USAID Primary Education Project has completed the first round of school renovations, during which eight schools received approximately $300,000 from USAID and $44,000 from their municipalities for major infrastructural projects.
What was most remarkable about this project was that municipalities took the lead on applying for, and managing donor assistance, which reinforced their role in government decentralization and strengthened their capacity to manage school facilities. In several cases, USAID leveraged resources from other donors, including the Japanese and Norwegian Embassies and the Peace Corps, to make additional improvements.
Renovation projects ranged from installation of new energy efficient aluminum windows to replacing of old wooden stoves with modern central heating systems. In all cases, the schools were thrilled to receive our much needed assistance and pledged to take good care of new equipment for generations of students to come. The second phase of renovations, covering 32 more schools, will begin early next year. During its four years of implementation, USAID Primary Education Project will renovate up to 100 schools across the nation. |