In South Sudan, a budding civil society education forum finds its voice

The Partners for Education Group (PEG) is contributing to the national discussion about the importance of linking education in emergencies and education sector development

January 28, 2016 by Portia Comenetia Allen, Partners for Education Group South Sudan

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8 minutes read

The Partners for Education Group (PEG) at a conference. Credit: PEG/Portia Allen

Just eight months after its official start, the Partners for Education Group (PEG) in South Sudan is contributing to the national discussion about the importance of linking education in emergencies and education sector development. It is also contributing to more coordinated efforts within the South Sudan education sector. This is a remarkable achievement in a short time, especially since PEG is made up of part-time volunteers.

Connecting early relief and development

The importance of linking emergency support, rehabilitation/recovery and development can be traced to international policy literature from over 20 years ago.[1]

In South Sudan, national efforts are underway to support education delivery prior to, during, and after emergencies. There is also agreement among education specialists in the country that focusing on education development is as relevant as emergency relief.

These discussions happened against the backdrop of key global conversations: May 2015 World Education Forum, July 2015 Oslo Summit on Education for Development, and the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 at the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

Given the protracted nature of the crisis in South Sudan, resources for education in emergencies as well as education development are both necessary.

A new advocacy group is born

After the initial onset of the mid-December 2013 conflict, international funds were pledged to support small to large-scale efforts aimed at addressing education in emergency programs throughout South Sudan, especially in the areas affected by violence.

Understandably, there was a decreased focus on longer-term, sustainable assistance, and, as a result, educational development was affected. The formation of PEG evolved from this scenario, specifically, to address the lapse of a national forum to advocate for education development.

PEG was formalized in June 2015. The group is also a by-product of concerted discussions, beginning as early as May 2014, among key partners (i.e. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), the Education Cluster, non-governmental and civil society organizations, community service providers, the Global Partnership for Education, the Department for International Development (UK), UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Food Programme, and the United States Agency for International Development) about the importance of re-prioritizing education development.

The right fit

PEG fits well within the official education structures of South Sudan (as outlined in the 2015 Education Sector Coordination Manual for MoEST and Development Partners) primarily because its central aim is to highlight and address priorities and needs within the education sector.

Equally important, PEG can recommend pertinent mitigation measures to address educational challenges that feed into the Education Donor Group, the National Education Forum, the Joint Sector Annual Review of Education, and national education budget meetings.

A critical role in coordinating partners

PEG is operating without secretariat funds. The PEG leadership team (3 persons) plus PEG members and friends work on a volunteer, part-time basis. In its first year, PEG has provided critical support to education in South Sudan. A few notable achievements are the:

2015 MoEST Partner Mapping Exercise that produced consolidated and evidenced information about a course of action by MoEST to identify and document education partners working in South Sudan.
2015 Africa Network Campaign on Education for All/Global Campaign for Education visit to South Sudan to begin stakeholder conversations about an idea to form a national education coalition in South Sudan.
2015 PEG Brief on Secondary Education, Inclusive Education, and Early Childhood Care & Development with literacy and numeracy as a cross-cutting theme.
Local civil society involvement in the 2015-2016 education sector analysis and planning processes in collaboration with the MoEST, a multi-ministerial national team, among others.

In addition, PEG has provided technical feedback on national education documents such as the Draft Education Policy Framework and the Draft Sector-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. PEG also facilitated a panel session on inclusive education and early grade literacy & numeracy at the 2^nd Joint Sector Annual Review of Education in South Sudan; attended the 2015 Pan-African Education Policy Forum in Senegal; and provided support to the 2015 South Sudan Girls’ Education Day.

Improving dialogue and aid effectiveness

Partners for Education Group and Global Campaign for Education members meeting with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Undersecretary Michael Lopuke Lotyam

Photo Credit: Partners for Education Group (PEG)

Of significance also is PEG’s potential to promote and facilitate partner alignment within the context of MoEST’s priorities and policies: by involving civil society into national and local dialogues and meetings, PEG can contribute to efficient planning and management of educational service delivery, which includes mutual accountability and transparency among education partners and government alike.

As a civil society actor, PEG promotes coherence in implementation of education development activities and collaboration among partners. Finally, as part of the education structures encouraging synergy among education partners, PEG promotes improvements in the transparency, predictability, and harmonization of education assistance within South Sudan, and best practices in reporting on education financing.

In early 2016, PEG will conduct elections to select the new leadership team and will plan for the group’s 2016-2017 activities, focusing in particular on strengthening civil society’s voice in South Sudan.

An overall focus that aims to contribute to clearer lines of communication and effective coordination as well as evidence-based monitoring processes among education partners in South Sudan.

[1]Website: Humanitarian Aid: Are Effectiveness and Sustainability Impossible Dreams?, Janice K. Kopinak, RN, BA, MHSc, MSc, The Journal of Humanitarian Assistance, March 2013.Accessed on Thursday, 7th August 2014 at^http ^{://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/1935}.

Focus areas: Education in crisis situations

Regions and countries: Sub-Saharan Africa: South Sudan

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January 29, 2016 by Riing Garwech

Dear Portia

This is very great and well done for the job done for PEG to be connected with the outside world on this blog.

January 29, 2016 by David Masua

We are glad that PEG has been recognized as a voice for sustainable education development particularly by MoEST and education donors in South Sudan. Thanks to all who made this happen especially all the support to us in 2014 when it all looked impossible to talk about development as major players focused on humanitarian assistance.

Thanks to GPE, USAID, DFID, UNICEF, WFP, UNESCO Yei Teacher Training College, Windle Trust International, Save the Children, Solidarity with South Sudan and above all MoEST for their very initial support that gave birth to PEG.

Thank you

January 29, 2016 by kiweesi alex

Good work
The innovation is a great one for the fragile South Sudan

January 29, 2016 by Taban Moses

This is so credible work that PEG has done so far with the collaboration of the MOEST where this shows spirit of team work that with or without this is formed.
Many thanks PEG for the Great work accorded.

February 01, 2016 by Daniel Wani

Let us applaud PEG members for the good forward step. We belief that notable efforts are being made by MoEST and its partners towards provision of emergency as well as development education to fill the gaps in education delivery in South Sudan. However, most of the efforts still fall short of meeting the development needs. PEG recognizes that both education in emergency and development are importance in South Sudan context hence, the need to promote and facilitate partner alignment within the context of South Sudan as well as of MoEST’s priorities and policies to realized aid effectiveness

February 01, 2016 by James Reng Deng

Many thanks to all Education Donors/ partners and MOEST for their valuable support to education in development in South Sudan. We believed in Africa Educational Trust that “Education for all is the key to development”. However, to realize this, it’s a collective responsibility of all stakeholders in education to play their roles in quality education delivery through teachers’ development programme, improving physical infrastructure and teachers’ welfare. Let’s continue to advocate for that PEG members and you will see a lot of good results.

February 01, 2016 by Rita Mazzocchi

The effort being made so far to establish and support this Partnership for Education Group are laudable and necessary. Education at all levels and in all places for every in South Sudan is not only a must it is a right of all Children. Though Education by itself not enough , it is certainly an essential corner stone in the development the human beings that will contribute not only to South Sudan but globally. I suggest that as we move forward the theme should be inclusiveness . Thank you
Rita

February 01, 2016 by Ngong David k

Dear Portia
I have appreciate the work job done by PEG Members ( Partners) who are supporting PEG and you particular who connected PEG to be know in other parts of the world. therefore , you can keep that spirit and the almighty GOD will reward you for the development of PEG in South Sudan.

I wish all the PEG members the best and to be supportive to PEG.

Ngong David K

February 03, 2016 by Irene Fredriksson

National Civil Society actors are imperative players vis-à-vis the government and donors in education, and they can in South Sudan particularly play an important role in increasing coherence and minimizing gaps between education in emergency and development, adding value through securing relevance, conflict sensitiveness and accountability of education, as well as representing the voices of the most marginalized groups. PEG has done a great work in providing space for local voices to participate and to be heard in education! Well done!

February 03, 2016 by Dr. Ann Evans

Dear Portia,

Thanks very much for your and everyone's efforts in helping link education in emergencies with education in development. Clearly, for a nascent country with vast unmet educational needs, PEG's melding of long-term educational goals with the short-term goals is a move in the right direction. This union extends both human and economic resources to strengthen the educational institutions as we work to make education for all a reality in South Sudan. Congratulations and thank you!
Ann

February 03, 2016 by Mayuen.M

I want give thank to portia for initiative she took for her wide co-ordination for PEG to reach this level so far, and much more effort from PEG Members for their contributions. Education, as it been said is the key to development, is not about how to write and read but more wider then that.

February 03, 2016 by Denis Loft

Great start PEG, and Portia. Now let's see that positive steps are taken to keep the conversation continuing. PEG needs to keep emphasising that without proper support for primary teachers in this country, progress will only appear to be being made. We can have marvellous policies, plans and curriculum, but unless there are committed teachers to deliver this it is just wasted effort. To progress we need to attract, train and retain teachers.

February 04, 2016 by WATUWA CHARLES AIFRED

Dear Portia

I highly appreciate your spirit of transparency and your effort to ensure smooth and professional transition of PEG activities from your table to another partner of PEG. Ofcourse beginning with Agenda writing is notable step.
Always with you and thank you.

February 04, 2016 by Angelo Lubang

It is important to note that PEG has done all it can in coordination and creating synergy in advocating for quality education in South Sudan. The effort is commendable, however a lot need to be put in moving it further forward in achieving Education SDG. I do appreciate the effort and support PEG got from the MoEST and the donors, more in the process of its establishment as well as other related support. We need to continue moving forward as a team.

Proper and strong coordination and commitment can take us all as partners, MoEST and the communities in availing equitable opportunities for children to reap the benefits of education for sustainable development in South Sudan. Education in South Sudan if well coordinated and supported can strongly foster peace, promote human rights across gender that leads to better economic growth. PEG has enhanced information sharing as we know information is power!!

Congratulation PEG for the job well done.

February 04, 2016 by Angelo Lubang

Congratulation PEG for the job well done.
Thanks

February 04, 2016 by Akshay Sinha

Dear Portia and PEG,
Congratulations on an excellent 2015! You have done an excellent job in bringing together partners and Government on several important exercises such as the partners mapping exercise where I truly saw your strength in coordinating all State actors in mapping their work. I have repeatedly seen your work as agents for change for Education in South Sudan by always bringing very valid points in discussions and offering solutions not just pointing to problems.
I congratulate you once again and thank you for your great work. Keep it up.
Warm Regards,
Akshay

February 05, 2016 by Drabua Silivia

Dear Portia and PEG members

Congratulation for the excellent work done. Thanks to MoSET for working closely with PEG to see success.PEG recognize the importance of both Education in Emergence and Development, neglect of any of the two will put education in different angle

February 05, 2016 by Dorothy Ejaa

Dear Portia,
Congratulation for the good work you are doing to promote education in South Sudan as a volunteer.As a PEG member I remember very well we started from zero and now we are growing well as a group which consist potential and active members to promote and motivate education in South Sudan.
I know Portia as the PEG leader we have a vision of promoting education globally and with collaboration with government of South Sudan and make education spread wider and wider.
Regards ,
Dorothy Ejaa

February 05, 2016 by Emelia Luka

Dear Portia,
Thanks you for great impact made so far in just only one year, I wish the term of your office could be 3 years, we would made a difference, Just within the short time I joined PEG, I gained a lot from your leadership and coordinating roles, Just to mention few, the process I have undergone through ESA/ESP process, ranging from EAS/ESP Sector analysis in Nairobi 23rd Oct-04th Nov 2015. ESA at UNESCO Juba from Nov 25- Jan 2016 and ESP process at Juba Grand has made difference in my life and the way I will be delivery Education Sector programs in South Sudan. I would just like to say "Thank you", yours efforts will be enjoyed by all learners in South Sudan.

February 06, 2016 by Gabriel Waithaka

PEG has done a good job especially in campaigning against shifting of resources from education in settled context. For me, education in emergency should not be considered as a different type of education but as education under difficult circumstances. That means additional resources rather than withdrawing or limiting resources from normal context are required to deal with the new circumstances. In reality, all we are doing is to ensure that there is continuity in children's education. This is not to say that resources are limitless but that in circumstances of emergency the world needs to tap into their own emergency funds to help countries already in crisis i.e. donate your 'insurance' or what you have kept for an event that is yet to happen.

One contribution of PEG that has not featured prominently is the unconscious capacity building that takes place in meetings. Nationals and internationals learn from each other. In fact, there are others already thinking of conscious capacity building in the form of brown bags. I very much look forward to the formation of the National Education Coalition from the efforts of PEG. Can we make our first campaign to be retention and completion of education cycles by both boys and girls. Save the Children will tap into this group for planned education campaigns.

February 09, 2016 by Malish Benjamin Ambawa

Dear Portia,
On behalf of ASO and on my own behalf, I would like to recognize your effort in push for PEG. It is our obligation globally to support child education as part of (global millennium development goal) and education in emergency and education sector development. I would like to assure you that quality assurance should be put also a priority. That may yield better fruit in terms of service delivery and improvement on the way of life of the society. The government of south Sudan and the ministry of education's willingness to welcome the idea also deserve recognition, I encourage the PEG members to stand united in support of the idea.
Thank you abundantly
Malish Benjamin Ambawa

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