Following the successful implementation of phase one, UNESCO-China Funds-in-Trust project on “Enhancing Teacher Education for Bridging the Education Quality Gap in Africa” has been launched in Ethiopia in the first week of March 2017. Phase two of the project builds upon the success of the first phase of the project, which was highly evaluated by an international team of external assessors. The main aim of the second phase is to consolidate the results from phase one of the project and introduce additional activities related to the use of ICT in education.  In connection with this, IICBA staff members Solomon Andargie, Project Officer and Binyam Sisay, Program Officer conducted a three day visit to each of the two partner institutions in Ethiopia, namely Bahirdar University and Hawassa College of Teacher Education. The team visited Bahirdar University and the Amhara Regional State Education Bureau (Amhara REB) in Bahirdar from 01-04 March 2017, and visited Hawasssa College of Teacher Education and the South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State Education Bureau (SNNPR REB) in Hawassa from 07-10 March 2017.

During the visit, team members discussed the implementation plans of the two institutions and jointly agreed on adjustments to be made where necessary. Details of the implementation of the project including an implementation program have been prepared and partner institutions are expected to start operationalizing the activities immediately. In addition to this, IICBA team members deliberated on the coordination support expected from REBs, including allocation of government fund for coverage of telecom payments and employment of technical personnel in connection with the usage of video conferencing equipment in beneficiary schools. The REBs reiterated their strong support of the project and they have agreed to support the project activities in the respective regions through allocation of funds to run the video conference facility and hiring of personnel starting the next government fiscal year.