Policy Shift to Resilience - USAID White Paper on Resilience in Education

• In Event: Education and Resilience: Building Back Stronger Systems Post-crisis

Proposal

Late in 2018 USAID's Center for Education (formerly Office of Education) commissioned, via the Education in Crisis and Conflict Network (ECCN), a white paper to explore research and adapt the conceptual framework of resilience to USAID’s education sector--Transforming Systems in Times of Adversity: USAID Education & Resilience White Paper. The paper laid out a clear, evidence-based case for greater investment in education beyond just the human-capital rationale. It positioned USAID’s education sector as critical to broader resilience due to its ability to operate at scale, its broad-based demand from crisis-affected populations, and its portability.
While marking an important shift at the Agency, the Education & Resilience White Paper was only the first step in the process. It was theoretical in nature and lacked practical guidance and tools for application in USAID’s education programming around the globe. Nevertheless, USAID was well positioned to apply the concepts of the White Paper to its COVID-19 response. Resilience served to both position education as a critical sector in the response to COVID-19 impacts outside the health sector, as well shaped the global priorities for USAID policy and program shifts in the education sector.
During this presentation, Nina Weisenhorn, Senior Advisor for Education in Crisis and Conflict and the USAID Center for Education, will present USAID's conceptual framework for Education & Emergencies and explain how it is being applied to shape policies and programs across the globe.

Author

• Nina Weisenhorn, USAID