Implementation is carried out by our team in Zambia. We adjust our programs and approach to meet the unique needs of each site we enter.
Consideration of sites is made based on recommendations from the ME, ZAWA and our team members. Once a site is selected for serious consideration, a preliminary assessment is conducted by the KnowledgeBeat team. This assessment includes the following: 1) Site visit by team members to determine suitability for KnowledgeBeat programs and gauge commitment of school and community to working with KnowledgeBeat; 2) Completion of a “needs” profile by both the school administration and the local district education board; 3) Infrastructure survey of the site and surrounding region - transport, communications, safety, power supply, etc.; 4) Discussion with organizations or agencies operating in the site or surrounding areas.
Based on the results of the site assessment, the KnowledgeBeat team determines whether or not to select the site. Should the site be selected, the team tailors an implementation plan that meets the specific needs of the site. Strategy varies depending on site and regional conditions, for instance it may involve only deploying select KnowledgeBeat programs or staging program deployment. Following completion, the proposal is submitted to the ME for approval. Upon approval, the team begins executing on the plan which typically coincides with the start of a new school year.
In every instance, the KnowledgeBeat team works closely with school administrators and teachers to establish accountability and drive successful results. Each of our programs has different requirements which are discussed in more detail in “Programs”, but our overall approach includes: appointing one teacher as the primary lead for each deployed program; ensuring that all resources are housed in a secure location and tracked when distributed to individuals; establishing effective incentives and retribution through the ME; conducting monthly site visits and quarterly performance assessments.
We constantly evaluate our results and incorporate feedback to adjust and improve our model.
