INEE Learning Agenda & Evidence Platform

Background

During a 2018 review of the INEE 2015-2017 Strategic Plan, it became evident that INEE is perceived as central to the collection, curation and dissemination of knowledge and evidence for EiE. There is a clear need for a strategic approach when it comes to the production of knowledge and research, as well as the curation and dissemination of evidence. In light of this need, and recognizing the sector-wide momentum to strengthen the evidence base for EiE, 2018 signaled an opportune moment for INEE to facilitate discussion on a shared learning agenda to be housed on a new Evidence Platform through which to view priority evidence gaps as well as access and disseminate current and emerging evidence in collaboration with its members and partners.

Objective

The INEE Learning Agenda outlines prominent evidence gaps as well as gaps in types of evidence and recommendations on strengthening the EiE Evidence Ecosystem. It aims to: 

• Map existing or ongoing research projects or partnerships;
• Reduce duplication of research efforts; 
• Consult practitioners and academics to identify key EiE evidence gaps to be routinely assessed and updated;
• Connect academics and practitioners to increase collaboration; 
• Collect varying levels of global and regional input in order to diversify voices represented in the EiE evidence conversation.

This Learning Agenda will be housed on the INEE Evidence Platform which will provide an interactive space for stakeholders to view prominent knowledge gaps as well as interact with existing evidence towards those gaps and across the sector. 

It is expected that the Evidence Platform will serve as a key resource for INEE members and other partners, such as practitioners, policymakers, and donor agencies, interested in engaging in, learning from, and taking up sound research, as well as academics, students and researchers who wish to produce relevant research for the field of EiE.

This Evidence Platform aims to: 

• Highlight the gaps in evidence for education in emergencies as identified by the INEE Learning Agenda;
• Catalog existing and emerging research to ensure that new research undertaken by academics and practitioners, or commissioned by donors, builds on and connects with existing evidence and research;
• Provide a space for stakeholders to interact, report further gaps, and/or upload new research.

Process

Recognizing INEE’s strength as a network and convener, Learning Agenda Consultations included the diversity of INEE’s membership through a series of regional workshops, and global consultations between 2018 and 2020. 

Each consultation leveraged academics and practitioners local to the respective regional context or working at the global level. A pre-workshop survey was shared in advance of the event to collect participants’ responses on: 

1. Ongoing research they are involved in 
2. Research partnerships
3. Key EiE knowledge gaps
4. Gaps in types of evidence. 

These survey responses were categorized by INEE Minimum Standard Domain prior to the workshop, serving as the basis for discussion in each consultation with additional sessions focused on research ethics, equitable partnerships, and dissemination. 

INEE’s Learning Agenda Consultations and the development of an online Evidence Platform draw lessons from the 2010 INEE Strategic Research Agenda, while recognizing that gaps and priorities have changed over the past 12 years. This work is aligned to INEE Strategic Priority 3 on providing, curating, and organizing knowledge.

Consultations

Please find the consolidated ILA Regional Consultation Report, here. 

New York, September 2018

On 28 September 2018, INEE together with the Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE), and NORRAG, held a workshop at New York University. This event was the first consultation in the learning agenda series, with the aim to share updates on research and learning agendas, highlight evidence gaps in the field, and discuss the development of a learning agenda that could be used to track evidence creation and build consensus around research gaps and themes for investigation.

• Outcome Report
• Evidence Gap Chart

Amman, February 2019

On 19 and 20 February 2019, INEE together with the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), held the second workshop in the INEE Learning Agenda consultation series. This workshop brought together practitioners and researchers local to the Middle East to discuss opportunities and challenges to conducting research and evidence uptake in the region. In keeping with learning agenda consultations, participants were also asked to report on and discuss ongoing research, partnerships, key gaps, and gaps in type of research.

• Evidence Gap Chart

Geneva, June 2019

On 20 and 21 June, INEE together with NORRAG and the USAID MEERS program held a Data Summit in Geneva. This event provided a space for EiE data specialists from humanitarian and development organizations to discuss challenges, share successes, build cohesion, and improve EiE planning and programming through data. Ultimately, the aim of this summit was to chart a path forward to improve the accessibility, quality, and navigability of humanitarian and development education data. This event will feed into the INEE Learning Agenda Consultation by collecting participants’ responses on existing EiE data, as well as gaps and needs.

• Event Summary
• Event Minutes 
• Action Agenda

Bogota, December 2019 

On December 3 and 4, INEE in partnership with the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), held the second regional workshop in the INEE Learning Agenda consultation series. This workshop brought together practitioners and researchers local to Central and South America to discuss what EiE means in this region and what ramifications this has for identifying, conducting, and disseminating research and evidence. 

• Evidence Gap Chart  

Dhaka, February 2020  

On February 16 and 17, 2020, INEE in partnership with the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), held the third regional workshop in the INEE Learning Agenda consultation series. This workshop brought together practitioners and researchers local to South and Southeast Asia. This workshop built on the previous two regional workshops to contribute research and evidence interests relevant to South and Southeast Asia. Similar to the Central and South American contexts represented by participants in Bogota, this workshop provided an opportunity to discuss the various aspects of Education in Emergencies (EiE) in the region.

• Evidence Gap Chart  

*INEE Learning Agenda Consultation input is currently under review and analysis to identify prominent evidence gaps.
*The Evidence Platform is under development.