Systems strengthening to improve education outcomes in Asia

Determining the Impact of Systems Strengthening on Education Reform

With partner Delivery Associates, the systems strengthening review was conducted in two phases. First, the team conducted a desk review, a multicounty survey, and key informant interviews across select USAID projects with significant systems strengthening activities. Second, a deep-dive qualitative study was conducted on systems strengthening activities in Cambodia, Nepal, and the Philippines to determine the key factors for success and lessons for future education system strengthening. 

Looking at 20 USAID-funded activities in 11 countries across Asia, we found widespread impact on some elements of education systems’ capacity—for example, helping systems to design evidence-based reading reform strategies, gather better student outcome data, and strengthen teacher development. We also identified four key principles to maximize impact. 

Our review also found that activities were less likely to have succeeded in supporting systems to set learning outcome goals for students, analyze the “delivery chain” of actors to implement desired reforms, or use data to review progress and solve problems.

In the Learn More section below, download the Full Report from the review to explore further. For an overview of the report, download the Summary Report. And to explore how systems strengthening activities led to transformative, lasting impact on education outcomes, download the deep-dive case studies for Cambodia, Nepal, and the Philippines.