Humanitarian-Development Coherence

Humanitarian-development coherence is a broad and complex topic that relates to many aspects of education, from policy and coordination to planning, financing, and programming. Coherence describes linkages between the two types of international assistance (humanitarian and development) in order to achieve more cost-effective, sustainable results for crisis-affected countries and populations. “Coherence” is an umbrella term that includes the humanitarian-development nexus, which refers more specifically to the meeting point of humanitarian and development approaches, and the triple nexus, which includes a peace-building dimension.

The education sector is charged with a responsibility to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, per Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). The current trend of complex and longer-term crises, whether caused by the climate emergency, violent conflict, or a pandemic, threatens progress toward SDG4 targets. As the recent COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, no country or education system is immune from crisis; therefore, building resilience is the key not only to avoiding losses but to sustaining and progressing toward our shared goals in the education sector. Collective action is needed across the humanitarian-development spectrum to build inclusive and adaptable education systems that are prepared for and have the capacity to respond to crises, so that every child and young person has a chance to go to school, stay in school, and complete a full cycle of primary and secondary education.