BES 3 is an integrated set of capacity building activities supporting the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture (MBESC), as part of the Educational Quality Improvement Program 2 (EQUIP2). BES 3 works closely with Namibian authorities and every level of civil society to develop sustainable, replicable systems for improving education quality across several core cross-cutting thematic objectives: HIV/AIDS, gender equity, civil society development, decentralization, information technology, and sustainability. During the preceding phase of the project, BES 2 helped the MBESC develop innovative and effective school management systems, professional development programs in support of Ministry objectives, and innovative information and assessment systems in six remote northern regions of Nambia: Oshakati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Okavango (Rundu), and Katima Mulilo (Caprivi Strip).

The third project phase builds on this solid foundation and extends the innovative work in three new directions to improve the quality of primary school education: Increase the Resilience of the Basic Education System to Cope with the HIV/AIDS Epidemic, Improve the Effectiveness of Decentralized Education Management, and Improve the Quality of Language, Math, and Science Education in Primary Schools.