USAID awards Plan International the USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education activity in Nepal
11 April 2024USAID has awarded Plan International the USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education project in Nepal, totaling $20 million over 5 years. The project aims to improve education outcomes for marginalised youth in grades 6-10 by reducing barriers, enhancing quality, and strengthening local government systems.
![Rahimat smiling at camera and holding a folder](https://plan-international.org/tachyon/sites/79/2024/04/202308-NPL-42-scaled.jpg)
The U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, has awarded Plan International the USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education activity in Nepal. The award, which is up-to $20 million, began in September 2023 and will last for 5 years in the provinces of Karnali and Madhesh.
The activity will focus on improving equitable educational outcomes for marginalised young people in grades 6 – 10 through 3 objectives: Reducing barriers to access and retention; improving quality of education; and strengthen the government of Nepal systems to improve equity and inclusion at the local level.
“The USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education activity will listen directly to marginalised learners to understand the barriers they face in obtaining a quality education,” Country Director for Plan International in Nepal Ram Kishan said. “Youth-driven solutions will be supported by local partners and by the government at the provincial and local levels.”
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles are written into the project design. This includes recruiting a team that reflects the diversity of the community and intentionally supports the most marginalised children and youth in Nepal.
In close collaboration with Ministry of Education Science and Technology, the activity will be co-led by Plan International and 2 Nepali nonprofits, Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center in Karnali Province and Aasaman Nepal in Madhesh Province. In addition, OLE Nepal will provide digital educational solutions and Inclusive Development Partners will lead on designing inclusive learning tools and assessments for the project.
“As we work to further the core tenets of localisation, I am excited to partner with leading NGOs and organisations in Nepal,” Plan International USA CEO & President Shanna Marzilli said. “Activity leadership will be shared among our key partners so that expertise can truly be inclusive.”
The project will target 1,927 schools from Karnali and Madhesh Provinces to carry out the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST)’s School Education Sector plan toward a more equitable and inclusive society.