Supporting Civil Society in advancing social inclusion and gender equality in education through a global learning partnership and research generation

• In Event: Roundtable Session 12
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Advocating for quality education for all in a digitalising world: Civil society’s engagement in education policymaking through Education Out Loud

Proposal

In an era of rapid digital transformation and political unrests, the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advocating for inclusive and equitable education, particularly in fragile and conflict affected areas. This presentation will share the key findings and insights from a global survey of CSOs working in over 60 countries. The results will focus on the needs assessment of the organisations working in the area of social inclusion and gender equality, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected areas. We will also discuss the potential of participatory research approaches in advancing the CSO’s goals to provide education for all. The survey aimed to better understand the needs and challenges faced by education CSOs in generating evidence to support their advocacy and programming efforts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The survey explored critical issues such as the impact of shrinking civic spaces, the use of digital technologies to strengthen advocacy, and the strategies employed by CSOs to influence education policies that respond to complex challenges, including those associated with new technologies. An important area of enquiry concerned the needs that organisation have in regards to learning about research approaches and the use of data to advance advocacy and programming.

The presentation will highlight learnings and gaps reported by CSOs in how they can use data and research to effectively engage in education policy dialogues, with a focus on promoting social inclusion and gender equality. This includes insights on participatory research processes, data analysis, and the use of human rights frameworks to strengthen advocacy for the right to education, even in the most challenging environments. By sharing these survey findings, the presentation will emphasize the role of civil society in driving effort to ensure that no one is left behind and that quality education is accessible to all. The presentation will also showcase innovative initiatives by within a global learning partnership between a research institution and CSOs, to build evidence, data, and knowledge to benefit the broader education community. The insights aim to inspire and empower CSOs worldwide to leverage research and data to strengthen their advocacy and collaborate more effectively with education stakeholders to realize the vision of inclusive and equitable education as a fundamental human right. In particular, focusing on advancing gender equality and social inclusion, especially in fragile and conflict-affected areas.

Author

• Katarzyna Kubacka, NFER