Strengthening the EiE Data & Evidence Ecosystem through a new Inter-agency Action Agenda

Group Submission Type: Pre-conference Workshop

Description of Session

In mid-2022, an estimated 103 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide and 222 million crisis-affected children were in need of education support. These crisis-affected children and youth not only lack access to education, but they are also impacted by the global learning crisis, in which millions of children aren’t developing the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed: out of the 222 million crisis-affected children, 35% are out of school, while 54% are in school but do not achieve minimum proficiency in math or reading. The adoption of the Education 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a global agenda to leave no one behind and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, including those affected by emergencies and protracted crises. The realization of these goals requires evidence-based decision-making about the education needs of crisis-affected communities. However, timely and quality data and evidence is limited in terms of availability, access, quality, and comparability for crisis-affected populations.

Much of the existing EiE evidence base is program or agency-specific and not widely accessible, particularly in terms of the translation, uptake, and use of knowledge and evidence to empower policymakers and practitioners working directly with crisis-affected communities. There is general agreement that new EiE research should be funded in a way that generates evidence and Global Public Goods that are relevant, uphold principles of equity and are accessible most critically to populations affected by crises. This aligns with a strong movement to decolonize knowledge production. There is also growing recognition that processes to effectively measure and track the uptake and use of evidence are needed. However, an aligned collective road map for how the sector can put these aims into practice does not yet exist. Data and evidence production remains duplicative and lacks a framework by which the sector can systematically identify gaps and subsequently learn from new knowledge - thereby further strengthening our education response.

To respond to these challenges, INEE and Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with ECW, FCDO, the Geneva Global Hub, IRC, NORRAG, UNESCO, UNHCR, and UNICEF, convened a summit in Geneva June 2023 to strengthen the EiE Data & Evidence ecosystem through the establishment of an EiE Data & Evidence Action Agenda and tracking of subsequent progress towards that agenda. This summit is a milestone in the launch of a three-year initiative led by INEE and Global Affairs Canada. The EiE Data & Evidence Summit convened policy makers, ministries of education, data technical experts, researchers, practitioners, and donors to collectively strengthen the EiE data and evidence ecosystem as a key component of ensuring that crisis-affected populations have access to quality, inclusive, equitable, and safe education.

This workshop will share an interactive overview of the resulting Action Agenda and guide participants through an exercise to collect additional input on the Action Agenda recommendations while also identifying ways in which attendees (individual or institutional) can take action to contribute to the agenda.

Sub Unit

• Pre-Conference Workshops, Book launches, and Visual Art Exhibits / Pre-Conference Workshop

Chair

• Sonja H Anderson, INEE

Workshop Organizers

• Silvia Diazgranados, International Rescue Committee

• Moira V Faul, NORRAG, Geneva Graduate Institute

Presenting author

• Sonja H Anderson, INEE