Education in emergencies expert, Emile Ntampera with Ugandan school children, Ajiko Emmacuiel (13) and Lemaku Christopher (14). (Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik)
Education in emergencies expert, Emile Ntampera with Ugandan school children, Ajiko Emmacuiel (13) and Lemaku Christopher (14). (Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik)

Ensuring effective education for all

Published 20. Feb 2019
Access to education is a fundamental human right, and is critical in emergency responses. Safe spaces for learning provide children with a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic situation and help them cope with stress and trauma. NORCAP strives to make development and humanitarian efforts more coordinated and effective to reach the global goal of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Our experts ensures that rapid access to education is prioritised in humanitarian action. We also work with international and national partners alike, and help bridge gaps between them to ensure that national long-term priorities are met.  

The challenge

Displacement due to emergencies, disasters, war, and conflict has a devastating impact on learning, and deprives millions of children and youth of their right to education. Without a greater commitment to funding and protection of education and education in emergencies, the world will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

Our approach 

NORCAP is the lead provider of education expertise to UN agencies with an education mandate and the Global Education Cluster. Our contribution goes beyond filling human resource gaps.  

We provide first responders when crisis hit, and our experts also have strategic roles at regional and global levels. NORCAP experts help develop system-wide preparedness by training and mentoring field colleagues. We work with ministries of education and civil society to develop and strengthen national and local systems to meet the education needs of refugees, internally displaced and host communities alike.  

NORCAP is a solid partner for joint programming because of our vast experience, broad mandate, and our ability to connect our partners. We are able to influence global policies and decision-making, and help bridge gaps between policy and practice. 

Our impact

Pakistan: 

We contributed to ensuring Afghan refugee children were included in national education programmes. We also helped teenage girls access formal secondary school through accelerated education programmes.  

East Africa: 

We coordinated UN’s regional education in emergency work. We worked with governments in the region to ensure national education planning includes emergency preparedness. We also helped our partners mobilise resources for their education in emergencies programmes.  

Iraq:

We helped improve information sharing between the education cluster and local partners. Well-coordinated collection, analysis and sharing of reliable data and information enabled the humanitarian responders to make informed decisions and ensure targeted and quality education programming. 

Haiti:

We helped strengthen national systems for higher education. We worked closely with the Ministry of Education and universities to improve their systems, including financial planning, vocational education and access to traineeship for young Haitians.  

At the global level: 

NORCAP is a strong contributor of education experts to the Global Education Cluster, and provides first responders to crises through the Education Rapid Response Team.  By deploying a cash based programming expert to the cluster, we have strengthened cash-in-education policy, analysis, evidence, and tools. The expert has also guided coordinators at the national level on how to use cash in education for improved access, protection and resilience.  


Get in touch

Start a dialogue with us: info@norcap.no