Providing education to children in developing countries requires a multi-pronged approach, including mobilizing resources, building capacity, and addressing the needs of the target population. The following article explores some of the key factors that can help improve the effectiveness of government programs.
Building capacity
Efforts to build capacity in education can be broad and varied. These include training, networking, and ensuring that funding is sustainable.
Having a clear vision of what a capacity building project is, or is not, is key to success. When the vision is shared, community partners are able to work together, push the agenda, and secure resources. Developing a pipeline of local developers is also important.
The conference, held on April 26 and 27, provided an opportunity for both community and academic partners to engage in a multi-layered definition of CBPR. The conference also aimed to identify strategies for community capacity building. These included educational opportunities to promote discourse between community and academic partners, and the creation of partnerships with professional organizations, donors, and academics.
For example, the IDEAS program (funded by the U.S. Government and supported by World Learning) focuses on enhancing educator capacity to effectively use educational technology. It also provides support for educators who want to adopt technology and create a wide-scale classroom technology capacity.
Mobilizing resources
Several tasks compete for scarce resources. Consequently, a successful resource mobilization requires time, hard work, and a good communications plan. Moreover, organizations must earn and sell their programs.
One approach to resource mobilization is through Public Private Partnerships. These partnerships attract private investment for infrastructure projects, freeing up public funds for investing in people.
Another approach is through the Global Investment Fund. This fund uses new technologies and ideas to mobilize funds.
A third strategy is to leverage existing community resources to help make inclusive education affordable and effective. These resources include schools, teachers, students, parents, and peer groups. Providing resources is often easier in rural areas. In fact, most elementary schools are run by community groups and are self-established.
To develop a good resource mobilization strategy, an organization must understand its goals and objectives, and understand its clients. It must also be ready to sell its programs and establish credibility.
A resource mobilization strategy may include writing proposals, submitting grant applications, and drafting business cases. In addition, a program management team will coordinate all of these activities.c
