On December 3, 2009, Nicholas Burnett and David de Ferranti hosted a meeting of leading of experts in the global education field to discuss the critical issues in education today and the role that Results for Development can play with its new program. The meeting involved statements by Burnett and de Ferranti as well as Birger Fredriksen and Alan Ruby, Senior Technical Advisors of the Education Program at R4D. Institutions represented at the meeting include the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, USAID, CIDA, Hewlett Foundation, Gates Foundation, Brookings Institution, Education for All Fast Track Initiative, UNICEF, ADEA, Inter-American Dialogue, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Burnett’s remarks highlighted the areas that the R4D Education Program is exploring for future projects, in the context of a rapidly changing environment (the continuing importance of education as part of the knowledge society and economy, most kids now in primary school, the increased role of civil society, the expansion of experimental-based evidence in education, the new range of actors in international finance for education, etc.). Burnett explained that R4D saw its special role as helping to improve the quality of decision making in education in developing countries. Specific program areas that R4D is exploring include supporting independent voices in education policy making in developing countries, working with ministers and their teams, costing getting the out of school into school, the regulatory framework for education, the new rush to vocationalization, innovative financing in education, and improving the effectiveness of aid. Many helpful comments were made, designed to help R4D establish its particular niche. Click here to view a complete summary of the discussion.
 

Attached File(s): 

R4D Education Meeting Summary 12.3.09.pdf