Transversal themes & approaches
Transversal themes of the Economy and Education section include green, inclusive development and gender equalty. The section focuses on leaving no one behind, promoting gender equalty and addressing the implications of climate change. To tackle these challenges in a holistic manner, the section follows a systemic approach.
Green and inclusive development
Embracing an inclusive, peaceful and green development as the overall goal of E+E. The multiple crises make it imperative that the E+E section, across all its core functions, contributes to a just, inclusive and green transition. It will follow a «do no harm approach» and an acceleration approach to begin with (consistent with Paris Agreement objectives), while becoming responsive and transformative by 2028.
The work of E+E establishes the foundation for environmentally-friendly and climate-resilient development through green education and green skills, supporting a just and inclusive transition to a green economy (SDGs 12, 13, and 15).
- Greening education is an important part to address the climate crises and to deal with its consequences. Learning about climate change and understanding and addressing how the impacts of climate change affect education systems.
- Green skills (VSD) include context-specific education and training for a green economy transition. Providing education (including VSD) in emergencies and protracted crises, ensuring links to protection, fostering the triple nexus and promoting durable solutions for forcefully displaced people.
- In the economy, priority is given to driving the local private sector's shift towards an inclusive green economy. Greening the economy is essential to foster sustainable economic practices to reduce potential harm on the environment and people.
Fostering an inclusive approach in Education and Economy progammes is essential to reach the goal of leave no one behind (LNOB). LNOB is the central pledge of the 2030 Agenda, recognizing the need to combat poverty and inequalities.
Key documents
Gender equality
Gender equality is critical for sustainable development, economic growth and societal cohesion. The network promotes the systematic integration of gender equality in its work in terms of access to education, vocational skills development and employment with the aim that everyone can benefit from educational services and economic opportunities. This is done by strengthening gender-sensitive policy dialogue, increasing girls and women’s access to education and vocational skills training and to support women entrepreneurs. Approaches include mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE), fostering gender lens investing and women’s financial inclusion and strengthening the Gender Scaling Financing Facility.
Systemic change
Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. Lack of access to basic services like education, water or electricity, social or political exclusion, and high vulnerability are some dimensions of poverty. Related to them, and often lying at their core, is the economic dimension of being un- or underemployed and not having enough income. These challenges need to be addressed in a systemic approach. The E+E section thus promotes systemic thinking in line with the logic of inclusion/exclusion in programme implementation.
Related topics
Vocational skills development in thematic contexts
How Vocational Skills Development (VSD) addresses social inclusion, youth employment, digitalisation, and migration challenges across diverse contexts.
Basic education in thematic contexts
Basic Education has the transformative potential in: Sustainable development, civil society participation, and social cohesion, climate change and disaster risk reduction, peace building and gender equality, digital transformation and migration.