INEE Minimum Standards Update

The INEE Minimum Standards need to be updated.

During 2021-2023, education in emergencies (EiE) actors are engaging to ensure that this cornerstone resource remains relevant, accessible, and adaptable in a new and evolving international humanitarian context. The update also ensures that critical linkages are made between EiE and other humanitarian sectors to enhance accountability and improve the quality of assistance provided to crisis-affected people.

Why update the INEE Minimum Standards?

The INEE Minimum Standards (INEE MS) were last revised in 2010, and the EiE landscape has drastically changed in the past decade. An updated INEE MS needs to incorporate shifted priorities of affected populations, new evidence and changing dynamics in the EiE sector, and evolving linkages to key issues in sectors across the humanitarian and development nexus.

What is the scope of the update?

The update does not aim to alter the existing domains and standards, as the fundamental structure and core content remain strong. The update focuses on missing or incomplete topics, improving the clarity of the text, and adjusting the format and navigation of both digital and hardcopy versions of the handbook to increase accessibility and use.

The final intended output is an updated, accessible, and highly adaptable INEE MS that is useful for EiE activities everywhere.

Who is involved in the update?

You are!

The update has an equity and inclusion approach; INEE will do its utmost to involve the full range of EiE stakeholders, including those without access to online services and technology. Teams of technical experts with a variety of nationalities, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and working in different contexts will implement a variety of activities during the update process.

MS Update Reference Group

The MS Update Reference Group brings together 14 key EiE stakeholders for the MS Update project. The main objective of the RG is to provide technical advice and support throughout the four phases of the update project.

How is the update happening?

Like all INEE activities, the INEE MS update approach is founded on the principles of universal human rights, cultural diversity, racial equity, community participation, and broad consultation. The update is being done in phases.

Phase 1: Groundwork - COMPLETE

Timeframe: October 2021 - May 2022
Participants: INEE MS update team; all EiE stakeholders

Three concurrent and interlinked activities: (1) INEE MS usage assessment, (2) thematic reviews, and (3) global consultation process. The update team employs human-centered design tools and develops support materials for stakeholder-led consultations around the world.

During Phase 1, the following activities were accomplished:

A usage and update assessment in the five INEE languages
A global online survey in the five INEE languages
Offline assessments in seventeen countries (Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Venezuela, Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, and Greece)
Four thematic reviews focused on: 1) Gender and Inclusion; 2) Anti-racism and decolonization; 3) Early Childhood Development; 4) Higher Education (Lead by the African Higher Education in Emergencies Network AHEEN)
Four language online workshops in Arabic (1), Spanish (1), and French (2).
Two thematic online workshops on:1)Distance Education; and the School Safety Framework (in partnership with GADRRRES)
Four online consultation workshops targeting INEE members.

In total,1,600 individuals participated in Phase 1 of the project.

Phase 2: Synthesis - COMPLETE

Timeframe: July - August 2022
Participants: INEE MS update team

The INEE MS update team takes the conclusions and recommendations resulting from the Phase 1 activities to produce a narrative synthesis document, which lists and describes new topics, new terms, and new formats for the updated INEE MS. This document is the blueprint for writing and designing the updated INEE MS.

Phase 3: Drafting - COMPLETE

Timeframe: October 2022 - March 2023
Participants: INEE MS update authors; INEE MS Update Reference Group; INEE MS Update Reading Groups

A coordinated and multilingual team of authors drafted the content of the updated INEE MS. An editor ensures harmonized use of terms and tenses, as well as overall plain language quality. A designer will draft the new designs of the digital and hardcopy versions.

Following good practices established by the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, the draft version was widely circulated for comments, feedback, and inputs from EiE stakeholders, including thematic experts in the areas of gender, inclusive education, early childhood development, anti-racism, and child protection. 28 Reading Groups provided feedback that was incorporated to the draft.

Phase 4: Finalization

Timeframe: February - January 2024
Participants: INEE MS update team; INEE MS Update Reference Group

In April-October 2023, the MS went through two rounds of copy-editing, proofreading, graphic design, and review by the INEE Steering Group. During this process, INEE received a significant amount of comments and suggestions. The MS update methodology is grounded in collective feedback, consultation, and evidence analysis. To maintain this approach, INEE decided to extend the MS timeline to address all comments where possible and undertake substantial consultation where required.

Phase 5: Dissemination

Timeframe: February 2024+

Translation to Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Spanish will begin. The newly updated INEE MS will be shared widely with the world!

From April 2024 onwards, INEE is planning a full-fledged roll-out of the MS 2023 edition, including thematic roundtables, online orientations, and workshops, an update of the MS webpage, and the MS interactive handbook on the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) website.

How can I participate?

There are several ways for you to stay informed and engaged in the INEE MS update process:

Join the #ms-update channel in the INEE Community of Practice for discussion, debate, surveys, progress updates, and more! Any INEE member can join the channel; find out more at inee.org/community-of-practice.
Ensure your email subscriptions are up-to-date for regular updates and calls for input in all INEE languages.
Follow INEE on Facebook (Ar, En, Fr, Pt, Sp), Twitter (Ar, En, Fr), and LinkedIn (En) for up-to-the-minute announcements.
Contact the INEE Minimum Standards update team at msupdate@inee.org.