[{"bbox": [144, 107, 1085, 347], "category": "Text", "text": "economic growth. Access to secondary education must be expanded to harness the demographic dividend and create a labour force that can meaningfully contribute to the development of the country. Education of new generations on the environment is the most effective way to in the long-term develop an environmental sustainable society and girls and boys can be strong advocates to help trigger behavioural change and adaptation. Education mobilises knowledge and skills and relies on trained professionals to support the transition to a green economy. Furthermore, the youth who complete secondary education and do not proceed to higher education remain unemployed due to lack of necessary skills for the job market. This skills gap needs to be addressed in part by including entrepreneurship and vocational skills development secondary education."}, {"bbox": [144, 358, 523, 386], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 1.2 Policy Framework (Global, EU)"}, {"bbox": [144, 397, 1085, 740], "category": "Text", "text": "The action is fully in line with the 11th EDF National Indicative Programme for Malawi (NIP 2014-2020) and part of Focal Sector 3 - Secondary Education and Vocational Education and Training focusing on improving equitable access to secondary education, supporting the sub-sector's quality and relevance by both enhancing educational facilities and improving the competencies of teachers, and improving governance and management of the supporting structures both at central and decentralised levels. The action contributes to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as it focuses on the progressive achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - Quality Education, in particular target 4.1 to 'ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes' and SDG 5 - Gender Equality - 'to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls'. In addition the programme addresses SDG 13 - by facilitating the construction of climate resilient school infrastructure and strengthening environment and climate change education - and SDG 6 - by developing water and sanitation facilities at secondary and vocational schools."}, {"bbox": [144, 754, 1085, 1046], "category": "Text", "text": "The action is further aligned to the New European Consensus on Development⁷ (Council 2017), notably under the theme People - Human Development and Dignity, particularly in fostering the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty. It contributes to an important commitment in increasing access to quality education for all by paying particular attention on equal access to girls and children that are living in vulnerable situations. It is also consistent with the new Africa - Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs⁸ (2018), in particular with regard to the priority on 'investing in people by investing in education and skills development for employability'. It is also in thematic coherence with the African Union Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth (2017) and the final declaration of the 5th African Union (AU) - European Union (EU) summit on Investing in Youth for Accelerated Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development (2017)."}, {"bbox": [144, 1058, 1085, 1193], "category": "Text", "text": "The action also responds to the EU Gender Action Plan II⁹ in investment in social and economic rights of girls and their empowerment through education. It directly contributes to objective 13. 'Equal access for girls and women to all levels of quality education and vocational education and training (VET) free from discrimination'. Finally, the action is fully in line with the EU Agenda for Change¹⁰, which promotes support to the education sector as a means of building the foundation for inclusive growth."}, {"bbox": [144, 1204, 713, 1232], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 1.3 Public Policy Analysis of the partner country/region"}, {"bbox": [144, 1243, 1085, 1376], "category": "Text", "text": "The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy III 2017-2022 (MGDS III) aims to transform Malawi into a productive, competitive and resilient country. Education and Skills Development is one of the priority areas to achieve economic growth and the SDGs. Under this priority, the expected outcomes for secondary education are increased access to equitable secondary education for both boys and girls for improved learner outcomes."}, {"bbox": [144, 1459, 1085, 1506], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ Joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission (OJ C 210, 30.6.2017, p.1)."}, {"bbox": [144, 1505, 1085, 1571], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ COM/2018/643 final of 12.9.2018, Communication from the Commission to the European parliament, the European Council and the Council: Communication on a new Africa – Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs: Taking our partnership for investment and jobs to the next level."}, {"bbox": [144, 1570, 1085, 1615], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁹ SWD/2015/182 final of 21.9.2015, Joint Staff working document: Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020."}, {"bbox": [144, 1614, 1085, 1658], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁰ COM/2011/637 final of 13.10.2011, Communication from the Commission to the European parliament, the European Council and the Council: Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change."}, {"bbox": [608, 1676, 623, 1696], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "4"}]