Mathematica Partners With Chemonics and USAID to Enhance Early Grade Learning in Nepal and Liberia

As International Literacy Day approaches, Mathematica, a global policy research and data analytics consultancy, is thrilled to announce a partnership with international development firm Chemonics to increase access to high-quality basic education across Nepal and Liberia. Under two new awards with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Mathematica and Chemonics will strengthen the capacity of federal, provincial, and local governments in both countries to deliver effective learning services for early grade students.

This new partnership taps Chemonics’ extensive experience implementing large-scale early grade education programs globally and leverages Mathematica’s deep expertise in measurement, evaluation, research, and learning solutions. For this important work, Mathematica is applying rapid-cycle collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) principles and human-centered design to strengthen program delivery.

“Instead of following a traditional approach where strategies are set at the project’s start and evaluated at the end, our CLA approach involves rapid-cycle evaluation,” said Matt Sloan, senior director and practice lead for USAID at Mathematica. “We’re quickly and continuously evaluating program implementation, adapting our strategies based on what we learn, and building on the combined strength of local program implementers and people with on-the-ground experience to maximize school enrollment and boost foundational learning.”

In Liberia, where the majority of students are older than the appropriate age for their enrolled grade, the Liberia Foundational Skills Activity (LFSA) team is working to promote on-time enrollment in primary school for six-year-old children and age- and developmentally appropriate classroom placements for all primary school children. The team is also developing contextually appropriate reading, teaching, and learning materials for distribution to schools and helping teachers use evidence-based practices in grades 1-6.

Reflecting on the partnership, Chemonics LFSA Project Director Edward Landreth noted that, “The new Liberia program is the largest USAID education program in Liberia in agency history. We are excited to have the opportunity to implement a flagship program with an evidence-based, locally led, human-centered design approach with Mathematica’s leadership and support.”

In Nepal, USAID Early Grade Learning is supporting local governments’ delivery of early grade learning services; ability to provide teacher professional support, coaching, mentorship, and supervision; and provision of equitable, resilient, and quality education services in grades 1-3.

“USAID Early Grade Learning is delighted to be working with Mathematica. Our partnership is already yielding results,” said Sonia Arias, project director for Chemonics. “We have jointly completed a robust early grade reading and early grade math assessment baseline that will contribute to meaningful discussions with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. These discussions, in turn, will support systems and processes for the effective delivery of quality education services.”

To ensure the sustainability of this work, the project teams in Liberia and Nepal are providing technical assistance at all levels of government and working closely with ministries of education. The teams are focusing on enhancing how government staff work with and train principals and teachers, ensuring education programs and policies in Nepal and Liberia promote meaningful improvements in early grade literacy and numeracy outcomes.