Education

Crises and increasing fragility require structural and sustainable solutions to overcome them. Vocational education and training can make an important contribution to stabilisation and economic development, especially if it pursues an integrated approach. In fact, however, vocational education and training measures in fragile contexts often aim to achieve short-term (employment) effects, which prevents their full potential from being exploited.

The current issue of Development in Brief therefore advocates an integrated approach to vocational education and training in fragile contexts that is closely linked to economic development and employment promotion adapted to local conditions.

Vocational education and training in a fragile context

It is often not possible to guarantee access to education in conflict situations. However, particularly in these situations, it is especially important for children and young people to be able to go to school where they are offered both economic prospects for the future and mental stability.

The current edition of Development in Brief explains the reasons why access to education is restricted in crises and highlights the approaches used in international development cooperation and humanitarian aid to prevent the creation of a "lost generation" and thus reduce the risk of an ongoing cycle of conflict.

Education in the context of conflict situations – How we can avoid a "lost generation"

KfW has been active in vocational training on behalf of the German Federal Government for many decades and has achieved considerable success in the process. Vocational training will become an even more important part of KfW’s future portfolio as the partner countries’ demand increases. Many have come to understand that good vocational training pays off.

"Vocational Training: Creating Opportunities. KfW Development Bank's Commitment" (PDF, 544 KB, accessible)

Access to education is often more difficult in crisis situations. However, it is precisely during crises that children and young people need to go to school, thereby preventing -the emergence of a lost generation and improving the prospects for development in the countries affected.

Preventing a lost generation - The role of education in crisis situations (PDF, 409 KB, non-accessible)

Forecasts relating to global population growth vary widely, but experts all agree on one thing: the global population will continue to grow significantly over the next few decades and this will make it more difficult to achieve global Sustainable Development Goals (climate and environmental protection, peace, satisfying basic needs such as food security, education, health, etc.).

The latest edition of Development in Brief explains why improving education for girls in particular can make a significant contribution to solving the problem via various parallel impact channels.

Educating girls: an opportunity to counteract rapid population growth

Education provides the ignition to spark socio-economic progress. Education for girls in particular decreases the risk of poverty for entire families in the medium term. It improves the health of mothers and their children while helping women to avoid premature, unwanted pregnancies. This is essential for putting the brakes on population growth, primarily in parts of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Higher economic growth and lower population growth Why school attendance is so important for girls (PDF, 261 KB, non-accessible)