USAID Early Grade Learning (EGL) - Nepal

Donor: USAID • Prime: Chemonics • Timeframe: October 2023 – December 2028

Terminated February 2025

Building on the contributions of USAID’s Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP I and II) in Nepal, USAID Early Grade Learning strengthened the skills that create a foundation for sustainable improvement in education quality—management, partnership, learning, and resource mobilization—while also strengthening accountability mechanisms and relationships within Nepal’s education system. The project assisted the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MOEST) and local governments in meeting 2022/2023-2031/2032 School Education Sector Plan (SESP) objectives. The project worked in all seven provinces and covered 48 districts, including 38 EGRP districts and 10 new districts. The project provided technical assistance at the local, provincial, and federal levels to ensure that relevant education plans and policies led to improved learning outcomes.

Map of Nepal, which shares boundaries with China and India.

Inclusion was a cross-cutting priority across all USAID Early Grade Learning activities, and IDP provided guidance and inputs throughout the first two years (2023-2025) of the project to ensure that an inclusive lens was applied across activities and inclusive practices were integrated throughout implementation. As a subcontractor to Chemonics, IDP also provided training to project staff and other subcontractor partners on disability inclusion and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Project Highlights

  • Coordinated with MOEST to develop a disability sub-system for the national Education Management Information System.
  • Conducted an assessment of resource classrooms to better understand how they are being used in practice and the support they provide.
  • Developed training and resource materials on UDL approaches for teachers to promote inclusive instructional practices in early-grade classrooms.
  • Supported capacity building for inclusion among MOEST counterparts.