Donor Interventions in Educational Governance 2000-05:  Lessons Learnt

Author                    Fareeha Zafar and Ayesha Awan

Published                 UNESCO

Date                       July, 2005

Abstract

This UNESCO sponsored study examines the influence of donors on the devolution process of the education sector in Pakistan. The devolution of the education sector began after the introduction of local body governments in 2001 creating hope for improvements in educational governance. Such major foreign donors as The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, Department for International Development, European Union, Norwegian Government, and UNICEF now conduct projects that include a component on governance, institution, and capacity building. The report shows that even after steps taken by donors to enhance educational governance, it still exists within a devolution framework that is afflicted by its transitional sense, unfinished agenda, and the re-appropriation of devolved authority by the provisional governments. Progress can only be achieved with a change in the political economy and strengthening of policy reforms.