External Education Financing
The INEE Reference Guide on External Education Financing is a resource that explains donor education funding strategies and mechanisms. It focuses on external education financing in low-income countries, including those in fragile situations. Governments in these situations (crisis, post-crisis or the risk of crisis associated with conflict, natural disaster or challenges to government legitimacy) typically face challenges in delivering core public services, including education.
Why was the Reference Guide developed?
The Reference Guide was developed by the INEE Working Group on Education and Fragility in response to requests from education specialists for an easily accessible description of the different types of external assistance for education. In particular, it responds to recommendations made by participants at the 2008 INEE Policy Roundtable on Education Finance in States Affected by Fragility. The purpose of the Reference Guide is to enable national decision-makers to better understand:
- what donors seek to achieve in the education sector
- how donors provide education assistance
- the constraints on donor funding
- how various funding mechanisms work
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why donors choose one funding mechanism over another
What is the Reference Guide?
The Reference Guide is a reference written from the donor point of view that explains the design, goals and constraints of existing types of external education assistance. It is not an analysis of the pros and cons of different funding mechanisms, nor is it a “how to” guide that helps education ministries more successfully apply for external education assistance.
Who will benefit from reading the Reference Guide?
National education policy-makers will gain a better understanding of funding mechanisms, making them better able to navigate country-donor relationships. Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society organisations, together with local education donor groups and their education partners, may increase their knowledge of donor goals, strategies and funding mechanisms in the education sector. As a result, they may become more effective at holding governments and donors accountable for the use of external education funding.
Additional Readings and Resources on External Education Financing
The Reference Guide includes an annex with additional readings and resources to help readers learn more about external education financing.
Click here for links to the resources listed in the annex as well as additional resources.
Next Steps . . .
The Working Group is initiating an extensive dissemination strategy to ensure the Reference Guide reaches all interested stakeholders. As part of this, the Reference Guide will be presented in the upcoming series of INEE regional tool launches kicking off in Dakar, Senegal on 25 June 2010. In addition, launches were held in Paris, Geneva, New York, Washington D.C, Bangkok, Nairobi, Oslo, Lima and Panama City in 2010 and a regional tools launch is being planned for the Middle East. If you would like further information, please contact educationfragiltiy@ineesite.org.
The Reference Guide is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
- Click here to download INEE Reference Guide in English.
- Click here to download INEE Reference Guide in French.
- Click here to download INEE Reference Guide in Spanish.
- Click here to download INEE Reference Guide in Arabic.
- Click here to download a 2-page brief on the Reference Guide.
- Click here to download a 4-page brief on the Reference Guide.
- Click here to download a brief on the Reference Guide in French.
- Click here to download a short PowerPoint presentation on the Reference Guide.
- Click here to download a long PowerPoint presentation on the Reference Guide.
Materials for a facilitated learning session on the Reference Guide
The Working Group on Education and Fragility has developed materials for a facilitated learning session on the Reference Guide, including a facilitator’s guide, powerpoint presentation, and handouts on financing mechanism and scenarios. These materials will be used in future INEE regional tool launches and can be downloaded here.
