Special projects - inputs : education sector analysis - methodology development

WILLIAM R. CHARLESON, A PRIVATE CONSULTANT, TO DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY FOR ANALYZING THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN LDC"S. THIS METHODOLOGY WILL BE USED BY AID"S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES. DR. CHARLESON WILL PRODUCE A MANUAL OR GUIDANCE DOCUMENT WHICH WILL ADDRESS FOUR MAJOR AREAS. FIRST, IT WILL REVIEW AID"S NEW DIRECTIVES SPECIFYING THE EMPLOYMENT OF SECTOR ANALYTIC METHODS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR SUCH ANALYSIS. BASED ON THIS, IT WILL EXAMINE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM OF DEVELOPING A METHODOLOGY FOR SECTOR ANALYSIS: HOW TO DEFINE THE EDUCATION SECTOR, HOW SECTOR ANALYSIS DIFFERS FROM OTHER ANALYTICAL TYPES, WHO THE USERS OF SUCH ANALYSIS WILL BE, AND HOW THIS AFFECTS THE ANALYTICAL PURPOSE AND SCOPE, ETC. THIRD, THE MANUAL WILL IDENTIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MOVING AHEAD WITH SECTOR ANALYSIS, DEALING WITH ISSUES SUCH AS THE MAJOR CONSTRAINTS AND MINIMUM RESOURCE INPUTS REQUIRED FOR SUCH ANALYSIS AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY, HOW EDUCATION SECTOR ANALYSES ARE TO BE RELATED TO ANALYSES OF OTHER SECTORS, ETC. FINALLY, ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SECTOR ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY WILL BE OFFERED: WHETHER A STANDARDIZED APPROACH OR MERELY A SET OF MINIMUM GUIDELINES IS APPROPRIATE; WHAT STEPS AID SHOULD TAKE; AND WHAT TRAINING PROGRAMS WILL BE NECESSARY. DR. CHARLESON WILL REVIEW PAST EFFORTS IN EDUCATION SECTOR ANALYSIS BY SUCH AGENCIES AS THE WORLD BANK, AID, AND UNESCO, AS WELL AS BY US UNIVERSITIES AND LDC HOST GOVERNMENTS IN PREPARING THE MANUAL. THE FINAL DOCUMENT WILL PROVIDE PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE TO PERMIT EACH MISSION TO DIAGNOSE ITS OWN AND THE HOST COUNTRY"S CAPACITY TO ADOPT SECTOR ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY IN EDUCATION.