Reading for East Africa’s Development

Learners in East Africa had improved access to a high-quality basic education under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Reading for East Africa’s Development (READ) project. The project was meant to improve student learning outcomes and expand access to basic education, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable learners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Activities for the READ project are mainly focused on, but not limited to, improving reading skills.

USAID awarded IDP a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract to support the READ project. During the contract period, USAID involved IDP as needed, depending on evolving contexts and needs within USAID and the countries covered by the IDIQ contract. Illustrative examples of tasks included supporting governments in improving teacher effectiveness, strengthening student assessments, addressing the needs of learners with disabilities and other marginalized learners, and other activities. IDP formed part of a collaborative consortium of organizations awarded an IDIQ contract for the READ project. Other organizations in the consortium included Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, Plan International, Viamo, and Laterite.

Selectively Highlighted IDP Experience Relevant to READ

• Training teachers and the people who supervise and support them
• Supporting national education programming in embedding disability-inclusive practices and the principles of Universal Design for Learning
• Developing materials on Universal Design for Assessment
• Researching and conducting situational analyses on people with disabilities, inclusive education, and other topics

Project Resources

• IDP Capacity Statement for the USAID READ IDIQ Contract    
• Announcement of IDP involvement with USAID READ IDIQ