Promoting Primary Education for Girls in Malawi

Evaluation of USAID GABLE programme. USAID initiatives have helped increase girls’ access to education but this success, combined with implications of a national universal education policy, is burdening an already overloaded system.

Found that:

• Fee waivers have contributed to increased girls’ primary enrollments and persistence
• Budget support and conditionalities, along with other donor contributions, have fueled funding for education
• Girls’ education is high on the national agenda
• Quality improvements lag quantity increases
• Fee waivers and scholarships increase access but may threaten quality and sustainability
• Policy dialog has been difficult
• In quality of schooling, demand has outpaced supply
• Synergistic effects and efficiencies were missed
• Sustainability of program efforts was not maximized

Also available is a synthesis report on USAID experience in girl's education