Decolonizing Education in Emergencies Consultancy

Background of the project 

The Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), is a global network of over 18,000 individual members, affiliated with more than 4,000 organizations from 190 countries with representatives from UN agencies, International and National NGOs, donors, governments, universities, schools and affected populations working together to ensure all persons the right to a quality education in emergencies (EiE) and post-crisis recovery. As INEE is a network and hosted by its membership, the IRC hosts the INEE Secretariat.

INEE has a commitment to diversify membership and address institutional racism. INEE’s Strategic Priority to ‘Strengthen and Diversify INEE Membership’ is underpinned by the action to: Secure resources to increase the participation of under-represented groups at network spaces and learning forums. In addition, INEE’s Statement on Anti-Racism and Racial Equity commits the INEE Secretariat to addressing racial inequity, power imbalance, and lack of diverse representation in staffing and network spaces.

Momentum has been growing within the aid sector to acknowledge and address the colonial and postcolonial power dynamics, structural racism and discrimination that is prevalent in the humanitarian and development sectors, and in the EiE  sector specifically. Two recent opportunities for INEE members to engage with these issues have demonstrated an overwhelming demand for learning, dialogue and action on decolonising EiE. A virtual meet-up on the topic attracted an unprecedented 156 registrants, and a call for expression of interest to set up a task team on decolonising EiE. This drew a sign up from 157 colleagues from a strikingly diverse range of countries and positions within the sector. Between these two events, we estimate that around 300 INEE members have shown strong interest in engaging with decolonising EiE issues. 

Whilst a growing group of members are full of ideas and energy to pursue this work, the anticipated scope of the required response goes beyond what can be sustained by members on a voluntary basis. Initially, the decolonising EiE work requires a consultant with relevant expertise and experience to set up the network space, map and document member needs, consult with a range of actors within and beyond INEE’s existing membership, and explore the challenges and opportunities to move this agenda forward in an inclusive and respectful way. The consultant will document the recommendations which emerge from this space so that they can be embedded through all the work of INEE.

Scope of Work:

This consultancy is intended to serve as an inception phase for INEE’s decolonising EiE and anti-racism work, and will be comprised of three key areas of work:

• Organize and facilitate the launch of a new, multilingual network space on decolonising EiE, working in close collaboration and consultation with INEE’s Secretariat and members to identify priorities, needs, challenges and opportunities to take this work forward. To do this work, the consultant will be supported with language interpretation. In co-designing the functions and activities of this network space, the consultant will prepare a roadmap for INEE’s decolonising EiE work, proposing key objectives and actions and resources required to inclusively implement these. The roadmap will also serve as the basis for resource mobilisation, making a case to donors for funding for the required personnel and activities.
• Provide a succinct overview of current approaches, critiques and good practice related to decolonising humanitarian aid and the EiE sector, based on desk review and consultations. This resource will serve as a primer on the topic for INEE members. This desk-review will be supported by the consultant for the anti-racism and decolonization thematic review of the INEE Minimum Standards.
• Provide a half-day workshop for the INEE Secretariat towards the end of the consultancy to highlight the issues that have been raised by members/group and support a process for INEE Secretariat colleagues to agree on action points and way forward; develop a presentation of findings that can be shared with the INEE Steering Group.

Deliverables:

1. Work plan and timeline for deliverables
2. A roadmap report for INEE’s decolonising EiE work, including rationale for this area of work, objectives, activities, resources required to implement, workplan, competencies required for personnel to carry out this work
3. A concise primer on decolonising EiE with terms, definitions, background, approaches, positions, critiques and good practice examples, resources - in the format of a webpage that can be accessible to all members of the network.
4. A presentation summarizing the roadmap and making recommendations for immediate next steps for the INEE Secretariat and Steering Group.