Accelerated Primary Education Support (APES) Project; Final Evaluation Report

In response to the education challenges in Somalia, the Accelerated Primary Education Support (APES) Programme in Somalia was designed. The European Community co-funded project was implemented over three years by a consortium comprising Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC-Europe) as the lead in partnership, Save the Children Denmark (SCD) and CONCERN Worldwide. The Ministries of Education (MoEs) and umbrella organisations were the local counterparts.

The programme was implemented in 13 selected regions of the three zones in Somalia (Somaliland and Puntland, and South Central Somalia-SCS), with effect from 15th October, 2009. A No Cost Extension was granted, extending the project period to 15th January, 2013. APES intervention aimed at averting the risk of a significant proportion of a generation of children in Somalia missing education, recognising the critical potential of education in accelerating democratisation, peace building and poverty reduction. The Action was designed to respond to the Somali peoples’ aspirations and strategic priorities which have been variously highlighted in the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) with the subsequent Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) for Somalia, the EC Assistance Strategy and Policy Considerations for the Education and Training Sector for Somalia, the National Education Policies of Somaliland and Puntland, Sector Functional Assessment among others.