Working to advance gender equity and equality in education in conflict and crisis

To advance gender equality globally, the Biden-Harris Administration has issued an Executive Order that established the White House Gender Policy Council, released the first-ever National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, announced the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund to promote the economic security of women and girls globally, and put forward, in the President’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, a record $2.6 billion attributed to gender programming around the world. Administrator Power pledged USAID would double our gender work during her New Vision for Global Development speech last November. She laid out an inclusive development reform agenda to make our aid more accessible, more equitable, and more responsive.

In the coming year, we look forward to sharing our plans for the implementation of the National Strategy on Equity and Equality, the forthcoming revision to USAID’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy, and the forthcoming update of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally.

Ensuring that all people—regardless of gender identity and expression or sexual orientation—have the opportunity to succeed in safe, equitable, and inclusive education systems is a moral and strategic global imperative. To overcome mounting global challenges such as climate change, violent conflict, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, people must realize their right to education and be supported to contribute to sustainable solutions. Potential future leaders must not be denied their right to education on the basis of gender identity and expression or sexual orientation.

In this ECCN Newsletter, we provide you with a curated list of resources examining the relationship between gender and meaningful access to education from a variety of perspectives. The Journal on Education in Emergencies special issue on gender and the International Journal of Educational Development’s article on COVID-19 provide the latest research hot off the presses. Reports from the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) and others offer research and perspectives on the intersection of gender and urgent issues, like climate change. Finally, we offer programming guidance from USAID and opportunities to engage with ECCN members.

As always, we aim to respond to what you want to learn about, share with your colleagues, or co-create. To suggest topics for future newsletters, products, or events, please email us at usaideccn@edc.org.