Case study of the education system diagnostic toolkit in applied in practice

• In Event: System Diagnostics: A Practical Approach for Bringing Local Voices into Program Design

Proposal

This presentation will provide an overview of how the USAID Education System Diagnostic Toolkit was applied as part of a study in Malawi conducted to help inform the design phase of a system-wide higher education activity that seeks to address complex challenges related to three overarching pillars: educational access (particularly among vulnerable populations); quality; and linkages between higher education and relevant industry in the country. The system diagnostic was intentionally employed as a methodology in order to promote new approaches in the sector that enable better systemic innovation and awareness in addressing the complex dynamics underlying higher education challenges. The University of Notre Dame team worked closely with their local partner Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) to identify critical stakeholder groups and representative individuals to participate in participatory workshops; determine the most appropriate systems diagnostic exercises; and select geographical locations in the country to most effectively gauge perceptions around challenges to access, quality, and linkages. This presentation will discuss the specific steps taken to apply the toolkit to both a unique local context, as well as the specific needs/objectives of a particular USAID Mission (in this case that of Malawi). IPOR will also elaborate on the collaborative approach that the University of Notre Dame team employed to ensure that the diagnostic was effectively integrated into and supportive of the overall design process.

Research to be highlighted:
Case Study Findings from Malawi (forthcoming)

Author

• Blessings Darlo Chinsinga, Institute of Public Opinion and Research