Bridging the post-conflict gap: Capacity development in countries affected by fragility : - a case study of the Accelerated Learning Programme in Liberia

Abstract

This study discusses the dilemma of capacity development in the post-conflict response to the education sector in Liberia. The discussion is based on the premise that there is a gap in the aid architecture which poses a great challenge for sustainable development in the post-conflict phase. With the aim of bridging this gap the objective of the study is to examine the possibilities and obstacles for humanitarian organisations to increase focus on capacity development in post-conflict education programmes. The focus on capacity development is in opposition to the prevailing practice which emphasises a service delivery approach. A change of focus from service-delivery to capacity development is argued to be an important factor for the perspective of sustainability.

The discussion is based on data collected during a qualitative research conducted in Liberia through a case study. The research includes document analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews as well as participant observation. The case of the study is the post-conflict education program Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) as it has been implemented by the humanitarian organisation Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Liberia.

With a departure point in an institutionalist world culture approach, which opens up for the consideration of global/local dynamics, it is discussed how global initiatives - as the Education for All goals - are influencing the national reform processes in the education sector in Liberia. Based on an analysis of the components of the NRC ALP it is argued that the humanitarian organisations play a central role in this process. In continuation of the analysis the study concludes that the global goals themselves constitute a major obstacle for sustainable capacity development.