Education Cluster in Pakistan - Lessons Learned: Flood Response

Summarizes the findings of lessons learned exercise conducted by the Global Education Cluster on its joint response to floods in July 2010, in collaboration with Save the Children and UNICEF. It also provides recommendations to improve future responses to emergencies.

Executive Summary

The worst monsoon rains in Pakistan’s 80 year history resulted in the deaths of 1,985 people and affected an estimated 20.1 million others. The education sector was hit particularly hard with over 10,000 schools damaged or destroyed affecting up to 1.3 million children. The floods disrupted education in all Provinces, and according to the Multi-Cluster Rapid Humanitarian Needs Assessment (McRAM) the reason most cited for children not returning to school was because of damage. In response, the Education Cluster established a comprehensive coordination system to support national leadership of the response effort. UNICEF and Save the Children were the lead agencies for the Education Cluster at both National and Provincial Hub levels.

The Global Education Cluster commissioned a comprehensive lessons learned exercise in Pakistan, covering the period from the start of the floods in July until March.. This report outlines the main findings from this review and highlights a number of recommendations for the current response in Pakistan as well as future emergency education responses.