October 22, 2013
The Programme for Enhancement of Literacy in Afghanistan Phase III (ELA 3)
 
Ambassador Takahashi (left) is shaking hands with Rep; of the UNESCO (right). Text books for the project
Center is Minister Wardak.
KABUL, 22nd October, 2013
The Government of Japan signed the agreement amounting to USD 20 million (about 1.14 billion
AFN) with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the
third phase of the Programme for Enhancement of Literacy in Afghanistan (ELA) today in a
ceremony held at the Ministry of Education. Funded by the Government of Japan, and implemented
by the Ministry of Education Literacy Department with technical assistance from UNESCO, ELA 3
seeks to build upon the successes of previous phases of the Programme, and further strengthen the
provision of literacy in Afghanistan with an emphasis on the development of skills.
The ELA Programme has, since 2008, received a total of USD 50 million grant from Japan and
worked to expand access to literacy in 15 provinces1. During the first two phases of the Programme,
over 600,000 adults, more than 60% of whom were women, were provided with nine-month courses
in basic literacy and numeracy with life skills training, and further 400,000 adult learners will benefit
from the new phrase. Thus, in total, one million Afghan people in 18 provinces will be trained
through the ELA Programme, which will substantially contribute to achieving the targets of the
Government to increase the level of adult literacy from the current figure of 36% to 59% by 2020.
Through technical assistance from UNESCO, the ELA Programme has also strengthened the
institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education. The Literacy Department now has the ability to
provide a decentralized approach to monitoring literacy. The Programme further assisted the
Literacy Department in building the quality of the literacy curriculum and literacy teacher training
programmes.
Joint Press Release
Ambassador Takahashi (left) is making a speech in the ceremony.
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