con- industries: Information technology to create an alternative pathway to tribute to their country’s prosperity,” (IT), customer service, tourism, and employment and a national internship said Obama during his visit. aircraft maintenance. In the pro- program. Meanwhile, Hugo Ruiz is already gram’s first 16 months of operation, Moreover, in addition to computers reaping the benefits of U.S. assistance. over 3,100 Salvadorans have com- and office furniture, USAID is provid- Now finishing his fifth month at pleted at least one of these courses, ing training in job counseling to the Transactel, he answers e-mailed ques- helping them find jobs or secure bet- Ministry of Labor’s Career Centers to tions from video gamers in India, ter positions with a new skill set. open opportunities for job seekers and Egypt, China, Portugal, and the Neth- recent college graduates. After train- erlands. He continues to pitch in with TRANSACTEL IS ONE of 18 firms ing 250 career counselors this past his family’s general expenses, includ- so far that have agreed to the arrange- year, the Agency may expand the pro- ing putting his young sisters through ment: the call center helped develop a gram to train and certify high school school. Whatever is left, he saves for course called “English for Work” and career counselors. his own future studies—and volun- encouraged Ruiz to take it. After he All of these initiatives to boost El teers teaching English on the side. His finished the 38-day course with acco- Salvador’s economy reflect a tighten- job fits in perfectly with his career lades, Transactel hired him, promot- ing of the U.S.-El Salvador relation- plans, he explained. ing him after the first month for good ship as underscored by President “I am planning to study graphic performance. Barack Obama’s official visit there in design and learn another language, as “It’s the best job I ever thought I March. Prior to the visit, El Salvador well,” Ruiz said. “If I continue work- would have,” said Ruiz. “They have was named as one of the first four ing at Transactel, I will have both the been very patient with me and found countries that will participate in the knowledge and the support to achieve what I am able to do and have given “Partnership for Growth,” a new set of my goals.” ■ me the tools to grow [professionally] initiatives seeking to drive economic and improve my English…. The [only] progress in selected countries. The authors are with CARANA Corp.

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 45 IN A NEW NATION, Building the Education Basics

A primary school student in Juba takes his second grade evaluation test. Photo by Education Development Center Education Development Photo by

By Jane Namadi and Ezra Simon gained independence from the United Government of South Sudan and for Kingdom in 1956. USAID and other organizations seek- N A CONTINENT that While delivering education services ing to help South Sudanese to recover. already faces significant in this environment was possible in Many schools were reduced to rub- challenges in education, certain areas, entire regions missed out ble during wartime, and when an those confronting South on these opportunities. According to accord was reached through the 2005 OSudan are especially severe. For the Southern Sudan Centre for Cen- Comprehensive Peace Agreement decades South Sudanese have been sus, Statistics, and Evaluation, only (CPA), South Sudanese children com- fleeing conflict, fighting, sheltering in 27 percent of South Sudanese adults monly attended lessons held outdoors refugee camps, or simply struggling to today are literate. This puts South and taught by teachers who lacked for- survive in their villages and towns as a Sudan around the bottom of the list mal training and a standard curricu- result of war throughout Sudan that of world literacy and presents an lum. Even now, 72 percent of the plagued the south since before Sudan enormous challenge both for the 19,872 primary level learning locations

46 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION IN A NEW NATION, Building the Education Basics

across South Sudan are under a tree or supported the rehabilitation of four As part of its efforts to improve other non-permanent structure rather regional teacher training institutes and school attendance among girls and than in a schoolhouse, with children of is encouraging women to become young women, the USAID scholar- various ages learning together. In many teachers. To address lower literacy and ship includes “comfort kits” for female cases, students have no books, writing school attendance among girls, students comprised of sanitary pads materials, or desks, and a teacher’s USAID has awarded over 9,000 schol- and other hygiene supplies. “During equipment is typically limited to a arships in the past five years to girls my periods, I used not to attend class small chalkboard and chalk. and disadvantaged boys who are because I did not have money to buy The obstacles to quality education unable to pay school fees. Secondary sanitary pads. I pretended that I was do not stop at classroom logistics. Of school fees range from $28-$50 per sick and opted to remain in the dormi- more than 26,000 primary school school term. tory for three to four days. Thanks to teachers in South Sudan, 84 percent Sylvain Sumurye, of Kajo-Keji USAID, I was given comfort kits, are not certified to teach, and only 12 County in Central Equatoria state, which helped me a lot because I could percent are women. In a post-conflict received one of USAID’s scholarships. attend all my classes without worry economy with limited public revenue Previously, she had dropped out of until I completed my school and grad- and almost no sources of private sector school due to an early pregnancy and uated in 2010,” Sumurye explained. employment, three-quarters of the was abandoned by her husband. To support young women like national budget goes to public salaries, “Barely three months after I gave Sumurye to continue their education while 6 to 7 percent is spent on educa- birth, my husband got another woman even after they have children, female tion. The lack of literacy hinders South and started beating me and eventually dormitories are fitted with separate Sudan’s capacity to govern—nearly abandoned me with a small child of six rooms for mothers to attend school one in four civil servants in the coun- months,” said Sumurye, now 25. with their children. try lacks a formal education. “Helplessly, I decided to go back to my After graduation, Sumurye was parents. After the signing of the CPA, hired as a fifth-grade geography teacher DESPITE THE MANY roadblocks, I went back to school and forgot about at Kiri Primary School. With the significant gains in education have my husband. I studied hard and suc- money she now earns, she can afford to been achieved since 2005. With cessfully completed my secondary pay for her daughter’s school fees and USAID assistance, primary school education and joined Kajo-Keji Teach- uniform as well as better housing. enrollment in South Sudan has ers College in 2009.” “Education is the key road to success,” increased from approximately 300,000 The Teachers’ College has benefited Sumurye said. “I advise all South students in 2000 to 1.4 million in from a USAID school improvement Sudan women to go to school so that 2010. USAID supported the construc- grant. These funds are generally used for they are not deprived of their rights.” tion or rehabilitation of 140 primary rainwater harvesting and storage, din- USAID/South Sudan Mission Direc- schools and five secondary schools. To ing hall dishes, and helping to improve tor Kevin Mullally, who previously improve teachers’ skills, the Agency the skills of school governance bodies. continued on p. 49

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 47 EDUCATION

Egypt Shakes Up the Classroom continued from p. 37 “This was a radical change in my Literacy in understanding and professional expe- the Arab States* half of these students could not read a sin- rience,” said Mohamed after receiving gle word in isolation. In grade four, things the training. “Now I know that a main From UNESCO’s 2011 Education did not improve: Nearly a third of stu- problem in my students’ learning to For All Global Monitoring Report: dents could still not read a single word. read is my method of teaching.” n The average literacy rate for “When you have students that are USAID’s GILO project conducted a women in the region was less than not able to read in grade four, you have follow-up early-grade reading assessment four-fifths that for men in 2008. something wrong with the approach,” at the end of the school year to measure n Egypt had the region’s highest said Abou Serie. the impact of the enhanced teaching number of illiterate adults In Egypt’s primary school classrooms, method on student learning, assessing all (18 million) in 2006 and accounted the textbook drives instruction, which of the same schools from the first testing for nearly 30% of the regional total.

focuses on learning letter names and round, including a set of control schools. n Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait and Yemen rote memorization of vocabulary words. Before the intervention, students in the have increased their adult literacy “I was always taught that when stu- GILO-supported schools performed at rates by at least 20 percentage dents know the names of letters they roughly the same level as their peers in the points in the past 15 to 20 years. will learn how to read,” said Mansoura control schools. A year later, preliminary *Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Mohamed, a primary school teacher in analyses indicate that students in GILO- Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Minia governorate. “I worked hard on supported schools identified an average of Oman, occupied Palestinian territory, teaching them letter names.” Conse- 19 more letter sounds per minute at the Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab quently, progress was slow. end of the school year, an increase of Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen To address this common weakness in nearly 200 percent over baseline. most classrooms, GILO designed a pack- Meanwhile, students in the control age of reading lesson plans that improved group gained just two letter sounds per the teaching of phonics. The training was minute, an increase of only 21 percent words read per minute—an increase of rolled out to selected teachers in all four over baseline. The impact of the instruc- 82 percent over baseline—compared to project-supported governorates before tion on students’ reading fluency was three more words read per minute the 2010-2011 school year. also dramatic: an average of 10 more among the control group. And this notable progress came in spite of the fact that the students were out of school for six weeks in the spring semester during the Egyptian revolution. “[The teachers] told me the phonics method was easy to use, is having a real impact in short time, and that the stu- dents enjoy learning in this approach,” Abou Serie said. “It is impressive and that is why we are going to scale it up immediately in the four governorates that GILO is already working in, with plans to roll out training to all schools

Photo by USAID Photo by nationwide.” ■

Second grade students who received GILO reading instruction improved their Staff from the GILO project contributed Arabic reading skills much faster than their peers who received standard instruction. to this article.

48 www.USAID.gov EDUCATION

Building the Education Basics continued from p. 47 served as mission director in Senegal and Rwanda, noted that girls’ educa- tion is a priority for USAID. “Research has shown that educating girls offers a tremendous return on investment in a developing country. It leads to healthier families, which are a critical component for future growth and success,” he said, adding that edu- cation can also aid South Sudan recover from war. “Education provides disaffected girls and boys with the con- fidence that they can move forward in their lives, in spite of what the people of this country have experienced.” Former child soldier Gilaso Odong, of Torit in Eastern Equatoria state, is Winrock International Ayela, By Joseph among the young men who received USAID scholarships. He was abducted Gilaso Odong, 19, lost an arm as a child soldier but now receives USAID support at age 10 and forced to fight, losing an to study at Torit Secondary School in Eastern Equatoria. arm to a gunshot wound. He became a refugee in Kenya before returning to provide teachers with lessons they can to decisions that affect their children’s South Sudan three years ago. present to their students but also to education, while local authorities “My parents cannot afford to pay reach non-traditional, generally older become better informed about their my school fees,” Odong said. “I students who may not have had the constituents’ priorities. To help county thought, ‘I am back home, but still in opportunity to attend school. education officials in remote parts of a miserable life.’ I lost my arm during In 2010, USAID’s radio-based South Sudan inspect far-flung schools the struggle and I thought, ‘the peace learning programs have reached and interact with their employees and has come, I will have free education,’ nearly 100,000 students and 445,000 students, USAID has provided motor- but still I did not see any changes in youth and adults who did not have bikes so education inspectors can my life.” Now age 19, he was able to access to regular school instruction. make regular visits. continue studies he began as a refugee The USAID-supported South Sudan With education among the highest with the help of a USAID scholarship Interactive Radio Instruction has priorities for citizens of South Sudan, and has one year left until he graduates broadcast over shortwave, FM, and USAID is working to ensure the quality from Torit Secondary School. through MP3s since 2005, program- and availability of education services, ming that also includes civic education improving opportunities for Southern ONE OF USAID’S MOST impor- programs. Community radio stations Sudanese as they build their nation. tant tools in raising literacy and that USAID supports also broadcast As South Sudan’s President Salva improving learning in South Sudan is the Agency’s radio-learning programs. Kiir Mayardit said in a speech to the radio—the medium that reaches the USAID is reaching out to commu- South Sudan National Assembly on broadest segment of the population of nities to support educational access in Aug. 8, “We must now focus on the more than 8 million. USAID uses a variety of ways. For example, the delivery of basic services to meet the radio-based learning not only to Agency is helping parents contribute expectations of our people.” ■

FRONTLINES • September/October 2011 49 U.S. Agency for International Development Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs PRSRT STD Washington, D.C. 20523-6100 Postage and Fees Penalty for Private Use $300 PAID USAID Official Business Permit No. G-107 Photo by Ben Edwards,USAID

Schoolchildren in southwest Haiti