Education Cluster Support Overview: COVID-19

COVID-19: Impact on the Education System

The GEC COVID-19 Impact on the Education System dashboard, updated as of 5th June 2020, highlights the COVID-19 pandemic has affected 240 million learners [1] in 27 humanitarian contexts with formally activated education clusters and working groups, compounded on existing and complex emergencies. Considering the complexity and scale of this crisis, coordination has taken on a renewed importance. Coordination ensures that responses are predictable, accountable, efficient and effective – and that continuous, quality education is available to all children and youth in humanitarian contexts. The current GHRP requires USD197 million to deliver the 2019 COVID education in emergencies response. To date, only 1.2% of funding requirements have been received and tracked through FTS. In support of the GHRP for COVID19, ECW’s First Emergency Response is contributing USD24.5 million across 27 countries [2].

[1] Enrolled in pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary education pre-COVID-19 crisis (source UNESCO)

[2] GPE has approved US$125 million across 10 countries to support education in emergency and non emergency contexts. A further 40 proposals totaling US$410.7 million are under review.

Education Cluster Response

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Global Education Cluster has been supporting countries with activated Education Clusters/Sector working groups to step up coordination, information management and needs analysis efforts:

Check out the COVID-19 Response Monitoring Dashboard to learn more.

Coordination Response Highlights:

• Since the beginning of the response, Country Coordination teams have been engaging in COVID-19 Education Strategic Planning processes, including the development of Education specific Preparedness and Response Plans and revisions to the Humanitarian Response Plans. Adaptations of coordination and implementation modalities have also occurred
• As of 5th June 2020, 20 Clusters/Sector Working Groups have finalized their COVID-19 Education Preparedness and Response Plans (jointly or separately from the Ministry of Education) and 7 are in the process of developing plans. View them here
• OCHA is leading Country-based Humanitarian Response Plan revision processes. As of 5th June 2020, 7 clusters have completed the revisions of the COVID-19 HRP and 18 clusters are in the process of finalizing it. View revised HRPs here
• As of 5th June 2020, almost all (27/30) Education Clusters/Sector Working Groups have established remote meetings arrangements that allow coordination with partners
• Cluster teams have been adapting their Education Cluster Monitoring Tools (ECMT) to the changes in activities related to COVID-19 response.  As of 5th June 2020, 15 countries have finalized the adaptation of the ECMT and 6 are in the process of adapting it

GEC Support

Resources and Tools

The GEC Help Desk established and manages a COVID-19 resources box folder with global, regional and country level resources collected for COVID-19, amongst which some drawn upon the Ebola response, and developed a resource menu in English and French focusing on coordination and support to different stages of humanitarian programme cycle.

In order to support strategic planning and response processes, the Global Education Cluster has developed the following resources:

• Strategy Response Framework Template and Diagram (also in French)
• Considerations and approaches for COVID-19 PiN
• CVA for EIE in COVID 19 guidance
• GEC advocacy messages: coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic
• As part of the GHRP revision process, GEC has also consolidated feedback and inputs from Cluster Coordinators and GEC Partners Forum, including the Strategic Advisory Group and developed a document with key messages on prioritizing Education in the GHRP in English, French and Spanish

GEC has been collaborating with the Child Protection Area of Responsibility to develop the following documents:

• GEC and CP AoR Tip Sheet for CP-EiE Collaboration in times of COVID-19
• COVID-19 GEC and CP AoR localization Tip Sheet
• GEC and CPAoR Safe Back to School Guide (ENG, FR, ES)

GEC maintains 2 public folders with the  Cluster and MoE COVID-19 Education Response Plans and the COVID-19 Education Preparedness and Response Plan

Remote Support to Country Coordination Teams

GEC set up dedicated support to Country Clusters/Sector Working Groups for the COVID-19 response through both the 10-member Rapid Response Team and GEC Helpdesk. Since January 2020 until 28th May 2020, 151 COVID-19 requests for support were received from the Helpdesk and Rapid Response Team. Most requests focused on strategic planning processes and Needs Assessment and Analysis.