Education sustainability in the relief-development transition: Challenges for international organizations working in countries affected by conflict

This article examines the challenges that affect sustainability of educational support provided by international organizations during the relief-development transition in post-conflict countries. Given the growing consensus within the international community about the role that education can play in humanitarian response and the long-term development perspective that is expected to accompany educational support provided in these contexts, this qualitative study draws on structured interviews with practitioner-experts working in different types of international organizations to present the key challenges for the sustainability of educational support in the relief-development transition.

► Myriad factors within humanitarian aid agencies affect sustainability of education in emergency projects. ► Governmental top-down and community-driven bottom-up approaches required to facilitate education sustainability. ► Humanitarian education projects in post-conflict countries to be recognized and integrated into governmental systems.