[{"bbox": [84, 132, 793, 158], "category": "Text", "text": "To achieve these 3 results areas, the Action will implement 3 activity strands:"}, {"bbox": [121, 187, 956, 212], "category": "Section-header", "text": "a) Increased access to equitable and flexible quality at primary and secondary levels"}, {"bbox": [84, 213, 1146, 424], "category": "Text", "text": "Activities related to this strand will focus on promoting investments that lead to improved enrolment and retention rates as well as enhanced learning outcomes. Proven strategies include the construction and rehabilitation of facilities, provision of targeted scholarships, adoption of multi-shift and multi-grade learning approaches, distance learning solutions (e-education services), teacher training and enhanced access to teaching and learning materials. Gender equality as well as social and geographical equity will be key factors to prioritise interventions. Construction of school facilities will integrate use of renewable energy for sustainability and efficiency purposes. Indicatively, about 100 000 children especially those from marginalized groups such as girls, children with disabilities, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), pastoralist and rural areas will be targeted."}, {"bbox": [121, 451, 1145, 504], "category": "Section-header", "text": "b) Increased participation of youth and adults in quality technical and vocational education and training linked to employment and economic opportunities"}, {"bbox": [84, 505, 1145, 636], "category": "Text", "text": "This strand is aimed at engaging out-of-school youth who have very low chances of accessing relevant basic knowledge and skills informed by labour market assessments. Focus will be placed on the provision of non-formal education and/or technical vocational education and training considering education and training are key in successful transition to work. Link will be created with primary and secondary education opportunities allowing for alternative pathways to get the youth back to formal education systems. Indicatively, about 1 200 youth will be targeted."}, {"bbox": [121, 663, 1047, 689], "category": "Section-header", "text": "c) Enhanced capacity of public institutions to lead, monitor, and manage the education system"}, {"bbox": [84, 690, 1145, 822], "category": "Text", "text": "This strand is aimed at institutionalising a systematic approach to school financing through the provision of school and capitation grants and strengthening regulatory and monitoring systems for private, community, and government schools, and institutional capacity building across the different actors in the education sector. With respect to higher education, activities will seek to enhance quality assurance and accreditation of universities; strengthen technical and research capacity of universities; promote (gender) inclusiveness; and increase international exposure."}, {"bbox": [84, 848, 1145, 1060], "category": "Text", "text": "The overall Action will build on gains made under the previous education programmes financed under the 10th and 11th European Development Fund (EDF), and the still ongoing State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC). Synergies with development actors and the private sector have been established to ensure complementarity of efforts and to leverage existing capacity/ investment. Cross-cutting issues such as gender, environment and human rights are mainstreamed. More specifically issues of environmental sustainability and resilient practices as a means to adapt to climate variability will be integrated in pedagogy and trainings including Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). Use of renewable energy solutions in schools will contribute to the green and digital transformation agenda."}, {"bbox": [84, 1087, 1145, 1245], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action will be implemented through 4 projects: 3 education sector support programmes for Somaliland, Puntland and southern and central states, which reflect alignment with the evolving sector analysis and plans; and a higher education systems strengthening project that aims to improve the policy and accreditation framework as well as institutional level improvements. The action will be implemented by consortia of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), organised in three different regions. Kenyatta University is foreseen to implement the higher education component owing to its specialization in this area and existing links with Somali universities."}, {"bbox": [73, 1275, 301, 1305], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2. RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [87, 1338, 219, 1363], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2.1. Context"}, {"bbox": [84, 1381, 1145, 1592], "category": "Text", "text": "Somalia is a key partner of strategic interest for the EU in the areas of **stability and security in the Horn of Africa**, but also for climate change, migration, education and promotion of green economic growth. Despite sustained progress on economic reforms, the overall situation in **Somalia continues to be extremely fragile and volatile** hampered by political instability, climate induced shocks (drought and floods primarily), persistent security challenges, direct conflict and socio-economic vulnerability. These factors combined with the COVID-19 pandemic and the desert locust infestations are the main drivers of acute humanitarian needs, with **2.9 million people internally displaced** and **over 2.8 million people facing acute food insecurity and hunger** (compared to 3.1 million people in the last major drought in 2017/18)."}, {"bbox": [84, 1606, 1145, 1657], "category": "Text", "text": "The **political instability** driven by **Al-Shabaab** and tensions between the **Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)** and some of the **Federal Member States (FMS)** characterise the political context in Somalia. While the focus is"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1157, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 23"}]