INEE Member Spotlight: Khadjia Jaffar

Location: Pakistan

Title: Researcher & academic

Introduce yourself to other members. Tell us who you are and summarize the work you do or interest you have in EiE.

I am a researcher working on Education in Emergencies (EiE) in Pakistan. My research interests include: Teachers Training in EiE, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Early Childhood Development (ECD).

My current research focus is on Pakistan's National Education Policy, and its implementation. I am interested in the inclusion of EiE content, specifically DRR in the schools and classrooms. One of the goals of my current research is to investigate the effect of students' understanding of DRR and emotion regulation.

I chose to work in EiE because I saw a pressing need for the concept to be integrated into policy as well as in curriculum.

What has been a highlight of your work as a professional in EiE? Feel free to share a personal story.

I feel very passionate about EiE, particularly when it comes to addressing the educational needs of those who are of concern. I have experience working with Islamic Relief and Save the Children during emergencies, and I have seen the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction in Balochistan in particular. This has driven my interest in the study of the Pakistan's National Education policies, and their implementation at the grassroots level. I recently published a study on the DRR inclusion in curriculum and accessible here, and have other studies relating to DRR policies and DRR inclusion in classrooms and schools currently under review.

When and why did you join INEE, and what is the value of INEE membership to you?

I joined INEE in 2020, and being a member has broadened my knowledge. I can now confidently find EiE data and evidence using INEE resources such as INEE Measurement Library and Resource Collection. As an INEE Member, I benefit greatly from the online workshops and Meetups.

How do you currently engage with the INEE network?

I am a member of INEE's English language community, and I receive news and job postings, attend INEE events, and use INEE resources. I recently attended an INEE Meet-Up, where I met with other members and learned from the experiences of other INEE members in various contexts.

How would you like INEE members to connect and engage with you? What skills, experience and/or technical support would you be willing to share or provide to other members and/or INEE Secretariat?

I welcome communications from INEE members via email. I think that would be a good chance for me to talk to people on this platform about my practical experience working in emergencies.I have experience in the development sector and academia, and I can better represent Pakistan's context and implementation realities, particularly when it comes to the INEE Minimum Standards (MS).

I am working in collaboration with other organizations and actors. As an academician, I am conducting EiE research and training government departments' human resources and other stakeholders on EiE interventions.

Anything else you want to share with members?

I suggest there should be more meetings on new emerging trends of SDGs that drive EiE.

*Published on August 2023.