University of Geneva course on research capacity towards advocacy for the right to education

The University of Geneva, in partnership with the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) and the Right to Education Initiative (RTE), completed a training on research capacity towards advocacy for the right to education, held online from October 21, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The training brought together 15 participants representing civil society organisations (CSOs) from 10 francophone African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, C?te d'Ivoire, Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, DRC and Senegal.

The training included a theoretical component and a practical component where participants conducted field data collection.

Four modules were taught:

• Identification of a problem within the framework of the right to education

• Methodology elaboration and data collection

• Data analysis

• Adding value to the research

As deliverables, research papers were drafted by participants to address aspects of the privatisation of education peculiar to their countries and using the Abidjan Principles as a framework.

After reviewing the various research reports, the prize for the best report has been awarded to Tribune Jeunes pour le Droit in Mali represented by Mr. Assim Konat? in view of the quality and relevance of the work done. The report focuses on the " Working conditions of primary school teachers in private schools in Mali: the case of Commune III in the district of Bamako, from 2016 to 2021. "

The award aims to support this civil society organisation to implement its advocacy plan to promote the improvement of teachers’ working conditions in private schools in general, and those of the Commune III in particular.

The goal of this training was not only to strengthen the capacities of CSOs in francophone Africa in terms of research methodology, but also to further document the impact of privatisation of education in the francophone space.

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