Country and Regional Programs

1. Country and Regional Programs By Alex Twinomugisha 2008

2. Overview GeSCI engages with countries for a long time through the regional programs with some countries occasionally “ascending” to in-depth system-wide engagement for a period of 3-5 years and then transitioning back to regional engagement • Country and Regional Programs are major activities in new strategic plan • For country programs focus on: • Transition existing countries sustainably • Select and Engage new countries • For Regional Programs, focus on • Strengthening and expanding the Africa regional programs • Build, operate and manage Asia and LAC regional programs

3. Country programs Work with few countries (4-6 countries at any one time)for longer periods (3-5 years) and more in-depth • Every country is different and specific approaches will vary according to local context and conditions. • Comprehensive system-wide and multi-stakeholder approach • Direct advisory engagement with MoEs • Providing more strategic advice rather than purely technical advice • Focus on capacity building rather than implementation– building capacity for implementation • Focus on institutionalizing ICT4E in SWAps, ESPs, Budgets for sustainability • Provide dedicated experts and advisors to the MoE

4. Country Program Life Cycle

5. Country Selection Based on mandatory and desirable criteria. Comprehensive Situational Analysis • Mandatory Criteria- short-listing • ICTs are a priority • Clear country demand and political commitment • GeSCI Donor priority country • Desirable criteria- final selection • Country understands potential for ICT • Education reform underway • Existing or planned ICT interventions

6. Preliminary Short-list Focus on SSA but NOT exclusive Other countries where strong case can be made • 1.      Ethiopia  • 2.      Mozambique • 3.      Tanzania • 4.      Zambia • 5.      Kenya • 6.      Uganda

7. Planned Growth The target is to work with a total of 4-6 countries every year with 1-2 of these countries coming on board every year.

8. Transition and Sustainability GeSCI does not stay engaged full-time in any country indefinitely but at the same time GeSCI does not exit a country entirely • After 3-5 years, GeSCI will transition its full-time support to another mode often offering support from its specialists at a distance and through the regional knowledge programs • GeSCI makes it clear prior to engagement that support will be time-bound • MoUs with countries spell out roles, responsibilities and deliverables • Periodic reviews of MoU • Focus on sustainable interventions (capacity building) and institutionalization of ICT4E • Continued support after transition to ensure sustainability of programs

9. Regional Programs

10. AKE A strategic knowledge sharing forum • Knowledge sharing • Multi-country and multi-stakeholder responses to common ICT4E challenges • Wider reach for GeSCI products and services • A platform for experimentation and innovation • Home-grown solutions

11. AKE- major activities Further develop as a full program linked to other programs • Facilitate the establishment of an Africa-wide Working Group on ICT4E in • Forge global and regional partnerships and networks • Reach and impact more SSA countries

12. Asia and LAC India and Bolivia programs to transition to regional programs at end 2008 • Focus on strategic capacity building, knowledge creation and sharing at the regional rather than country level.  • Regional programs in Asia and LAC undertaken with a strategic partner instead of GeSCI having own staff and offices