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Rural Education and Empowerment Agency

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Rural Education and Empowerment Agency. A National Governmental Agency operating in South Sudan. MEMO From: Melanie Smith, Executive Director of Rural Education and Empowerment Agency To: STUDENT (Write your name here) Development Intern, REEA Re: Policy Input The Ministry of Education and Human Development (MEHD) is embarking on an Education Sector Stakeholder Engagement Policy (ESSEP) to accelerate the SDG’s. In our capacity as the main governmental agency working with education in rural communities, we have been asked to submit a Policy Brief to the Ministry. Consequently, we will convene a meeting on Thursday 17th 2021 at 9:00 a.m. to flesh out the key components of the policy brief. Our management team has already decided that we would like the contributions from the MEHD to speak about 1. The importance of improving organizational capacity among stakeholders. 2. Improving infrastructure so that agencies like ours can better mobilize our education teams throughout the country. 3. A major part of the ESSEP should include community-based education using modern digital technology. In this regard, civil society engagement will be key. Please send me a 500-word response in memo format on 1- Why these are the best approaches the ESSEP should take (or not). 2- From an international development perspective, 3 key things policymakers should take into consideration when designing the ESSEP (with references). 3- Three things to be concerned about when working with civil society (include references). 4- Identify the three most important actors the ESSEP should consult with before/during the design of the ESSEP. Elaborate on why they are key actors and what they could offer to the process (include references). What I know so far, our government has approached British Columbia Council for International Cooperation and Canadian Council for International Cooperation for technical assistance in writing the strategy. They have produced a great one for Canada and our government wants to model this. Here is a link so you can see the quality of work that they do: https://www.bccic.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2019/04/Effective_Engagement_Canada.pdf I also know the World Bank will provide the funding for the process and the United Nations Development Program will administer the funding. Looking forward to your suggestions. Together we can present a solid policy brief to the Ministry of Education and Human Development as they embark on this important policy for the future development of our beloved South Sudan. Rural Education and Empowerment Agency. A National Governmental Agency operating in South Sudan. Short Response Memo (1) During week 2, you will be asked to submit respond to an email on a policy issue. This assignment is intended to “simulate the kind of vague, rapid response tasking that you often encounter in the chaotic world of the policy/development professional” (Cadman, 2019). You will reply (in 500 words or less) with your analysis and recommendations based on course readings and resources as well as other materials you may have sourced. Additional, instructions will be provided in the email. Extended deadline passes cannot be used for Short Response Memos. This assignment will be submitted via the Brightspace assignment tab. Criteria Excellent Proficient Satisfactory Needs work. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the issues raised in the memo. Student thought about and identified the proper audience. Provided a strong and concise background of the issue and was able to properly assess the problems. Student presents counterarguments. (How the proposal affects the organization’s policy, how the proposal affects the country policy, what can be done to address the problem, how to maximize impact for the target population, how to mitigate adverse impacts, etc.) Integration of knowledge (demonstrate ability to apply concepts covered in the course. Student expertly integrates them with their own insights to demonstrate analysis and synthesize unique ideas) Innovation and feasibility (present unique and feasible policy ideas and steps to address the proposed issue) 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 point 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 point 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 point 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 point Adapted from The Politics Society at NYU (2021). Memo Grading Rubric. Retrieved from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5643c102e4b0a6089935e7a6/t/5c47d193352f534aa634e77c/1548210580151/ MemoGradingRubric.pdf TIPS Rural Education and Empowerment Agency. A National Governmental Agency operating in South Sudan. Think about issues are being raised in the memo, including things that should be of concern for International Development worker. Connect this with what you have covered in the course so far, Use key concepts, terminology or definitions you have been learning about. In terms of identifying your audience, who is the memo going to speak to, and who will it be speaking about. Be clear about who you are addressing and on behalf of whom you are raising the concerns in your response. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the issues raised in the memo. Student thought about and identified the proper audience. Provided a strong and concise background of the issue and was able to properly assess the problems. Once you find the issues that are concerning to you, presents some counterarguments. You already know what the organization does, the country context, and where it operates. So, think about those things, before your write. Pull together as much information as possible from the chapters we have pulled in so far and integrate them into a coherent response. I know it is a small space, but that is part of the challenge. You can also think of innovative and feasible policy ideas and recommendations influenced by various topics appearing the chapters we have read. State of the State Does the State Have a Role in Development? Development ideas 1940-60’s 1970’s Post war and decolonization Humanization and poverty reduction Modernization and industrialization 1980’s and 1990’s neoliberalism, restructuring and transition 2000’s Consolidating efforts MDG’s, SDG”s Modern management and science will do it Development policy and planning ideas Market or State? • Technical assistance and agricultural extension • Large role for planning Statism to build institutions, foster domestic growth, attract international investments, etc. Aid and Multilateral loans Foreign policy interests How about local solutions? The State is Soverign State Canada- the State Nation Canada- First Nations The State Max Weber • an entity • with a monopoly over • the means of force • within a designated territory • that it controls, • enjoying legitimate support… • from much of the population • Force, • Territory • Sovereignty, • Legitimacy The State The State- an arena of policies and conflict The state as regulator Colonial Legacy Then entered the State States in the Global South face several risks REVOLTS & RESISTANCE Government Compradorial - Intermediaries State Capacity State Autonomy Embedded systems Citizens and the State A declining state? First, let us explore the notion of ‘civil society’ You will need a paper and something to write with Explore the notion of “civil society.” List ALL the institutions, organizations, and individuals you can think of that influence your life and the lives of people in your community. For example: - church - School - Scouts - environmental club - family - friends, etc.. When you are done click on the next slide. - From your list, cross off all those that are business-oriented (set up to make money). - For example, grocery store, pharmacy, etc.. - Cross off all those that are institutions from the government. What is Civil Society? - For example, tax agency, driver licence office, etc.. - Finally, cross off all those that are part of your personal life - For example, parents, friends, intimate partner, etc.. When you are done click on the next slide. Now that you have crossed out the state agencies, businesses and individuals everything that is left in between is CIVIL SOCIETY! Civil Society If you notice the arrows, that is civil society at work. It is a • “dynamic relationship between governmental, business, and nonprofit sectors,” Source: www.kcenter.com/phls/civil.htm Source: Civicus/ADB.org Types of Civil Society Organizations Source: ADB.org Source: ADB.org Now that you know what civil society is, have you ever been actively involved in a civil society group? Civil Society is powerful ‘third sector’ in society. Here is an story that illustrates this power. This story is called Stitching Truth: Women's Protest Art in Pinochet's Chile It is the story of women, sisters, wives, and mothers who made up the women's protest movement in search of the hundreds of men who disappeared during the Agosto Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile.(1973-1990). Here are photos of the handstitched quilts (arpilleras) they used to tell their story. Source: Adam Strom and Facing History. Supporting Salvador Allende Actions by citizens for meaningful change have always been part of human society. However, in the 1990’s the term “civil society” was incorporated into development discourse as it sought to alleviate poverty and to effect social change and “development "in the societies of the Global South Civil society organizations operate in various areas and possess diverse competences. Civil society in the global south, operates “on the periphery of the world capitalist system” (Stogge, 2021). The 2013 World Economic Forum’s Report on The Future Role of Civil Society recognizes this. World Economic Forum, 2013 Grassroots social movements in the Global South Play a key role in highlighting issues in a sustained way. They influence policy on a range of issues from social justice, economic issues, environment, etc. Two lingering questions about NGO’s Are they agencies of democracy and participatory development? OR agents of the World Bank and other Global North international organizations engaged in “international cooperation” following the globalization agenda? In the following slide we will hear perspectives from the G20 summit says about civil society. FYI • The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. Click on the play arrow to hear insights from the G20 Forum 2017. Is there a Global Civil Society? Click on the play button to hear about how global NGO’s operate. The Role of Civil Society has changed over time What is their role in development? “NGOs, labour leaders, faith-based organizations, religious leaders and other civil society representatives play a critical and diverse set of roles in societal development. In the last two decades these roles have shifted as the external environment for civil society has changed.” A “renewed focus on the essential contribution of civil society to a resilient global system alongside government and business has emerged”. Klaus Schwab (2013) Preface to the 2013 World Economic Forum, The Future Role of Civil Society. “The definitions are changing as civil society is recognized as encompassing far more than a mere ‘sector’ dominated by the NGO community: civil society today includes an ever wider and more vibrant range of organized and unorganized groups, as new civil-society actors blur the boundaries between sectors and experiment with new organizational forms, both online and off.” Klaus Schwab (2013) Preface to the 2013 World Economic Forum, The Future Role of Civil Society. As with every development actor, there are criticism and contested ideas about the role each play in development. Nonetheless, let us finalize with a working definition of Civil Society. Civil society is independently of the state, a space, an arena, a sphere creating a network of links and organizations In which citizens to promote their collective identities and serve and represent their group interests associate with each other Marx: “Society minus the state” Click on the forward arrow to reveal the different dimensions of civil society.