The strategic objective of the project was to improve the quality and enhance equity of primary education in Ethiopia.  This was accomplished through a focus of efforts on eight  key technical components which include: pre-service and in-service teacher training, school leadership training, supplementary media development and training, the development of socially relevant materials, capacity building of the Ministry of Education and Regional Education Bureaus, including the management of financial funds for education, and the management of the BESO II Monitoring, Evaluating, Reporting, and Analyis (MERA) agenda.  The project was a comprehensive program designed to address all aspects of basic education at the primary level in Ethiopia from increasing the number of girls in attendance at primary schools to developing supplementary materials to be used in HIV/AIDS education.

Education components were implemented in all 11 regions within Ethiopia and thousands of teachers were trained.