Regional Observatory on Education Systems Resilience in the MENA (GPE KIX)

Summary: Understanding the status of education system resilience is key for policy, planning, and intervention. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has experienced multiple crises and disruptions — including conflicts, displacement and migration, political and economic instability, and climate change — which have affected and exposed the inadequate state of the resilience of its education system. There is a growing emphasis on resilience to ensure that education systems are prepared to respond to current and future disruptions. This emphasis has become particularly important after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited understanding of what resilience means in theory and practice. It is also unclear what types of disruptions education systems may face beyond those already known in the MENA region.

As part of the GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience initiative, this project examines education system resilience in 5 countries in the MENA: Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen. Specifically, it explores the meanings and practices of education system resilience, including how they consider the needs of vulnerable groups, and potential future disruptions to education systems in selected countries.