From basic mobile applications to sophisticated data analytics platforms, online crowdsourcing, georeferencing and chatbots, organizations supported by GPE Education Out Loud are using technologies to bridge the gap between governments and civil society, creating new channels for interaction and oversight.

Digital tools like mobile apps and data analytics platforms are key enablers for transparency and accountability in education. Civil society organizations (CSOs) use information and communications technology (ICT) to monitor public services, report corruption and facilitate government-citizen interactions.

GPE’s Education Out Loud is the largest fund in the world supporting civic engagement in education. As part of Education Out Loud’s learning agenda, UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) explored how Education Out Loud grantees are using these technologies to advance their advocacy agendas. Below are the results of the research conducted as well as lessons learned for other civil society organizations and funders of civil society.

IIEP found that Education Out Loud-supported organizations have integrated technology into their operations to empower communities and enhance oversight. They use a range of technologies, from basic mobile applications to sophisticated data analytics platforms. Some also use less common technologies like online crowdsourcing, georeferencing and chatbots. Most of these tools are accessed through mobile devices.

Helping bridge the gap between government and civil society organizations

The initiatives shared by Education Out Loud partners show how technology can help bridge the gap between the government and civil society, creating new channels for interaction and oversight. Data portals in particular seem to be a key method to encourage interactions among stakeholders, as illustrated in the box below.

Country Focus:

Pakistan: The Pakistan Coalition for Education established a centralized data portal to address the fragmented nature of education-related data. The methodology involved gathering and consolidating diverse education statistics from government and non-government sources into a unified platform. Using digital tools and data visualization techniques, the portal aims to democratize access to reliable education data and promote transparency in policymaking. Over time, the coalition succeeded in establishing partnerships and featured datasets from various credible government agencies, non-profit groups and academic institutes, stimulating data-driven decision making.

Benin: The platform Évaluation Citoyenne has been set up to provide central-level players with real-time information on the general level of satisfaction of beneficiaries from public services (specifically education) and to enable them to react accordingly. Developed by DEDRAS-ONG and Social Watch Benin, it involves the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative surveys as well as of citizen assessments. In environments where individual freedoms are being restricted, this initiative actively promotes social monitoring. Citizen feedback is used to foster policy dialogue at both local and national level via the National Education Council.

Making use of digital tools to fight corruption

Around half of the tools described by Education Out Loud partners are used for monitoring budget and allocation processes, overseeing construction and maintenance of school facilities, evaluating the quality and conduct of teachers and ensuring legal compliance.

Additionally, ICT tools are used for organizing advocacy campaigns, tracking textbook availability, monitoring the purchase of school equipment and identifying misconduct.

These tools also contribute to increasing transparency and reducing corruption through:

1. Prevention: By making data accessible, CSOs provide tools for citizens to scrutinize government activities. Mobile apps, for example, provide users with information on how to identify and report corruption or mismanagement.
2. Detection: CSOs use data analytics to monitor government actions and public expenditure in real time and to detect patterns and anomalies by scrutinizing large datasets related to educational funding and resource allocation.
3. Reporting and advocacy: In the corrective action phase, CSOs employ online platforms and social media to mobilize communities and advocate for policy changes based on the data gathered.

Challenges and how to move forward

The main challenge Education Out Loud partners faced in developing or using digital tools was limited funding, followed by the need to strengthen staff skills to develop or use these tools and also the importance of designing adequate advocacy strategies targeting the most marginalized.

The dependence on external funding sources highlights the need for sustainable financing to keep these technology-driven initiatives going. It also points to the need for capacity building.

Some recommendations for improving the development and use of digital tools include:

1. Encourage CSOs to use standardized and integrated digital platforms for citizen engagement across sectors to ensure interoperability and scalability.
2. Design user-friendly platforms that cater to diverse user needs, promoting equitable participation and representation.
3. Invest in capacity building programs to enhance technical skills for effectively managing digital tools, including data collection, analysis and security.
4. Improve feedback loops for public authorities to respond to citizen requests formulated based on the data and evidence openly shared.
5. Develop sustainability plans for digital platforms, including funding mechanisms, technical support and capacity maintenance beyond project life cycles.
6. Implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to refine strategies and enhance the effectiveness of ICT interventions.

To fully harness the potential of ICT, more support in funding and collaboration is essential. IIEP's efforts, including the production of an interactive map featuring innovations developed by Education Out Loud grantees on its ETICO platform, contribute to this goal by fostering knowledge sharing within the Education Out Loud network and broader CSO networks.

As an Education Out Loud Global Learning Partner, the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) develops research and capacity building activities for Education Out Loud grantees on the involvement of CSOs in educational planning and on tools to promote transparency and accountability in education. The survey described above is part of this effort.

This blog was originally posted on the GPE webiste. Read the original version here.