As Senior Country Operations Officer at the Global Partnership for Education, I often travel to GPE partner developing countries to support the development of education sector plans and to assist Local Education Groups in preparing requests for financial support from the GPE Fund. Having a plan and receiving funding are important, but implementing a plan and jointly reviewing its implementation are as important (or arguably even more important). In the end, it is all about what we are able to do and the results we can achieve in terms of better quality education for children. Last year, the Global Partnership launched the Sector Monitoring Initiative to ensure that education sector plans are easier to implement and monitor. An important instrument is the joint sector reviews. In February 2014, I had the chance to participate in the first ever joint sector reviews organized in Somaliland and Puntland. Here is a journal of my trip.

Wednesday, February 19: On the road again!

I’m on my way to join local education groups in Somaliland and Puntland for their first joint sector reviews. Somaliland and Puntland both developed Education Sector Strategy Plans (ESSP) in 2012 for the first time, since the outbreak of the Somali civil war in 1991. The plans focus on 1) increased participation in education, 2) enhancing the quality of education, and 3) ensuring the effectiveness of educational support and management. The plans are also an attempt to coordinate the various partners supporting the education sector in Somaliland and Puntland.

In May 2013, Somaliland was given $4.2 million GPE grant to support the implementation of the ESSP. Puntland received a $2.1 million GPE grant. Later in 2013, an $8.2 million GPE grant went to the Federal Government of Somalia to support the implementation of the ESSP for South Central Somalia.

Thursday, February 20: Jambo Nairobi!

After a long flight, I finally arrive in Nairobi. Always good to be back in Nairobi with nice weather and friendly people. In Somaliland, GPE funds support the development of a teacher management system through paying salaries for 300 new teachers (of whom 150 are women) every year, and incentive payments for 900 head teachers and 13 regional education officers. The funds are also used for the implementation of a Quality Assurance Framework (i.e. training workshops and increased supervisory visits to schools), and the construction of two new teacher training colleges to encourage female teachers to take up leadership positions in schools.

In Puntland, the GPE contribution will be largely used to support the Ministry of Education in the development of a teacher salary payment framework, which will improve the predictability of payments to teachers. The GPE contribution will also be used for training and deploying female teachers to contribute towards improving equitable outcomes for girls’ education in rural areas.

Saturday, February 22: Preparing for the education sector reviews ahead

Time to read and to prepare my presentations for the joint sector reviews. I have been asked to present on GPE’s Sector Monitoring Initiative. One of the results of this initiative is the organization of the reviews in both Somaliland and Puntland. Previously, we organized Sector Monitoring Initiatives in South Africa and Senegal with the support of the GIZ BACK-UP Initiative. Colleagues from the Ministries of Somaliland and Puntland, the EU, and UNICEF participated in the joint sector review of Uganda. A good learning opportunity and it always helps to learn from other countries in the region.

Sunday, February 23: On the ground: visiting schools in Somaliland

Early day! I am at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 3.30am to take the special United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flight to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. It is a small aircraft, half-filled with colleagues from EU, UNICEF, USAID, Save the Children and CARE, who will all participate in the joint sector review in Somaliland.

After meeting with Ms. ZamZam Abdi Adan, the Minister of Education, we are off to visit a primary and a secondary school. It is always good to start a mission with a school visit to get a sense of the reality. The principals and teachers are always proud to show their schools.

Monday, February 24: The first joint sector review in Somaliland

The government of Somaliland really shows its commitment to the education sector and the importance of the joint sector review. Minister ZamZam has mobilized both the Minister of Finance and the Vice President to participate in the opening ceremony of the review. Participants from the ministry, civil society, teachers and partners are eager to speak and exchange ideas on the progress, but even more on the challenges to improve quality education in Somaliland. Due to lack of data and a good, budgeted annual action plan, it is hard to get the discussions focused on what was planned, what has and hasn’t been achieved, and how we can adjust the plan for next year.

Tuesday, February 25: Day 2 of the joint sector review in Somaliland

The participants have come up with suggestions and recommendations for improving the education sector in Somaliland, but I am afraid that after the review, some more work is necessary to prioritize the recommendations. The most important recommendation is to shift towards a stronger focus on learning outcomes and better mapping and analyzing the large number of out-of-school children.

Wednesday, February 26: On the ground: visiting schools in Puntland

An early morning flight again. This time, I’m on a two-propeller EU flight that’s bringing participants to the joint sector review in Puntland. It is just an hour and a half from Somaliland to Puntland. Garowe Airport in Puntland is even smaller; a small sandy airstrip and two small buildings. The new Minister of Education, Mr. Ali Warsame, welcomes us at the airport. In a big convoy with armed forces, we drive back to the center of town of Garowe. Again, we start with a visit to a primary school. After that, we move to the conference center to start the review. The Vice President is participating in the official opening. The debates are even more passionate today.

Thursday, February 27: The first joint sector review in Puntland

In Puntland, a lot of progress has also been made with access to primary schooling. There is lively discussion on the challenge to get more girls to school and how to provide better education for the fishing and nomadic communities. The new Minister is able to stay throughout the two days, listens carefully, and is obviously using this opportunity to understand the challenges with regards to education and the functioning of the Ministry of Education.  As development partners, we encourage the Ministry to translate the ESSP into budgeted, annual action plans and to strengthen the coordination between partners.

Friday 28 February: Until we meet again…

Back with the convoy to the airport of Garowe for a direct EU flight back to Nairobi. I am pleased about the progress in improving and strengthening planning and coordination within the education sector in Somaliland and Puntland. A lot of challenges are still ahead.

Next stop: a joint sector review with the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu to discuss progress in South Central Somalia!