Group 3 Financing EFA: Domestic resource mobilization and external support Facilitator: Robert Prouty, The World Bank

Focus of the Working Group Financing EFA - within that is the World Bank Fast Track Initiative on UPE

Part I - Carryover questions Issues raised concerning The World Bank Fast Track Initiative Identification of needs Modalities for financing Piloting the fast track approach Building on existing programmes

Financial approach of the Fast Track The Fast Track recognizes –  Better communication and consultation  inclusiveness in the identification of needs  integration of appropriate on-going initiatives  broad ownership of programmes  the pilot phase will provide the lessons progressively for the implementation of the next phase.

Part II - Resource mobilization Main issues for group discussion Domestic resource mobilization – attention to poorest countries National priorities vis-à-vis financial muscles External support to the global Dakar Agenda

Group reaction Noting that the questions were not mutually exclusive and should be dealt with accordingly EFA financing is high on the agenda of agencies there are multiple financial mechanisms and approaches, e.g SWAP,CCA/UNDAF, PRSP,etc external resource is small compared to national budgets but an important part of the financing of EFA EFA covers various levels and aspects of education

Key recommendations Co-ordination at national level real ownership and in-country co-ordination need for donor meeting regarding specific financial framework government leadership in planning, qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation genuine partnerships with civil society and donors harmonization of donor agency procedures and mechanisms and a code of conduct plus multi-donor consortium institutional capacity for effective co-ordination

Financing Fast Track - agreement on the fast track initiative for the pilot countries. Estimate of financing gap for UPE– US2.5 – 5 billion Channelling funds working towards common approaches including pooled resources absorptive capacity can be increased by channelling funds to school level Mobilizing funds in-country improve efficiency in using national resources increase involvement of private sector encourage more equitable mobilization of revenue and expenditures

Capacity building What does this mean? strengthening institutional framework for financing EFA including civil society in training plans and programmes providing training at national and regional and school levels Finding ways and means to ensure that the capacity is sustained

Knowledge – shared commodity Data needs and usage – available relevant data (disaggregated) to inform policy, planning and implementation Information sharing Wide distribution of nationally developed tools to improve joint implementation of national education programmes (e.g. experience of Ethiopia) New ideas generated by external support

Issues for immediate action  Countries in crisis – need a tailor-made approach  User fees  Funding procedures among donors - common priorities, simplified procedures, code of conduct, common framework for measurement and evaluation  Policies for equitable revenue and expenditures in- country  Improved national accountability

The dialogue continues