Gender and Social Inclusion in Education Out Loud: The Role of Civil Society in Advocating for Policy Change

• In Event: Inclusion, Civil Society, and the Right to Education: Advancing Peace and Equity through Advocacy and Accountability

Proposal

Inclusive education has the potential to reduce disparities and foster social cohesion. Yet with only five years left to achieve the SDG 4 targets, marginalized groups remain disproportionately excluded. Girls from poor households, children with disabilities, and youth in conflict-affected settings face particular barriers. Civil society has a critical role to play in advocating for inclusive education that addresses these inequalities.

This presentation draws on a global research study of EOL’s work on gender and social inclusion (GESI) to examine how CSOs address multiple forms of marginalization. It unpacks the structural and intersectional barriers—such as poverty, gender, disability, and conflict—that prevent equitable access to education, and highlights how CSOs have successfully challenged these barriers through advocacy.

Examples include civil society action in Senegal, where advocacy enabled undocumented students to sit national exams, and global coalition-building that has raised visibility of intersectional inequalities in education. The study highlights the varied strategies CSOs employ: generating evidence, engaging in policy dialogues, influencing global fora, and mobilizing communities. These strategies not only address barriers but also contribute to more cohesive societies by ensuring marginalized learners are included in education systems.

The analysis also underscores persistent challenges. Chief among them are limited availability of disaggregated data and insufficient mechanisms to monitor multiple forms of exclusion. Without robust data, targeted interventions remain difficult. Civil society fills this gap by building local data systems and amplifying grassroots evidence.

This paper argues that promoting gender equality and social inclusion in education is both an equity and a peace imperative. By addressing intersectional barriers and advocating for policy change, CSOs demonstrate their indispensable role in creating inclusive education systems. Their work illustrates how civil society can transform the education landscape and foster societies that are more equitable, cohesive, and peaceful.

Authors

• Gustavo Henndel Lopes, National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)

• Geeta Gambhir

• Maria Jose Guevara Duque

• Katarzyna Kubacka