Education

Education,
a foundation for life

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A foundation for life

About 262 million children and youth are out of school (2017, UNESCO). To counter drop-out rates Cordaid strengthens education systems in the most fragile regions of the world, with a results-based financing (RBF) approach. This allows more children to go to school and to complete their education. At the same time, it improves the quality of education.

What we do

Cordaid strengthens education systems by means of RBF in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

In DRC we implement a large-scale RBF project in 14 provinces, covering approximately 1350 primary schools and improving access to education for 500.000 children.

In the CAR, where we work in post-conflict affected areas, we combine emergency aid interventions, like construction and rehabilitation of schools, with the results-based financed development.

All our interventions are implemented in full alignment with the ministries of education in the project countries. Cordaid’s projects contribute to the specific goals of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’.

We:

increase equal access to primary and secondary level education for girls and boys;
make learning environments safer;
increase the quality of education, as a result of which learning outcomes of children improve.

We pursue this mainly, but not exclusively, in a results-based manner, engaging with all relevant actors within the education chain and striving for more autonomy and cost-efficiency of educational systems. The RBF approach entails a direct link between funding and results: schools are only paid when they can demonstrate that more children, particularly girls, are enrolled and that the learning environment has improved as well.

A high school in Walungu. In DR Congo, Cordaid supports schools by applying the Results-Based Financing (RBF) approach. Image: Ilvy Njiokiktjien.

SDG 4 is not only a goal in itself. Ensuring inclusive and equitable education is a means to accomplish other SDGs as well, such as SDG 3 on health, SDG 5 on gender equality, and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.

Education systems are burdened with various sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) concerns such as unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse, and early marriage. This negatively influences enrolment and attendance rates and the quality of learning, which may lead to early drop-out. In order to prevent girls from dropping out of school, Cordaid sexual and reproductive health and rights education at schools.

This video shows how we use RBF to improve education in DR Congo:

13,300 primary school teachers and 1,300 school directors took part in training sessions and improved their skills in 2020
647,000 primary school children in DRC and CAR have better access to quality education thanks to our support in 2020

Education Services

Thematic expertise

We provide tailor-made Technical Assistance (TA) like training and workshops to build capacity for the staff of Ministries of Education, school inspectors, directors, and teachers.

This support includes the development of manuals and training tools, program design and implementation, stakeholder analysis, quality control, project and impact evaluation and advocacy.

It entails (inclusive) education systems and management, pedagogy and didactics, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education. Our TA can be provided tailor-made within Cordaid programs or stand-alone, sourced from Cordaid’s country offices or the global office in The Hague.

Action research: this entails a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking the action in order to improve and/or refining actions in promoting education service delivery with a keen eye on innovations. Cordaid can conduct such research exclusively and/or support partners throughout a research process.

Knowledge sharing & thought leadership: Cordaid shares on-line and off-line knowledge and lessons learned, generated by our projects. Documents and tools developed by Cordaid experts and be accessed through our website or by contacting our staff. Cordaid provides inputs and keynote speakers at global and local conferences in the field of education.

Jos Dusseljee

Senior Strategist Health & Expert RBF

Program and grant management

Program implementation: Cordaid develops, implements, monitors and evaluates education programs in Africa and Asia with own staff (country office and/or global office-based) and/or in close cooperation with local stakeholders such as local governments, NGOs, CBOs, schools, and communities.

Grant management: Cordaid is an experienced manager of funds from (bilateral, multilateral and other) institutional donors in favor of local governmental and civil society organizations that aim to contribute to inclusive education. Cordaid uses its knowledge and competences in countries of operation to improve cost-effective education services.

Capacity building: Where Cordaid operates, we increase the capacity of (mainly) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). CSOs are capacitated to perform their key roles in providing accessible and quality education services more effectively. They are also better equipped to amplify their voices in policy and decision-making processes.