Africa Regional Education System Resilience Observatory
Building resilient education systems across Africa
Generating evidence and fostering collaboration to strengthen education systems in the face of adversity — from the classroom to national policy.
Imagine a classroom in a remote village, disrupted by a sudden flood. Or a school in a bustling city, grappling with a disease outbreak. These are just a few of the challenges that can shatter the fragile foundations of education systems across sub-Saharan Africa. In a world facing increasing uncertainty and disruption, ensuring that education systems can withstand shocks and continue to deliver quality learning is more critical than ever.
This is where the Africa Regional Education Systems Resilience Observatory (ARESRO) comes in. ARESRO empowers education systems across sub-Saharan Africa to withstand these shocks and disruptions, ensuring continued learning for all children.
Our Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives
ARESRO envisions transforming education systems in GPE partner countries across Africa into resilient entities. We empower them by providing the insights and resources necessary for this transformation. Our efforts center on understanding and anticipating challenges, developing effective mitigation strategies, and fostering collaboration to ensure all children have access to quality education, now and in the future.
Overarching Goal:
To contribute to the improvement of education system resilience in GPE partner countries through evidence-informed programming.
Define and Analyze:
Conduct in-depth investigations into the conceptualizations and practical applications of education system resilience within GPE partner countries.
Anticipate and Evaluate:
Project the potential impacts of future shocks, stressors, risks, vulnerabilities, and capacities on education ecosystems and outcomes, using advanced foresight methodologies.
Develop and Implement:
Identify and champion innovative, effective approaches and strategic planning to proactively address future challenges, enhance resilience, and optimize education systems in GPE partner countries.
Generating evidence for resilient education systems
As the COVID‑19 pandemic receded and schools reopened, educational stakeholders renewed the call to “build back better” by strengthening the resilience of education systems — better preparing them for shocks and disruptions arising from public health emergencies, climate change, globalization, demographic shifts, prolonged conflict, population displacement, emerging educational technologies, and artificial intelligence.
Yet despite its growing prominence, there remains little consensus on what Education System Resilience actually means, in theory or in practice. As one of six regional observatories awarded under the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX) Observatory on Education System Resilience Initiative, ARESRO helps close this gap — examining how 42 African countries conceptualize and implement education system resilience, whether they address the needs of marginalized groups, and what this means for education policy and practice.
ARESRO is implemented by MakSPH–RAN in collaboration with Link Community Development (Uganda) and the Resilience Research Centre (RRC) at Dalhousie University, Canada, leveraging a regional network of African higher education institutions. Eight consortium members, each led by a regional university, drive the research across the continent.
Where ARESRO Is
Eight consortium members lead research across 42 countries in eight African sub-regions. Hover or tap a region to explore.
Our Approach
ARESRO employs a multi-faceted approach to achieve its objectives, combining rigorous research with collaborative engagement and capacity building. We engage in in-depth data collection through a variety of methods, including desk reviews, key informant interviews, and stakeholder workshops. We utilize foresight methodologies to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
We are committed to fostering a dynamic community of practice by connecting researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across Africa.
Core Strategies
The Africa Regional Education Systems Resilience Observatory (ARESRO) employs a multi-faceted approach to understand and strengthen education resilience across 42 GPE partner countries in Africa. Our core strategies are designed to provide a comprehensive view of current practices and future challenges, ensuring evidence-informed programming
Context Analysis
We are conducting a thorough review of existing literature on education system resilience across all 42 GPE countries.
Formative Assessments
We will use qualitative methods to gain deeper insights into stakeholder perceptions and experiences with education system resilience.
Foresight Analysis
We will explore future trends and potential shocks through systems mapping and predictive modeling.
Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization
We will actively engage stakeholders to disseminate findings and influence policy.
News and Events
Our Partners
Resources
A collection of relevant resources for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, such as reports, policy briefs, case studies, and toolkits.
