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Education Cluster Strategic Plan 2015 to 2019

Attachments

1. Introduction and Acknowledgements

The Education Cluster derives its primary mandate, scope and boundaries from the IASC humanitarian system, and specifically from the cluster approach. Therefore, this 2015-2019 Strategic Plan is organised around core cluster coordination services. The systemization and consolidation of the cluster approach in the past two years have helped enabled this clear vision and focus in our strategic plan.

It is important to emphasize that the Education Cluster is part of the IASC humanitarian (cluster) system, as well as a mechanism within the education sector. At country and global levels it therefore acts at the intersection of the two systems, each with different aims, approaches, actors and partnerships.

The Education Cluster aims to ensure a timely, effective and coordinated education response in humanitarian crises. This means that the strategic and operational choices the Education Cluster will make in selecting and prioritizing the range and volume of products it will deliver against this plan take the particular dynamics, opportunities and challenges of the education sector into account.
At a macro-level, with 28.5 million out-of-school children living in conflict-affected countries and millions more affected by displacement, natural disasters, the provision of education in emergencies is fundamental to achieving Education for All. As coordinator of education actors at country and global level, the Education Cluster has an important role in facilitating the practical realization of global education goals in humanitarian situations.

A reality and key challenge confronting the sector is consistent underfunding of education in emergencies, at less than 2% of humanitarian funding. Not only does education receive a small share overall, but it receives the smallest proportion of the requested amount of all humanitarian sectors.
As the main forum through which education partners access humanitarian funding, the Education Cluster at country and global level has an important role to advocate for recognition and adequate resourcing of education in emergencies.

In terms of education-specific partnerships, the Education Cluster participates in the Education Cannot Wait advocacy initiative, linked to Education First and convened by the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE). The cluster also works closely with INEE on sharing standards, technical resources, and guidance. The Education Cluster is also liaising with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and other key actors on bridging humanitarian and development coordination and financing. Through connections with these and other agencies, partnerships and networks, the cluster provides advice and information from the cluster perspective to prioritize education in emergencies going forward.

Positively, this Strategic Plan starts at a time of several promising developments and opportunities.
Key development and humanitarian partnerships, agencies, organisations, donors, advocates and other actors are exploring new options and ways of working to address education in emergencies, protracted crises, and recovery situations more holistically and comprehensively. This includes consideration of measures to bridge the humanitarian and development divide, in terms of planning, coordination and financing. The Education Cluster will engage in these efforts to help ensure education systems keep going and children learning during humanitarian crises.