Data in Distress: Joint Policy Paper
This new joint policy paper, developed by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report and Education Cannot Wait, examines how education in emergencies and protracted crises is financed and tracked. It highlights the fragmentation across the three main international reporting systems – the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS), the OCHA Financial Tracking Service (FTS), and the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) – and the implications this has for transparency, coordination and effective decision-making.
The joint policy paper “Funding for Education in Crises: Data in Distress” highlights the urgent need to harmonize reporting systems to ensure transparency, consistency and impact for global investments in education in emergencies and protracted crises. The report reveals persistent gaps in how education funding is tracked, coordinated and reported.
Key Insights
Recommendations
Align the three main reporting systems – the CRS, FTS and IATI – to reflect the full scope of funding education in crises and support more accurate tracking with common codes and markers.
Improve reporting standards and classification processes in the three databases to improve the quality and comparability of data between them.
Enhance collaboration among the three databases and reporting agencies to harmonize taxonomies, develop cross-referencing mechanisms and reduce duplication.
Make comparable education funding data accessible and actionable to build a shared, transparent and timely evidence basis and inform decisions across the humanitarian–development continuum.
Yasmine Sherif ECW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In the face of deepening crises and shrinking aid resources, we must deliver smarter, faster and more locally. That begins with better data and stronger coordination to ensure no child is left behind.
By working together with humanitarian and development partners to improve the tracking of education financing in crisis contexts, we can ensure more impactful investments and increase aid efficiency.
Manos Antoninis DIRECTOR OF THE GEM REPORT
Our ability to fund education in crises is hampered by disjointed data. Development aid is now providing an increasing share of funding in such contexts. It's time our tracking systems reflect this reality, and our funding strategies prioritize integrated, consistent support for children caught in protracted crises.
