Financing for Education in Africa How can CSO affect National Budget amongst other sources of financing

1. Financing for Education in AfricaHow can CSO affect National Budget amongst other sources of financing Theophane Nikyema Executive Director 9th CSO Forum Meeting Dakar 3rd April 2014

2. The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) • Established in September 2003 • Independent Pan-African Institution of Policy Research and Advocacy on African Child Rights and Wellbeing based in Addis Ababa • Governed by an International Board of Trustees • Chaired by H.E. President Joachim Chissano, former President of Mozambique (1986 to 2005) • Institutional members: Chairpersons of the ACERWC and the UNCRC • Individual members • Distinguished Fellows

3. The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) • Mission= Put children issues on public & political agenda through: • Provision of platforms and forums for dialogue • International Policy Conferences, The Larissa Award, Online platform: Infohub – Resource Center • Research/polls on issues of children in Africa and provision of information and guidelines on legal and policy reforms • Production of reports, publications • The African Report on Child Wellbeing, Child Justice, Violence against Children, The Child Law Resources (CLR) • Production of media oriented documentaries • Once mum was gone, Beating Violence, Born to high risk

4. Africa’s Commitment to Education • African Governments recognize: • Education = a fundamental right children entitled • Education = a necessary investment in human capital • Investing in education = important strategy for nation building • Education = Development • Education for All in Africa • Adoption of Dakar Framework for Action: a global education framework adopted by 164 countries • First Decade of Education in Africa (1997 – 2006) • Second Decade of Education in Africa (2006 – 2015)

5. Africa’s Commitment to Education

6. Commitment to Education: Financing • African Governments - Dakar Commitment: • Allocate at least 7% of GDP to education by 2005 and • Increase to 9%by 2010 • Mobilize new financial resources in forms of grants and concessional assistance from bilateral, multilaterals (World Bank, Regional development banks) and Private sector • International agencies to double their financial support (capacity building & management development) • “No countries seriously committed to education for all will be thwarted in their achievement of this goal by a lack of resources”

7. Public Expenditure on Education Source: UNESCO 2013

8. Public Expenditure on Education Source: UNESCO 2013

9. Public Expenditure on Education Budget expenditure on education much lower than the Dakar commitment • Only Lesotho met the Abuja target • The average expenditure is just half of what is expected Source: UNESCO 2013

10. Financing: Results & Challenges • Governments increased investments • Significant donors contributions • Increasing part of education assumed by Private sector • Innovations in financing • Donor aid not adequately spent • Absorption capacity

11. Commitment to Education: Results • Primary education boom, secondary education deficit and declining quality • Many countries unlikely to reach UPE by 2015 due to lack of teachers • Efforts still required for development of ECD and its inclusion in other multi-sectoral and sectoral policies and strategic plans • Technical and Vocational Education and Training remain a poorly recognized and underfunded sector by mainstream education players

12. Commitment to Education: Results • Higher education: development of continental quality rating mechanisms and establishment of the Pan African University to support research collaboration and enhance science and technology • Higher Inequality in higher education still a challenge: fewer women students from rural areas and vulnerable groups • Curriculum development and teaching and learning materials are limited at the regional and continental levels, despite numerous countries having undertaken major curriculum reviews • Despite progress in developing Management Information System many countries Lack critical data on key education issues

13. Post-2015: Opportunities & Challenges

14. Priority Countries Source: Report for UN Special Envoy 2013

15. Way Forward for CSOs • Strengthening CSOs networking and engagement • Basis = Dakar Framework for Action: Ensure the engagement and participation of CSO in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of strategies for educational development • Strengthen engagement with government • Reinforce network/alliance amongst CSOs • Reinforce coordination between National and International CSOs • Strengthen alternative reports to ACERWC / UNCRC • Strengthening CSOs skills in Advocacy/Lobbying • Drawing from evidence to inform policies • Budget Advocacy • Analysis/Monitoring National Budget • Advocacy with partners (bilateral and multilateral)

16. Way Forward for CSOs • Strengthening Social Accountability • Promote or facilitate actions and mechanisms for greater accountability • Strengthen CSOs accountability vis-à-vis communities they serve • Strengthening/Setting Up Child Observatory • Innovating on mechanisms for listening to voices of children and engaging them • Facilitating role of media in monitoring/reporting

17. www.africanchildforum.org

18. resourcecentre.africanchildforum.org

19. www.africanchildinfo.net

20. THANK YOU