ECD and Skills Development Strategy
The Silk Road Centre developed a five-year strategy for Rupani Foundation (RF), which is working with underdeveloped and marginalized communities in Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan to implement Early Childhood Development (ECD) and skills development programs. These programs are supported through individual donations and funding from European Union, USAID, GIZ and Plan International. The 2015-20 strategy crafted a clear roadmap for program expansion and leveraging partnerships with local and international development partners. Based on the ECD expansion strategy, RF established an Early Learning Model (ELM) Center in Gilgit. Currently, RF is expanding ELM Centers in several other parts of the region. The strategy development process included desk review, key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussions, SWOT analysis and site visits.
Baseline Study on Provision of Quality Education in 500 Schools, a DFID-funded project implemented by BRAC
The study was designed to collect and interpret data on key project indicators, including enrollment of out-of-school children, student learning, teacher recruitment and attendance, and community involvement. BRAC established these 500 schools in slum pockets of Karachi, Khairpur and Qamber-Shahdadkot district. The baseline study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. The instruments used in the study included student assessment tests, school information checklists and questionnaire for Focus Group Discussions with parents and community members. The study sample included assessment of 1000 grade-1 students, 100 teachers and 1106 mothers, fathers and community members.
External Evaluation of ECD and Youth Skills Development Programs
The evaluation study was aimed at systematically investigating and documenting the effectiveness and outcomes of the ECD and youth skills development programs implemented by Rupani Foundation in Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh. The study featured site visits to 12 ECD centers and 122 households benefitting from the program in Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan. The study also included interviews of 150 randomly selected training graduates of the Foundation’s gems cutting and polishing training program to assess the impact of the training on income generation. The sample included 45 male and 105 female workers trained through the program.
Baseline Study to assess the Status of Early Childhood Care and Development in Sajawal-Sindh, a program implemented by Plan International
Plan International Pakistan in collaboration with the Government of Sindh implemented a pilot project on Early Childhood Care and Development (EECD) in District Sajawal. The home-based ECCD project supported holistic development of children of age 0-3 years by improving the capacity of mothers, fathers, caregivers, and communities in childcare. At the commencement of the pilot project, Plan International commissioned a study to establish a baseline of the existing knowledge, skills and childcare practices followed by parents, healthcare providers and communities in the four sample villages of Sajawal. The villages included Hamzo Khaskheli, Rahib Aamro, Sheikh Rahio and Fateh Muhammad Soomro. The assessment of knowledge, awareness and practices comprised key areas of early care such as pregnancy care, nutrition, hygiene and safe childbirth. The study sample included 194 mothers, 69 children of ages 24-36 months, 98 fathers and male community members, 8 community healthcare providers, and 10 key informants. The research tools consisted of a child observation checklist and questionnaires for mothers, community healthcare providers, FGDs and key informants.