Document Library

Improving the Provision of Basic Services for the Poor in Fragile Environments: Education Sector International Literature Review

Author: S. Pavanello, T. Othieno
Date: 2008
Size: 37 pages (369KB)

Access full text: available online

Summary

How can donors and partner governments best support education provision in fragile states? This literature review is one of three sectoral reports from the Overseas Development Institute on service delivery in fragile states. Education offers opportunities for addressing root causes of state fragility, but remains a marginalised element of international humanitarian response. Engagement with the state should be a question of degree. Even in the most difficult cases, there is room to experiment with approaches that address both immediate needs and longer-term statebuilding.

Education can help address the causes of state fragility, but also has the potential to contribute to fragility. Because education has not been perceived as a life-saving intervention, it has been neglected in humanitarian assistance. The funding gap between humanitarian and development assistance and a lack of trust between donors and governments make funding for education problematic in fragile states. Donors have to balance immediate education needs with building long-term capacity. There are also choices between engaging with the public sector and non-state providers (NSPs) and between supporting central or local government.

There is no single approach for donor engagement in education service delivery in fragile states. Delivery through government structures recognises education as a public responsibility, supports sustainable provision and contributes to state capacity. Delivery through non-state providers (NSPs) takes a shorter route of accountability and allows for quick scale-up of service delivery. Other findings include the following:

• Approaches may be geared towards the school curriculum, minimum standards or teachers.
• Alignment with partner government and harmonisation amongst donors are recognised as important for aid effectiveness in fragile states.
• Mechanisms for financing education delivery in fragile states include The Education for All Fast-Track Initiative, budget support and multi-donor trust funds. There is no agreed model for addressing the funding gap between humanitatian and development assistance.
• Providing educational opportunities for vulnerable and poor children is a key priority. This involves targeting disadvantaged groups and generating demand for services.

Education is still a marginalised element of the international humanitarian response. This has clear implications for funding which, especially in conflict-affected fragile states, is still inadequate. Further implications are that: