Knowledge is a major driver of development in this rapidly changing and increasingly interdependent world. Good quality education plays a fundamental role in interlinking human development, reaching gender equality and for poverty reduction. The goals of the Education For All agreement aimed to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. They were not met. Among the 17 new global sustainable development goals, number 4 targets education by stating the necessity to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The world is facing a key challenge in reaching this goal!
But what works best in terms of aid investments in the education sector? To address the national education challenges, policy decisions need to be evidence based, long-term strategic and inclusive taking context and complexity into account. The stakes are high for policymakers as their choices on educational policy will have long-term effects for low and middle income countries and for children growing up in these countries.
In this seminar Professor Paul Glewwe, and Professor Joel Samoff will present their new EBA reports in which they summarize and analyse conclusions from evaluations of aid to education. The two reports have been conducted independent from each other and departs from different methodological perspectives and, thus provides complementary analyses. The reports will be the point of departure for a broader discussion regarding recommendations for future aid to education as well as future synthesis evaluations of aid.
Programme
10.30 Welcome address
Lars Heikensten, EBA and Marie Ottosson, Sida
What is the role of aid in achieving the education sustainable development goals?
Prof. Pauline Rose, Director Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, University of Cambridge
Aiducation – What Works in a complex world?
Professor Professor Joel Samoff, Professor Paul Glewwe and Suzanne Wisniewski present the main findings and recommendations from their EBA reports.
Panel: Gerd- Hanne Fosen, Norad, Pauline Rose, Cambridge University, Stellan Arvidsson Hyving, Sida
Moderator: Kim Forss, EBA
13.30 What are the challenges compiling knowledge (on aid and education)?
Professor Joel Samoff and Professor Paul Glewwe and Suzanne Wisniewski present and discuss their choices of methods and perspectives employed in their studies.
Panel: Stellan Arvidsson Hyving, Sida, Pauline Rose, Cambridge University, Joakim Molander, Sida, Birte Snilstveit, 3IE
Moderator: Kim Forss, EBA
14.30 Lessons for the future (Parallell sessions)
The parallel sessions aim to discuss the policy conclusions from the synthesis evaluations in order to put evidence and lessons learned into practice. Each session will discuss conclusions and recommendations related to one important theme from the two presented EBA-reports.
- What are the conclusions for aid to education?
Gerd-Hanne Fosen, Norad - What are the conclusions for Swedish aid to education?
Stellan Arvidsson Hyving, Sida and Mats Borgenvall, MFA - What are the conclusions for future synthesis evaluations in Swedish development cooperation?
Arne Bigsten, EBA - What are the conclusions for evaluation in Swedish development cooperation?
Joakim Molander, Sida
15.30 Concluding remarks